Two of Iowa’s state parks could become major “world-class” tourist attractions under a plan being hatched by the Department of Natural Resources. Officials are considering ways to upgrade the facilities to become so-called “destination parks.”D-N-R spokesman Ross Harrison says Honey Creek State Park near Centerville and Brushy Creek near Fort Dodge are the two likely candidates. Facilities to be added could include: lodges, fine dining restaurants, pools, tennis courts, golf courses, cabins, beaches, marinas and horseback riding. This plan is a big change, as Harrison says Iowa parks have historically been small and modest.The D-N-R plans to ask the state legislature for an initial investment of two-and-a-half million dollars to do engineering work on the two parks.He says construction could begin on the upgrades in 2002 at the earliest.
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