Friends Of Lake Darling

The Friends of Lake Darling State Park is a group of local volunteers working in partnership with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to maintain and improve the state park now and for future generations. The group consists of local residents, businesses, park users and conservationists that recognize the value of the park as a local resource. Their mission is to “Make the Great Park of Lake Darling Extraordinary”. Established in 2001, the friends group has been assisting DNR park management with projects, seeking funds and grants for park enhancement, and acting as a liaison with users to address important issues such as water quality, wildlife management, recreation opportunities and park beautification.

Lake Darling State Park has a serious shortage of day use facilities. The 1400-acre preserve includes a 300-acre lake with 18 miles of shoreline, 13 miles of recreation trails, a campground with 5 cabins and 118 campsites, yet has only one small picnic shelter for daily visitors. In the spring of 2006, the beach house that did provide sanitary facilities was razed due to safety concerns leaving park day users with only pit toilets, port-a-potties and no water to properly wash and sanitize hands.

Responding to this inadequacy, Friends of Lake Darling State Park was successful in securing a $250,000 legislative appropriation to add a day use complex at the park. In addition to the legislative funding, the IDNR has designated an additional $50,000 to develop the pathways and will provide an estimated $118,000 in engineering and design components for the project. In order to leverage these funds Friends of Lake Darling group requested the assistance of Geode RC&D. The RC&D on behalf of the Friends of lake Darling submitted an application to the Washington County Riverboat Foundation and was awarded $342,500 for this project. In mid-December the Friends group was awarded a matching grant in the amount of $100,000. The donor will match donations in excess of $1,000 until June 30, 2007. The total fundraising goal for the project is $987,000.

With the award from the Riverboat Foundation, the Iowa DNR in collaboration with Friends of Lake Darling is moving forward on the design phase of the project. It is anticipated that bids will be let in April with the start of construction slated for mid to late June. This facility will be very unique in that it will be the first four-season lodge in an Iowa State Park. For more information on this project you can visit www.friendsoflakedarling.com or by calling the Geode RC&D Office.