Hundreds celebrate re-opening of Central Park

“The Central Park restoration effort attempts to provide a high-quality recreational resource that supports a healthy fishery and provides a lake that is appealing for outdoor recreation activities such as swimming, fishing & boating.” 

This is the vision of Jones County’s Central Park Lake Restoration Project, which took about eight years to accomplish thanks to so many partnerships that were forged. 

The evening of Sept. 5 provided the perfect setting to officially re-open the lake after a complete dredging project. A couple hundred people were on hand to celebrate the completed project as Conservation Director Brad Mormann thanked everyone for their support through the years. 

“The exciting part is all of the donors and folks who helped out and contributed toward the project,” praised Mormann. “This was a huge project; the biggest one we’ve ever done in our history. It took every one of those individuals, every one of those grants and donors to be able to make the project successful. It was a huge undertaking.” 

The lake was built in 1965, and has seen many years of use. 

“Over the years, things started to occur with the lake, natural maturation of the lake,” said Mormann. 

Some of those issues included algae and high pH levels in the lake. Mormann said those issues spurred Conservation to do something about the condition of the lake. 

“That’s what really got us going,” he said. 

To kick off the planning process, the Jones County Conservation, at the time, and former director Larry Gullett came together. 

“They started to work with other professionals in the field to see what they could do to improve the lake,” Mormann said. 

Mormann came into the role and project in 2013. 

George and Rose Pearson, who live adjacent to the project, were also quite instrumental in getting this project completed. The Pearsons sold Conservation some property “in the watershed that allowed them to protect the watershed, put some ponds and wetlands in and all of the drainage material.” In addition, all of the sediment removed from the lakebed ended up in a valley on the Pearson property as well. 

Over the winter, Mormann said people came out to Central Park in droves to witness the dredging of the lake. 

“This winter we started working out here it was the busiest winter we’ve ever seen in our history,” Mormann said. 

Over 12,000 tons of riprap was placed around the lake against the shoreline. 

Within the lake itself, 220 fish habitat structures were added. Seventy trees (90 percent ash) were placed on the bottom of the lake. Nine pea gravel spawning beds were also added. 

Mormann said throughout the summer, Park Ranger John comment on the number of people coming into the park, either to camp or utilize the new and improved facilities. Klein would continuously 

“More and more people were coming out here and camping, using the beach and fishing. That was the greatest evidence to all of us that this project really turned out well and the public seemed to be enjoying it,” reported Mormann. 

The Iowa DNR was a primary partner on the lake project, assisting Conservation through planning, funding, engineering, managing contractors and making it all happen. 

“Without them, we probably couldn’t have done it, or at least not to the level we did,” said Mormann. 

George Antoniou with the DNR Lake Restoration Program noted that when working with Jones County Conservation, projects not only get done, but then some. 

“It struck me just how much more we were able to accomplish from some of our original goals,” acknowledged Antoniou. 

He said some of the projects that went above and beyond included additional fishing piers and ADA accessibility. 

“We really rarely see this kind of outpouring of grants and donors. It sets the bar for future projects in terms of what can be accomplished when people work together,” Antoniou said. “We’re very proud to be part of this partnership with you.” 

Conservation Board member Dave Tabor also thanked all those who had a hand in this project from start to finish, including those who used to serve on the JCCB and Board of Supervisors. Tabor said creating partnerships is important. 

“This is just a great story about shared visions, partnerships and the great result that’s been able come from that.” 

Tabor said working with the DNR brought about a unique knowledge base. 

“The DNR shared advice and knowledge of how to maintain lakes like this,” he said. “With the work that’s been done, we have 92 percent of the watershed under control. Future siltation of the lake should not be as big of a problem as it was.” 

Central Park has a long history in Jones County, something Conservation would like to see continue for years to come. 

“The park that you’re standing in was always a diamond, but after all the work and cooperation, hopefully it’ll shine a little brighter and hopefully we’ll keep it shining for many years to come,” concluded Tabor.