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Celebrating 100 Years at Iowa’s First State Park
DUNDEE, Iowa — The Iowa Department of Natural Resources kicked off it’s celebration of Iowa parks 2020. This is the 100th anniversary of the starting of Iowa’s state park system. The celebration was delayed due to COVID19, from May, the actual date of the first park’s dedication at Backbone State Park. The Backbone Park dedication was also delayed, it was to be held in October 1919, but flooding in the park delayed that.
“At a time when we’re all looking for the right place to get away to relax a little bit and recharge there’s never been a better time for Iowans to explore our network a great state parks,” said Governor Kim Reynolds. “Since the beginning this beautiful place has been one of our state’s natural treasures and the birth place for Iowa’s state park system, Backbone as you’ve heard is more than that. It’s been the backdrop for generations of family traditions.”
The land for the first state park was donated to the state for the purpose. Mike Carr, who’s grandfather made the donation also spoke at the event.
“The old name for the area was Devil’s Backbone, one which was discarded at the dedication ceremony, and the park formally became Backbone State Park,” said Carr. “However the vestiges of the old name still exist, Devils Oven, these are rock formations, and the Devil’s Stairway, which are found along the Backbone trail.”
Many outdoor tourism attractions in Iowa are seeing huge attendance, the same is true for Iowa’s State Parks.
“My family and I cherish and value the park system,” said Kayla Lyon, Iowa DNR Director. “We’ve camped we’ve hiked, we’ve fished, we’ve boated, we’ve gone trail riding on horseback, we’ve burned a lot of marshmallows in many of our parks and forests.”
Lyon said the Pandemic has caused more people to discover what Iowa has.
“During the past few months as people have been driven outdoors to our natural spaces, visitors have discovered the vast opportunities in our parks provide,” said Lyon. “More often than not we hear from folks who say they never realized they had these gems right out their back door.”
The Governor helped to unveil a new sign for the park, part of a redesigned look for Iowa Park signs.