Conservation Board Executive Explains How Governor Reynolds Proclamation Will Affect County Parks

(Le Mars) — Among the businesses and recreation activities Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has asked to be shut down includes campgrounds. Nick Beeck is the Executive Director with the Plymouth County Conservation Board. He says campground rental is the main source of income for the county parks. Beeck says during the short-term, the governor’s ruling won’t have much of an impact on Plymouth County Conservation Board’s campgrounds since they are not scheduled to open until May 1st.

Beeck says although the county’s campground sites open on May 1st, they do not become busy until the Memorial Day weekend.

Between Hillview near Hinton and River’s Bend at Akron, the Plymouth County Conservation Board has 58 campsites for RV’s, trailers, and other camping vehicles. It also has three cabins, plus vast areas designated for tent camping only. Beeck says the governor’s proclamation is forbidding short-term recreational visits. However, long-term housing at a campground is exempted.

The Conservation Board official says people are still visiting the parks, however, the nature center has been closed, as is also the playgrounds. Beeck says one activity that remains open and has attracted visitors is fishing at the county parks.