UPDATED 5/21/2020:

We greatly appreciate your support and trust, and we want the public to be able to continue to enjoy the outdoors as an opportunity to enhance both your physical and mental health, especially during this period that can create increased anxieties.

In accordance with CDC guidelines and state recommendations pertaining to COVID-19, we want to share with you important information about our parks and facilities.

At this point, our Parks and Glynns Creek Golf Course are open based on county public health recommendations. Our highest priority is the health and well-being of our visitors, volunteers and employees. During this time, we remain diligent in taking steps to make your visit as safe and enjoyable as possible.

Here’s how you can help:

• According to State of Iowa recommendations, limit your group to less than 10 people when visiting our parks.
• If you have been sick in the last two weeks, please stay at home for your health and the safety of others.
• Avoid popular areas where people may congregate, and also avoid larger groups in general.
• Please maintain distance between you and other visitors according to guidelines and recommendations by health officials. Please take into consideration the health of others when spending time outdoors.
• Use a Credit or Debit card to pay for your registration or golf course purchase, keeping our staff safe from any germs that could be transmitted through cash handling.
• Pack soap or hand sanitizer. Please be aware that all bathrooms and showers are closed.
• Follow your state’s shelter-in-place orders, please stay home if your state has mandated you to do so.
• Additional information on best practices for keeping you and your family safe can be found online at the CDC website. 

Here’s what we are doing:

• We are open for recreational camping. Camping is limited to campers with self contained units (those with internal water and restroom facilities) on a first-come-first-serve basis through 5/29/20. Primitive campgrounds will re-open and tent camping may resume starting 5/29/20. Please note that some campsites may be closed to ensure social distancing, and that the campgounds are open for registered campers only. No guests allowed at this time.
• We are open revised Summer Hours (6:00am – Dark), please note that all entrance gates are locked after hours.
• If you feel cancelling your reservation is the safest choice, we will waive cancellation fees for visits (cabins, shelters, church rentals) with arrival dates through June 30, 2020. To cancel without fees, contact the Administration Office at (563) 328-3280 or [email protected].
• We are implementing additional cleaning procedures, according to CDC guidelines, such as more stringent and frequent cleaning of cabins, restrooms, golf carts and other public areas.
• We are postponing programs and events until further notice. This will help keep visitors safe, and we will reassess this policy as things progress.
• We have temporarily closed our picnic shelters, playgrounds, restrooms and shower buildings, as these are popular areas that people tend to congregate and staff is unable to clean these as frequently as recommended to keep visitors safe.
• We have temporarily closed our offices and the Wapsi River Eagle View Eco Center to the general public. If you need to reach someone, you may call (563) 328-3280. An appointment may be made for urgent needs.
• We are opening the Dan Nagle Walnut Grove Pioneer Village and the Buffalo Bill Cody Homestead for visitors starting May 15th. This excludes group and tour activities.
• We are monitoring the situation. We promise to remain diligent and intentional in protecting you and making your visit a great experience. As conditions change, so may our policies on park visitation and overnight stays. We will keep you informed of any changes moving forward.

• Other areas of our parks that remain open for day use include: trails, roads, lake and river access points, boat ramps, shorelines, open natural areas, disc golf course at West Lake Park, and the Glynns Creek Golf Course.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation. We appreciate your support as we all work together to keep each other safe.

Roger A. Kean

Executive Director