Branstad focuses on parks during Dubuque stop

Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad went to several Dubuque-area recreational sites today to mark the first anniversary of Dubuque, Jackson and Jones counties becoming a Parks to People pilot region.

Branstad began his day in Maquoketa, Iowa, before joining City of Dubuque leaders for a lunch at National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium. After briefly touring the Bee Branch Creek Restoration Project, Branstad checked out the expanded E.B. Lyons Interpretive Center at Mines of Spain State Recreation Area.

“I’m impressed by the collaboration and the cooperation of these three counties,” Branstad said. “We’re going to have the centennial of the Iowa Parks system coming up here in five years, and we’d really like to be down the road in revitalizing and connecting the people of Iowa to the parks and the trails.”

The three counties are part of the Grant Wood Mississippi River Region within the Parks to People program. Officials were notified in September 2014 that the area was selected as a pilot region for the program. The state Legislature gave the region an initial $1.9 million. (full article…)

BY WILLIAM GARBE, Dubuque Telegraph Herald, October 7, 2015. william.garbe@thmedia.com

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