Thank you for the Brooks Golf public input

The Dickinson County Conservation Board would like to say a huge THANK YOU to all who attended the public meeting regarding Brooks Golf on Wednesday and to those who have submitted written comments.

No decision will be made regarding the future of the 230 acres until at least the conservation board’s July meeting. We will continue to take public input until that time, so if you have questions or comments, please e-mail naturecenter@co.dickinson.ia.uscreate new email.

An anonymous donation led to the acquisition of the former Brooks National Golf Club by the Dickinson County Conservation Board in March.

A donation of $3 million was given to the Conservation Foundation of Dickinson County — the non-profit fundraising arm for the Dickinson County Conservation Board — to purchase the Brooks National Golf Club when it was put up for sale earlier this year. The sale was final on March 8, and the CFDC then gave possession of the 230 acres, including the pro shop, restaurant and maintenance structures, to the Dickinson County Conservation Board.

Minerva’s Restaurant, Arrowwood Resort & Conference Center, and the Highway 71 frontage property are separate entities and were not included in the transaction.

Part of the donation agreement was to place a conservation easement on the land to protect it from residential and commercial development in perpetuity, and the Dickinson County Conservation Board is working with the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation on this easement.

Thank you again for your patience and the public input in this process as the conservation board works to make sure that the land is being utilized in the best way possible for residents, visitors and taxpayers as well as for the conservation and preservation of wildlife, water quality and the environment in general.