land and pond acquisition
Arti and
Red’s Pond
We are excited to announce the newest Marshall County Conservation area, Arti and Red’s Pond. In the spring of 2023, the Iowa DOT offered Marshall County Conservation the opportunity to purchase a small 2.5-acre pond located just off Highway 330 after the original landowners declined to repurchase the property. The MCCB was fortunate to have recently received a donation from the Arti and Red Wansley Memorial to be able to purchase the property.
Arti and Red’s Pond is a beautiful pond that has bluegill, red-eared sunfish, crappie, and bass. It is a wonderful place for families to go fishing. The pond is surrounded by a restored prairie and is home to many types of insects, birds and amphibians. It is also located just off the Highway 330 Bike Trail.
Currently, the MCCB is working to make the area more accessible, including the installation of a parking area and gate access off 250th Street, and installing a sign to make the new area easy to find. There has been a trail mowed around the pond. In the fall of 2023, Marshall County Conservation and the Friends of Marshall County Conservation will pursue funds to purchase two large floating docks with benches to place at the pond.
equipment replacement
Cross Country
Skis
Friends of Marshall County Conservation donated $6,500 to this project.
playground equipment
Green Castle Playground
Alongside the recently renovated lake and new campground construction at Green Castle, a safe and accessible playground will be built to replace the existing structure.
Friends of Marshall County Conservation donated $20,000 to this project. The matched funds for this project totaled up to $144,000
live music at grimes farm
Live & Local
Concert Series
The Friends organizes and puts on the “Live and Local” concert series at the Grimes Farm Amphitheater once per month during the summer. The Friends bring in a band and local food trucks for an enjoyable evening of music-this event also brings people out to one of our most heavily-used county parks and showcases the natural beauty of the area. A local trust has donated funds each year for the band booking fees. We ask for a free-will donation for the Friends from attendees during the intermission and usually raise several thousand dollars over the course of the summer.
Friends of Marshall County Conservation donated $20,000 to this project. The matched funds for this project from the Ann Keyser Trust
land and pond acquisition
Mann
Wetlands
This project began several years ago when Lawrence Mann approached Marshall County Conservation about purchasing his parents’ bottomland ground just south of Albion on Hwy 330. Growing up he had spent a lot of time enjoying the land and what it had to offer and wanted to give others the opportunity to love the land as much as he had. The Mann Family sold the land at a bargain rate to INHF to hold until Marshall County could raise the funds to purchase the property.
Through grants, donations, and memorials, we were able to secure enough funds for the property to be transferred to Marshall County’s ownership this past January.
The next steps are the restoration and management of the property. Marshall County Conservation will work with the Fish and Wildlife Service to restore parts to shallow wetlands. The goal will be to restore the area to native prairie to provide habitat for many birds and animals requiring this unique habitat. In the future, Marshall County will develop a parking lot and plans to install a shelter house with educational signage for those to stop at as they travel through the area.
Friends of Marshall County Conservation donated $20,000 to this project.
The matched funds for this project totaled up to $ 1.20 Million
Donors who were part of this purchase include: Marshall Tama Pheasants Forever (PF), Poweshiek PF, Mahaska PF, North Polk PF, Jasper County PF, North Butler PF, Warren County PF, Linn County PF, Artis Wansley Estate, Marshalltown Chamber of Commerce, Dr. Russ Watt Memorial and Children, Jim Dworzak, National Turkey Federation, Dr. Wessel, Eleanor Handorf Trust, Franklin E. Polley Memorials, Howard Stegmann Memorials, and other anonymous donors.
playground at grimes farm
Outdoor Musical
Playscape
Friends of Marshall County Conservation donated $9,400 to this project.
campground upgrades
Timmons Grove
Showers & Restrooms
In the summer of 2023, Timmons Grove South Campground received pre-constructed concrete bathroom and shower facilities. The four-stall family-style bathrooms are fully equipped with sinks, toilets, faucets, lights, hand driers, and shower stalls.
The shower house facility was made possible through the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the American Rescue Plan, Friends of Marshall County Conservation, and many other generous donors to the project. This new addition is one of the many improvements planned at Timmons Grove.
three bridges park improvements
Trail and Signage Upgrades
Friends of Marshall County Conservation donated $4,500 to this project.
educational programs
Summer
Camps
Every summer the Marshall County Conservation board puts on age appropriate summer camps for kids aged 4 through 6th grade. Campers have outdoor, hands-on fun while learning about and exploring the nature of Marshall County!
Friends of Marshall County Conservation donated $1,000 to this project.
derecho repair at three bridges
Suspension
Bridge Rebuild
As a result of the high winds from the derecho storm of 2020, fallen trees severely damaged the old swinging bridge in the 3 Bridges County Park. The Marshall County Conservation board worked alongside Clapsaddle-Garber Associates and Weidner Construction to redesign and replace the bridge.
Friends of Marshall County Conservation donated $8,000 to this project.
trail run at grimes farm
Zombie
Run 5K
The annual Zombie Run 5K takes place every October at Grimes Farm. Runners try to “survive” the trails by avoiding brain-eating zombies who will attempt to steal their brains (flags from flag football belts).
The zombies are community volunteers who hide throughout the marked trail. Volunteers playing the zombies are outfitted in costume and makeup to portray the creatures. As runners pass, the zombies try to grab the flags attached to their belts. If a runner makes it to the finish line with flags left, they are deemed survivors, but without any flags, they are deemed infected.
Registration includes swag items, a finisher medal, walking “dead” taco meal, zombie antidote (Gatorade) and zombie cookie. All proceeds from the registration fees were to benefit Grimes Farm.
Friends of Marshall County Conservation donated $400 to this project.
The matched funds were an additional $600
