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Conservation director reports ADA upgrades and higher camping use; nature center visits rise
Summary
Des Moines County conservation staff reported completion of ADA accessibility improvements at the Stars Cave nature center, new paved parking and sidewalks, software upgrades, grant support and an increase in camping from 4,832 to 5,512 overnight visits; the annual report is published on dmcconservation.com.
The Des Moines County conservation department presented its annual report at the Aug. 19 Board of Supervisors meeting, highlighting recent ADA accessibility work, grant-funded improvements and higher visitor numbers.
Conservation staff said they completed ADA upgrades at Stars Cave and added paved parking and sidewalks that link to an existing quarter-mile paved trail. Grants from the Murray Foundation and private donations supported the work, the presentation said.
The department also implemented a new registration and membership system (RepDesk), adjusted some fees for campsites and the shooting range, and noted that camping increased from 4,832 people last year to 5,512 this year. Shooting range memberships were reported at about 683 and steady compared with prior recent years. The report showed 16,449 visitors to the nature center and 4,607 program participants across 203 programs for the fiscal year.
A supervisor thanked the conservation staff and noted the department's heavy use despite limited staffing. The annual report was posted on the department website (dmcconservation.com) for public review.
What happens next: The county will continue to apply grants and donations toward maintenance and accessibility improvements; staff will proceed with program and fee adjustments described in the report.
