County Parks Brochure

In 1955, the State of Iowa enacted a law permitting Environmental Education programs are held throughout the year. A series of Rolling Thunder Prairie counties to establish county conservation boards. On summer day camps for kids from 4–15 years of age are November 5, 1974, Warren County citizens voted to held at the Annett Nature Center. Each camp works create the Warren County Conservation Board. The with a different theme to enhance the experience and board’s purpose is to encourage a state of harmony educational value for the campers. Call the WCCB between people and the land communities upon at (515) 961-6169 or check the Warren County www.warrenccb.org [email protected] (515) 961-6169 50125 Iowa Indianola, Avenue 15565 118th County Conservation Board Warren which our lives and welfare depend, through programs Conservation web site at www.warrenccb.org for a of conservation, preservation and education. list of upcoming events, to schedule a program, or request the WCCB newsletter. You can help with the Five Warren County citizens are appointed by the WCCB’s educational efforts by joining the Warren County Board of Supervisors to five-year Friends of Warren County Conservation. terms on the conservation board, with a term expiring December 31 of each year. Meetings are held monthly and are open to the public. The Warren County Conservation Board currently manages more than 2,200 acres of land for the benefit The Annett Nature Center is filled with activity of county residents and visitors. A wide variety of year round. WCCB staff offer many environmental Rolling Thunder Prairie is a 282 acre wildlife activities are offered on the public lands the WCCB education programs and presentations. The ANC management area, dedicated as a state preserve, with conserves for this generation and generations to come. has information, interactive displays and a small a landscape dominated by native prairie, including collection of local species of live animals. You can visit 200 acres that have never been plowed. The preserve The picnic shelters at Hickory Hills, Otter Creek, the Annett Nature Center by appointment or during was purchased with assistance from Pheasants Forever Martensdale, and Grant Park are available for open hours. The ANC is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and the Wildlife Habitat Stamp Fund, a competitive reservation. The Annett Nature Center is also Monday through Friday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday grant program financed by those who purchase Iowa available for private use as the WCCB schedule allows. (March-October). hunting licenses. Details are available from the WCCB office. WCCB naturalists also provide educational programs A hilly area with a wooded creek, Rolling Thunder is in Warren County parks and schools. Staff works dominated Hickory Hills Park in classrooms with students and teachers to provide by a diverse Hickory Hills features a primitive camping area, a environmental experiences and information about population small pond, trails, and a large shelter with a raised local species and ecotypes. Programming is available of prairie deck. An old homestead site includes the original for specialty groups such as civic organizations and Bank Swallow Bend grasses storm cellar, farmhouse foundation, and barn—with scouts. WCCB naturalists work with every age 543 acres of upland and wetland habitats—including and forbs. a concrete floor and electricity added for park user group—pre-school to senior citizens. more than a mile of South River—Bank Swallow Hunting, convenience. A series of mounds built by Native Bend is a haven for fishermen, hunters, and bird fishing, Many outdoor environmental education events are Americans are also in the park. The barn and shelter watchers. Pheasants Forever, the Iowa Natural and berry sponsored by the WCCB. Several of the events are are very popular for family reunions, scout outings Heritage Foundation, the Wildlife Habitat Stamp picking are annual program, such as Kids’ Fish Day, the Owl and weddings. Fund, and the North America Wetlands Conservation favorites. Prowl, and the Prairie Picnic. Many more public Act all helped make this area a reality. Annett Nature Great Western Trail North River Greenbelt: Woodland Mounds Lundy Acres The Warren and Polk County Conservation Boards Wilson Woods Preserve A lowland wood near Middle River, Lundy includes a Center & ANC Park jointly manage this 16.5 mile asphalt trail. Trail heads short, pleasant trail and a picnic area. are located across from the Izaak Walton League Ruth Wilson donated this small bottomland wood on Before European settlers came to this area, Native Clubhouse on Valley Drive in Des Moines, at Inwood the North River, Wilson Woods is a protected green Americans lived along the rivers of Warren County. Iowa Department of Street in Martensdale and on county road G14 in space for Warren County, but has no public access. They were part of a culture of people who dwelled in Cumming. Your trip along the Great Western Trail villages located along most of the major watercourses Natural Resources North River Greenbelt: in Iowa and the eastern half of North America. They is a journey into history. It will take you through the The Iowa DNR is responsible for state parks and site of Lida, past the site of a World War II munitions did not leave a written record. Instead they left a Blue Flag Marsh variety of their cultural objects such as stone tools, forests, protecting the environment, and managing train derailment and fire near North River and across energy, fish, wildlife, and land and water resources Established by the Iowa Department of pottery and earthen mounds that help show us how the Churchville Prairie. in Iowa. The DNR manages various lands in Warren Transportation as a wetland mitigation site, Blue they lived. Evidence indicates that these people lived County and their main office may be reached at: Flag adjoins the Great Western Trail. The area successfully in this area for thousands of years. emphasizes constructed wetlands in the lowlands and Purchased with a grant from the Wildlife Habitat 502 E. 9th Street reestablished prairie on the associated uplands. Stamp Fund, Woodland Mounds Preserve contains Des Moines, IA 50319-0034 (515) 281-5918 The Annett Nature Center Park (ANCP) is 160 acres, 185 acres of timber that provides habitat for many North River Greenbelt: www.iowadnr.gov includes a five-acre pond and a ten-acre wetland. types of woodland wildlife, including many Lying adjacent to Lake Ahquabi State Park, the Swamp White Oak Tract neo-tropical migrant birds such as warblers. An DNR in Warren County: Annett Nature Center opened on Earth Day 1997, additional 140 acres are leased for public access. Another mitigation site, Swamp White Oak offers Lake Ahquabi State Park & the result of years of planning by the Warren County hiking trails and access to approximately three- Banner Lakes at Summerset State Park: Conservation Board (WCCB) and the foresight and quarters of a mile of North River. Otter Creek Park (515) 961-7101 benevolence of Warren County citizens such as Ellis Ahquabi campground: (515) 961-7051 Annett. The nature center has interpretive exhibits, Grant Park Otter Creek’s shady picnic area, winding trails, Wildlife areas: (515) 238-6936 staff offices, and a community room that is available secluded campsites, prairie restoration area, and small Law enforcement: (515) 238-4847 for rental. Proceeds from the sale of the Warren Ferold and Dorothy Grant donated this 150 acre pond offer a County Farm and Resource Enhancement and park in northeast Warren County. It features a picnic pleasant variety The Nature Conservancy Protection (REAP) funds helped to create the ANC. Summerset Trail shelter, a secluded pond, and winding woodland trails. of recreational and educational The Nature Conservancy is an international, Stretching eleven miles from Carlisle to Indianola, the The park serves as the hub for WCCB activities, opportunities nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the Summerset Trail passes through rolling hills and river Zo-El Annett Woods acting as the focal point for many school field trips, to park visitors. diversity of life on Earth. Berry Woods and Medora bottom wetland as it winds from town to town. Near In 1983, Ellis Annett donated this 10 acre woodland public programs, and the WCCB Day Camps. The 80 acre Prairie are privately held lands. For information or the midpoint of the trail, on the south bank of the to the Warren County Conservation Board as a Prairie grasses and forbs, a wildlife viewing blind, park was permission to access these areas, contact TNC at: Middle River, sits the village of Summerset. Restroom memorial to his late wife Zona and in memory of two observation towers, and a butterfly garden acquired by the facilities with running water are available at the his mother. From its cozy picnic area, Zo-El features 303 Locust Street, Suite 402 featuring sculptures and native flowers are among the WCCB in 1976, Indianola trail head and pit toilets are available at the a winding trail that climbs to the back of the park, Des Moines, IA 50309 attractions. WCCB maintenance and operations are the board’s first Carlisle trail head and at Banner Lakes at Summerset crossing a long suspension bridge, affording the hiker Phone: (515) 244-5044 based here. land purchase. State Park near the halfway mark. a beautiful stroll through a lovely setting. www.nature.org Warren County Parks & Recreation Areas LEGEND Warren County, Iowa Freeway Major Highway Paved County Road 000 000 000 000

Load more