Iowa Parks - First 'Friends of State Parks' Summit

“If we are going to keep pace with our civilization, we must give the public an outlet in the great outdoors.” Louis Pammel 1862 – 1931

The Iowa Parks Foundation and IDNR's State Parks Bureau invite you to attend the first Friends of Iowa State Parks Summit

April 9, 2011

10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Izaak Walton League

4343 George Flagg Parkway

Des Moines, Iowa 50321

 

The purpose of this meeting is to provide a forum for Friends of Iowa State Parks groups to come together and share their plans, projects, challenges and celebrate successes. This exchange will help to inspire all the Parks Friends Groups to find new methods to achieve our common goals. By working in a more collaborative manner we will be able to accomplish more for our great parks.

Display tables will be provided for groups to ‘show-off’ plans, projects and progress they have realized in your park.

Tentative Agenda

1. Welcome and Introductions—

2. State of Iowa State Parks - Kevin Szcodronski

3. Highlights from each Friends Group (go around the room and give each group an opportunity to explain their major projects)

4. How do you keep your group alive?
5. What about legal issues?

LUNCH (Provided) 1 hour to allow for informal individual discussions

6. Iowa Parks Foundation – Kent Sovern
introduce, vision, status, proposed role with Friends Groups
7. Value of—and—ways to communicate with local legislators for the betterment of state parks
8. Group discussion on benefits and interest in setting up communication channels among Friends Group – e-mail, website, future meetings, etc.
9. The day will finish with an evaluation to know what people would like to have included in another possible meeting.
10. Closing comments and thanks to all who attend

If you are interested in attending the Summit or want more information send an e-mail to Kent at iaparks@mchsi.com



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So Much to Do This Weekend

31st Annual University of Okoboji Winter Games

January 28th – 30th, 2011

 

"It all started with a couple local guys and the organization of small broomball tournament. 30 years later, with the support of hundreds of community members, the small broomball tournament in 1981 has turned into an annual winter festival drawing thousands of people from throughout the Mid-West. The University of Okoboji Winter Games is now a weekend full of indoor and outdoor events for all ages. A special thank goes out to The Iowa Great Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce, local businesses, and the hard-working volunteers that have worked so hard to make this event a success!"

Click here for the calendar of events

$25,000 Winterfest Ice Fishing Derby

Come check out the ICE BASH!!!!

Friday, January 28 from 6-8 p.m.
◦At Hy-Vee on Broadway
◦With hosts Crash Davis from The Brew & KFAB
◦Fish fry hosted by HyVee
◦Beer Tasting by Doll Distributing
◦Ice fishing seminars
◦Door prizes and silent auction
◦Safety rules for the ice derby


Ice Fishing Derby
Jan. 29, 2011 7:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Lake Manawa, Council Bluffs, Iowa

Over $50,000 in Cash & Prizes!
Reel in Winter Fun with this one-day tournament at Lake Manawa State Park!

Get all the details here

2011 Iowa Bicycle Summit



Want to make an impact on bicycle culture in Iowa? The Iowa Bicycle Summit is dedicated to producing low-cost, accessible education on building stronger bicycle communities. The Summit provides city engineers, planners and bicycle advocates with information on the best practices in bicycling for transportation and recreation. In addition to featuring presentations on bicycle education that fosters vibrant and healthy communities, the Summit will again join forces with RAGBRAI’s Ride Right safety meeting at the Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines. The Summit will conclude with the announcement of the 2011 RAGBRAI Route.

Get all the details here

More 2011 Bald Eagle Watch Events

 More 2011 Bald Eagle Watch Events

(*Saturday) indicates events with a Friday school day

Mississippi River Visitor Center

• January 15 - February 13, Weekends Only
• Combination eagle watches and clock tower tours
• Saturday and Sunday times are: 9:30 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m.

Reservations required. Group size is limited. Call 309-794-5338

Dubuque Bald Eagle Watch
*Saturday, January 15

• Outdoor viewing south of Lock and Dam 11 at A.Y. McDonald Park from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Live Eagle and Bird of Prey Programs by the University of Minnesota Raptor Center at 9:30 a.m., 12:15 p.m., and 3 p.m.
• Indoor Exhibits from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Grand River Center - Port of Dubuque
• Trolley rides from Grand River Center to outdoor viewing area

For more information call: 563-556-4372 or 563-582-0881


Keokuk Bald Eagle Days

*Saturday and Sunday, January 15-16

• Indoor programs and Environmental Fair at the River City Mall, Keokuk,
• Live Eagle Programs Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Outdoor viewing along the riverfront

For more information call: 1-800-383-1219

Quincy Bald Eagle Watch

Saturday, January 23

• Outdoor viewing from 9 a.m. to 4p.m. at lock and Dam 21

For more information call: 217-228-0890


LeClaire Bald Eagle Watch
Saturday and Sunday, January 29 - 30

• Outdoor viewing at Lock and Dam 14, Sat. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Sun. 1 to 4 p.m.
• Indoor programs: Sat. at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12 p.m.; Sun. at 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m.
• Indoor programs: Mississippi Valley Welcome Center

For more information call: 563-322-3911 x120


Lunch with Eagles

Friday, February 18

• Scott St. Dam in Des Moines
• Outdoor viewing in downtown Des Moines

For more information call 515-323-8907


Prairie DuChien Eagle Watch
Saturday, February 26

• Outdoor viewing from 9AM to 3 PM
• Bald Eagle programs and exhibits, birding experts on hand
• Children activities

For more information call 563-873-3491 or 800-732-1673


Saylorville Bald Eagle Watch
Sunday, February 27

• Outdoor Viewing at selected sites around reservoir, start at Visitor's Center 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  

For more information call 515-276-4656


Red Rock Bald Eagle Watch
Friday and Saturday, March 4 - 5

• Outdoor viewing at Howell Station 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Indoor programs at Pella Central College 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information call 641-828-7522


Linn Grove Eagle Watch
Saturday, March 5

• Registration: 8:30 to 10 a.m.
• Refreshments served in the morning
• Can pre-register at: Wonders of Nature, 107 Weaver, Linn Grove, Iowa, 51033
• Speakers from 10 a.m. to Noon
• Lunch served at 12:15 p.m., free will offering
• Outdoor viewing at selected sites, start at Nature Center, Linn Grove Main St.
• Indoor programs at sites to be listed later

For more information call: 712-296-4920


For More Eagle Watch Information: 515-432-2823 or www.missriver.org

Big Creek State Park....a 2009 PDGA National Tour Event Host

The Des Moines First Class Challenge - a 2009 PDGA National Tour Event

Andrew Irwin - IPF Intern

The 2009 First Class Challenge...a Professional Disc Golfers Association National Tour Event...presented by the Des Moines Disc Golf Club , First Class Credit Union and several other sponsors including RDG Planning and Design. Big Creek State Park's disc golf course will be one of the five Des Moines disc golf courses selected for the PDGA National Tour Event.

The National Tour Event event is scheduled for the weekend of July 17th through the 19th of this year.

In addition to the tournament, there will be a free clinic featuring five of the touring professionals. The clinic is open to all skill levels and you don't even need to be in the tourney to participate. This is an opportunity to learn from some of the sports' best competetors including Jay Reading, Ken Climo, Matt Orum, Cale Leiviska and George Smith.

The free clinic will be on Thursday evening July 16 at Walnut Ridge Recreation Area between 6:00 and 8:00.

Disc golf is played much like traditional golf. Instead of a ball and clubs, however, players use a flying disc, or Frisbee. The sport was formalized in the 1970's, and shares with golf, the object of completing each hole in the fewest number of strokes, or in the case of disc golf, fewest number of throws per hole.

A golf disc is thrown from a tee area to a target which is the hole. the hole can be one of a number of disc golf targets; the most common is called a Pole Hole an elevated metal basket. As a player progresses down the fairway, he or she must make each consecutive shot from the spot where the previous throw has landed. The trees, shrubs, and terrain changes located in and around the fairways provide challenging obstacles for the golfer. Finally, the ‘putt’ lands in the basket and the hole is completed.

Disc golf shares all the same joys and frustrations of traditional golf, whether it's sinking a long putt or hitting a tree halfway down the fairway.

Disc golf is designed to be enjoyed by people of all ages, males and females included. Disc golf can be played from school age to old age, making it the one of the greatest lifetime fitness sports available. Because disc golf is so easy to learn, no one is excluded. Players merely match their pace to their capabilities and proceed from there.

Disc golf courses can coexist with existing park facilities and activity areas. The ideal location combines wooded and open terrains, and a variety of topographical change. Many city parks have golf courses already set up. Most are free to play as often as you like. Disc golfers who do not have the benefit of a permanent disc golf facility in their area often "make up" courses in nearby parks and green spaces. There are currently 144 total disc golf courses located within Iowa's State, County, and City Parks.

Click here to find a disc golf course near you.

The need for more courses is constant, as the sport continues to grow in popularity. The PDGA has created resources for the design and installation of new golf courses, to ensure their success in the community. The Professional Disc Golf Association, with a member base of over 39,700, is the governing body for the sport and sanctions competitive events for men and women. Click here for information about disc golf and the Professional Disc Golfer’s Association.

Click here for a brief video about the basics of disc golf.

Celebrating Community Activist Bob Mickle

Our friend and neighbor Robert Mickle, a passionate and tireless voice for the people of Des Moines, passed away yesterday after a long battle with cancer. During his 43 years in Des Moines, Mickle, 84, was a strong community activist, first launching the Central Iowa Regional Planning Commission in 1968 and then serving in numerous city positions and volunteer roles.

He was planning director for the city of Des Moines from 1972 to 1982 and a private consultant on urban planning issues for the city and its suburbs until 1986. After "retiring" from city planning, Mickle continued to work as an avid volunteer. He most recently served as a board member of the Sherman Hill Neighborhood Association, president of Des Moines Neighbors and a planning consultant for the Iowa Council for International Understanding (ICIU) and the state in a joint cultural, government and small business exchange program between Des Moines and Cherkasy, Ukraine.

As the original director of the Neighborhood Investment Corp., Mickle helped develop and preserve the Sherman Hill and East Village districts. The Robert W. Mickle Neighborhood Resource Center in Sherman Hill was named in his honor.

According to an article on the Sherman Hill Association's Web site, in an acceptance speech after receiving the lifetime achievement award at ICIU's 30th anniversary dinner, Mickle said, "The most important lesson I've learned in life is that you must live up to your potential; always strive for excellence. And the second most important lesson is that you must give back and give generously."

Mickle grew up in Boone during the Great Depression and served in World War II as a Navy gunner. After the war, he moved his family to New York, where he owned a dairy farm and worked as a private planning consultant for 25 years before returning to Des Moines.He is survived by his wife, Nelda, and numerous family members.

A funeral for family only will take place tomorrow in Boone. A community celebration will take place at the Mickle Center in Des Moines at a later date. A blog will be live later this afternoon for people to post comments and pictures; a link will be available at www.dmneighbors.org.