Iowa Park Supporters Move Ahead on Drive

Seasonal park aide Olivia Vega mows near the beach at Pleasant Creek State Park near Palo on Tuesday, May 22, 2012. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette-KCRG)

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By Rachel Begle

Story Created: Oct 25, 2012 at 6:30 AM CDT

Story Updated: Oct 25, 2012 at 6:30 AM CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Armed with results from a user survey, state park supporters intend to proceed with a public-private effort to improve Iowa's 87 state parks.

The Iowa Parks Foundation said at a Capitol news conference on Wednesday that its mail survey of more than 1,200 Iowans found 79 percent of those who responded said they'd visited a state park in the past two years. And 74 percent indicated the desire for more trails in the parks.

Foundation leaders and Gov. Terry Branstad say it's too early to put a dollar figure on the work. But state parks division head Kevin Szcodronski says the total easily could run into hundreds of millions of dollars.

The foundation will team with an architectural and planning firm on plans for getting the parks in top condition.

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