Joyful Moments: The Fast-Paced Journey Through News, Sports, and Careers

PHOTO BY GARRY BRANDENBURG
Campground pads and access roadways at Green Castle Recreation Area are finished, but not quite open for use until the spring of 2025.

As I compose this piece, it’s remarkable to think that we’ve already passed the halfway mark of the first month of the new year! Time genuinely moves swiftly! With the beginning of the year, according to the Iowa Code, Marshall County Conservation is required to prepare an Annual Report detailing the highlights of the preceding fiscal year. This document is made available on the county’s website, and I suspect only a few individuals take the time to peruse it. Unfortunately, I believe that’s a shame! Because it contains a wealth of valuable information that sheds light on what we do and how we allocate our resources! This year’s annual report pertains to the 2024 Fiscal Year (FY), spanning from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024.

The annual report also serves as an opportunity for our organization to reflect on all we have achieved, and FY 24 can indeed be termed a year of development. Much of this progress was enabled by the resources derived from the American Rescue Plan Act. These funds empowered Marshall County Conservation to advance significant projects that had long awaited financial backing.

Timmons Grove South Recreation Area underwent a transformation, highlighted by the addition of a four-stall restroom and shower facility. This marks the introduction of the first flushable toilets in the Marshall County Conservation area in two decades, alongside the first shower house amenities. Financed by ARPA funds, donations, and a LAWCON Grant, the newly constructed facilities add a crucial element to the Timmons Grove Campground. Other enhancements to the campground included the introduction of accessible campsites, additional larger sites, tree plantings, a new information kiosk, and a sign marking the park entrance. Following these enhancements, we have observed a notable increase in usage at Timmons Grove and rising revenue for the county.

During FY 2024, we initiated the development of Green Castle Campground. This venture had been on hold for over a decade, awaiting the ARPA funding. Additional support from the Community Foundation, Friends of Marshall County Conservation, and various donors facilitated this undertaking. This spring, the campground will commence operations!

Thanks to grant funding and ARPA, Marshall County Conservation has expanded Sand Lake to encompass an additional 80 acres, 35 of which is water, to enhance fishing accessibility. We also utilized grants to acquire a dock for Arti and Red’s Pond, transforming the pond into a wonderful location for individuals of all ages.

An additional highlight was the involvement of 224 volunteers who contributed 3,000 hours to assist in our parks, making lasting improvements for the future. Our Friends Group continued to flourish and organized exceptional free concerts that attracted more than 1,000 attendees to the Leonard Grimes Memorial Amphitheater.

We hosted both national and statewide events, such as the North American Prairie Conference and Project Aware, bringing participants from across the county to showcase what Marshall County has to offer. Collaborating with state and federal entities, we also set out to construct wetlands and plant prairies and trees, creating essential habitats for wildlife throughout Marshall County.

This is merely a glimpse of what’s to come in 2024, and if I reveal everything here, you won’t be motivated to read the annual report yourself. As time swiftly progresses, it becomes evident that we have limited time to achieve significant objectives here at Marshall County Conservation, and we are not hesitant to dream ambitiously and work diligently to accomplish our goals. My question for you is… How can you contribute?

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Emily Herring is the director of the

Marshall County Conservation Board.