60 Years of Conservation in Polk County
60 years and counting! 2016 marks another milestone year since Polk County Conservation's (PCC)inception. The organization has come a long way since its humble beginnings back in 1956. Let's take a look at PCC's historical past, dynamic present and the exciting future that lies ahead.
The Organization
Polk County Conservation Board (PCCB) is governed by five members appointed by the Polk County Board of Supervisors. Its mission is to provide the citizens of Polk County with quality outdoor recreation, conservation education and the long-term protection of Polk County’s natural heritage. This effort is carried out by full-time and seasonal staff including Natural Resources Specialists, Rangers, Environmental Educators, Construction & Maintenance crews, Administration and Support Staff, as well as hundreds of volunteers.
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| The early days |
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| Staff a few years back - my, how we have grown! |
The Past
PCC administration offices were first housed in the courthouse downtown Des Moines. A strategic move of the conservation headquarters to Jester Park occurred in 1967. We have called this place home ever since as we continue to add public places for citizens and visitors of Polk County to enjoy.
The Present
PCC has accomplished a tremendous amount of goals in recent years. The 20+ park and wildlife areas managed today by PCC are visited by
more than 1.9 million people each year. Our Family of Parks includes over 45miles of paved trails and 40 miles of natural trails. Our public recreation areas cover more than 14,000 acres in the state's most populous county. Since the historic passing of the Polk County Water and Land Legacy (PCWLL) bond referendum in 2012, critical funding for projects has boosted our organization's ability to fulfill our mission statement to the fullest capacity.
Major trail to major trail connections have also been at the top of the list in terms of organization-wide projects. An effort to connect cities and towns to trails and parks has led the people of Polk County outdoors and created valuable connections for trail users to their environment and surrounding communities. Trail connections along the Chichaqua Valley Trail, Gay Lea Wilson Trail and Great Western Trail are now complete. Anticipated completion of the Mark C. Ackelson Trail will wrap up all major trail improvements in the works. Though these immediate major trail enhancements are coming to a close, the Conservation Board continues to acquire land to complete the 110-mile
Central Iowa Trail Loop and continues to search out new areas in Polk
County to attain, develop and protect.
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| Land protection has resulted in improved wildlife habitat |
PCWLL bond funds have helped to acquire more than 700 acres of sensitive land since its induction. Land acquisition for recreational trails and greenbelts, and land and wildlife habitat protection as well as water quality within the agricultural landscape of central Iowa have become top priorities in recent years. These projects have become attainable thanks in part to this funding. These acquisitions will become increasingly important in the coming decade as
the metropolitan population increases.
The Future
Several initiatives lie at the forefront of goal planning within PCC.These initiatives include provision and expansion in the following areas:
environmental education
watershed management (and associated water quality issues)
public awareness
outdoor recreation
natural areas
trails
Throughout the past decade, PCCB has devoted increasingly greater
resources toward environmental education for Polk County residents.The
environmental education staff presents conservation programs to more
than 22,000 school children annually and offers more than 300 outdoor
recreational programs to the public. On the horizon lies the Jester Park Nature Center, a facility that will more effectively accommodate such a vast array of participants, events and programs provided by PCC.
This center will also serve as a premier regional conservation hub that will focus on the the aforementioned initiatives where people of all ages can interact with the natural environment through education and recreation. More than half of the funds needed to make this project a success have been secured. PCWLL bond dollars have been leveraged with outside donations from various entities. Individual, family, corporate and foundation donations are incredibly significant and valued contributions that will lead the way in this final phase of fundraising in 2016 as we bring this project from the drawing board to reality.
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