Iowa Office of Outdoor Recreation Created

Governor Kim Reynolds has signed an executive order creating a new Iowa Office of Outdoor Recreation within the Iowa Tourism Office.

Reynolds will appoint a 10-member task force to come up with recommendations by early October for how this state government start-up should operate.

According to Reynolds, about $6 billion of the state’s Gross Domestic Product is linked to outdoor pursuits, like hunting and fishing, biking and hiking the state’s hundreds of miles of trails or visiting Iowa’s 63 state parks and recreation areas. Iowa Economic Development Authority Director Debi Durham says the new office will support long term planning and help communities find funding and regional partners for projects.

According to the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, Iowa is the 25th state to establish an outdoor recreation office. Chad Reese, a vice president for Winnebago Industries, lobbied for the move.

There is no additional state funding for the effort Reynolds announced today. The governor signed her executive order at Lake Ahquabi State Park near Indianola.