Elevate Great State Parks to Become Even Greater

In today's Des Moines Register editorial section, several distinguished Iowans suggest 'Big Ideas for Iowa' Among the array of suggestions are two that are particularly interesting to the Iowa Parks Foundation. Governor Terry Branstad , co-chair of the IPF Board suggests a need to continue the efforts to modernize and reform state government. You will find the Governor's post in the New Iowa Group blog spot.

Neil Harl, writes of the need to elevate state parks - directly in the 'sweet spot' of the Iowa Parks Foundation mission.

Elevate Great State Parks to Become Even Greater
NEIL E. HARL is a distinguished professor in agriculture and an emeritus professor of economics at Iowa State University.

When I first read Rahm Emanuel's quote a few months ago, I thought back to 1970, when universities (and the country) were in crisis over the Vietnam War, civil rights and environmental concerns. I stated then that crises are a scarce resource, to be handled with great care.We managed to get approval of a new, highly popular one-credit seminar series dealing with critically important then-current issues. In normal times, curriculum committees would have beaten the proposal to death. That September, the program was approved by the one person who mattered, President W. Robert Parks; the various curriculum committees never saw the proposal.

Let's learn from that experience now, as an economic meltdown grips the world in fear and foreboding. One important area that cries out for attention is our great state parks, which could become even greater with modest additional resources.

We need to quickly develop a master plan to address capital-improvement needs; shortcomings in staffing; control of runoff (which damages our state's lakes and streams), including acquiring buffer strips where necessary; and building facilities to better serve the recreational needs of Iowans and visitors.

Such a major project would make Iowa a better place to live and work, enhance our tourism potential and last well beyond the current crisis. Obviously, the project should work in partnership with federal stimulus initiatives, but Iowa should add local funding and momentum. Iowans in 2020 and beyond will think kindly of the foresight and generosity of spirit that propelled the project.