ACTIVE GREAT OUTDOORS FUND PROJECTS
Bison and Elk Exhibit
GOF has pledged dollars toward the expansion of the Bison & Elk Exhibit at Jester Park. Adjacent to the Bison & Elk Exhibit is the innovative Jester Park Natural Playscape that was completed in 2008. Proposed imrovements to this historic exhibit will include accessible observation decks, informational kiosks, educational panels, interactive displays, high quality art components and an inviting viewing and picnic area. Renovation and enhancement to this exhibit will provide a new attraction that is safe, modern, accessible, educational, and would benefit many visitors. The Bison & Elk Exhibit will provide an opportunity for one of the most desired outdoor activities which is viewing and observing wildlife.
Chichaqua Greenbelt Enrichment
Iowa's largest conservation area, Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt (CBG), continues to draw more and more people to this pristine wildlife area. GOF is funding natural area studies at CBG by local universities to help manage the area and learn more about rare plant species, turtles, butterflies, etc.
Wildlife viewing will also be enhanced when a viewing blind is constructed and installed at CBG for use by school groups, academia, researchers, and the general public. This blind will bring people closer to nature and provide a unique wildlife viewing experience for all ages and abilities.
Equestrian Scholarships
More than 165 at-risk youth have been awarded summer horse camp scholarships at the Jester Park Equestrain Center within the past four years. Thirty more will benefit this summer thanks to GOF. The program promotes strong character values, confidence, communication and teamwork, creative problem solving, and trust.
Guide by Cell
Visitors at Jester Park and Brown's Woods will have interpretive park information at their fingertips this summer. GOF, Polk County Conservation, and REAP are partnering to launch a pilot program in these parks that encourages users to call in on their cell phones and listen to expert commentary about the park's natural resources, unique park features, and current events.
Media Exposure
Ask the Naturalist radio segments have aired every other week on KJJY radio since February of 2008. In addition to the bi-weekly nature topic discussions, naturalists promote The Great Outdoors Fund and Polk County Conservation. A television marketing partnership will begin in 2010 where these two entities can promote park opportunities, conservation issues, and the importance of getting outdoors through a video market.
Plant a Shade Tree Program
This cooperative program whose partners are The Great Outdoors Fund, MidAmerican Energy, Polk County conservation and Iowa DNR has distributed more than 13,000 trees since its inception in 1998. Annually, more than 650 individuals purchase at least one tree through the program accounting for 1,300 trees being planted in the greater metropolitan area.
School Bus Field Trips
Students in the Greater Des Moines area are experiencing nature up close and personal during naturalist guided outdoor field trips made possible through The Great Outdoors Fund. More than 250 students have been bused to Polk County parks where they took part in activities such as hiking, fishing, canoeing, geocaching, and service learning. Continued funding in 2010 will expose another 800 students to the great outdoors.
Wildlife Habitat Enhancements
GOF is working with Polk County Conservation on two wildlife habitat enhancement projects at Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt and Thomas Mitchell Park. Nearly 200 acres of wetland and upland habitat is benefitting from a new pumping system and water control structure, along with the re-seeding of many acres of grasses and forbs. Fisheries improvements are occurring at Thomas Mitchell Park through the construction of a rock sill and fish habitat areas.
