INHF and Arnolds Park working to protect 73-acre property
By Joe Jayjack on March 17, 2025 in Press Center
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Joe Jayjack, external affairs director, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation
jjayjack@inhf.org, 515-288-1846, ext. 19
INHF and Arnolds Park working to protect 73-acre property
ARNOLDS PARK — Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation purchased an option to buy a 73-acre property in Arnolds Park sandwiched between Upper Gar, Minnewashta and Lower Gar lakes.
INHF is working with the City of Arnold's Park and Dickinson County Conservation to realize a vision of a city-owned space, open to the public, with management work done by the county.
INHF purchased the non-refundable $100,000 option with the help $25,000 from the city of Arnolds Park and contributions from private donors. INHF needs to raise the remaining $1.9 million of the $2 million project by October 31, 2025, to successfully exercise the option. While fundraising, INHF will continue to work with partners from the city and county to develop the future vision.
“This is a short time to raise $2 million, but we know that people in the Lakes community care deeply about water quality and will rally to help protect this important place,” said Abby Hade Terpstra, director of philanthropy for INHF.A recent zoning change made the site eligible for development
Roughly 240 acres drain through the property, making this a key location for restoring wetlands and prairie to aid with cleaning water flowing into Lower Gar and Milford Creek. This is also a key location for a possible trail connection and trailhead as well as a valued open space in a community that is feeling pressure from RV park development.
Learn more about the project and how you can support it here.
Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation is a nonprofit conservation group that works with private landowners and public partners to protect and restore Iowa's land, water and wildlife. Since its founding in 1979, INHF has helped protect more than 200,000 acres of Iowa's natural resources.