Jester Park Summer Kickoff

Congratulations, fellow Iowan! You officially made it through yet another blustery winter wonderland and a finicky spring. If you are anything like me, the welcome thaw is met with cheerful anticipation for laying in the sun, relaxing on a boat with fishing pole in hand and hauling out camping gear from the dark recesses of storage.




Canoeing at Discovery Pond

As this long-awaited summer draws ever closer, we here at Polk County Conservation will be celebrating  as well with the grand opening of the Jester Park cabins and the restoration of Discovery Pond (previously Two Dam Pond) on June 8, 2014. We’ll kickoff this event at 1:00 p.m. with a ribbon cutting ceremony in front of the cabins. The festivities will come to a close at 4:00 p.m.

During this fun-filled day you may join a naturalist for a hike along the new half-mile Discovery Trail - hikes will take place every 30 minutes. Float a canoe in or explore Discovery Pond (formerly known as Two Dam Pond) via its new circumferential trail and boardwalk. Fishing is free this weekend so give it a try at this event; poles and bait will be provided. We'll be roasting s'mores at the communal fire pit so bring your appetite for a sweet treat.




Cabins open Memorial Day weekend. Reservations can be made online up to two years in advance.

Be one of the first to view the rental cabins! Each cabin has a two-story walk-out floor plan. Three cabins have one bedroom and sleep six, and one larger cabin has two bedrooms and sleep eight. Amenities include a full kitchen, restroom with shower, gas fireplace, and a barbecue grill. Reservations for the cabins opened in December 2013, and spots are filling fast! Click here to reserve your county park getaway today!

This project was made possible by Polk County Water and Land Legacy and a Land and Water Conservation grant.