The Fund

Polk County has tremendous natural resources and a diverse mix of public lands and privately protected lands. Did you know that more than 10 percent of lands in Polk County are public? But with sensitive ecological areas increasingly in the path of development, it has never been more important to secure green corridors, recreational spaces, and critical habitat for wildlife. And, along with record-breaking population growth, more people are hungry for outdoors experiences such as hunting, fishing, boating, swimming, bird watching, riding, hiking, climbing, paddling, and picnicking in Central Iowa’s Great Outdoors.

Polk County Conservation has numerous tools available for various levels of protection for our lands. Its competent staff works with private landowners to establish conservation easements. For over a decade it has creatively leveraged donated funds from hunting and conservation groups with federal, state, local, and corporate mitigation dollars to create what’s now 7,000 acres of wildlife habitat and public hunting areas along the Skunk River in the Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt. Vast views over the greenbelt’s valley today includes restored wetlands, woodlands, and prairies.

But all the creativity in the world cannot keep pace with the rate at which our countryside is disappearing. More funds are urgently needed and can be put to good use right away. The Great Outdoors Fund was established as a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) foundation in the summer of 2005 to provide a means for people who love Central Iowa’s outdoors to help Polk County Conservation protect fishing spots, playgrounds, prairies, woodlands, and wetlands.

Your donation can help support:
• Trails for anything from bikes, to canoes, to equestrians
• Wetlands to help improve water quality, wildlife habitat, and manage stormwater.
• Wildlife control, including the local Deer Taskforce
• Increased lands for wildlife watching
• New lands for all types of public recreation.

Our board members include:
James Hubbell, III 
Mike LaMair
Robert Jester
Carole Reichardt
Tom Levis, PCC Liaison
Dennis Parker, Director