One of Iowa’s busiest state parks is getting a facelift. Angela Corio, with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, says they’re looking at two potential designs for a new campground at Lake Manawa State Park in western Iowa.
"The existing campground is very small," Corio said. "There are only 70 sites, they’re very cramped and very few have lake views. It has an older electrical system and an older shower building." Both proposed renovations would move the campground to the north side of the lake.
One design would significantly increase the number of campsites, but would restict the use of the boat ramp to campers only. "In this concept, the number of campsites would increase to 100. All of them would have electricity, sewer and water systems," Corio said.
The other design concept would offer fewer campsites, but would continue to offer boat ramp use to the general public. "Either way, they will have a fabulous new campground," Corio said. Lake Manawa’s campground plays host to more than 20,000 campers every year. A public meeting to discuss the proposed renovations is scheduled for 7 p.m. today at the Western Historic Trails Center in Council Bluffs.
Corio says the design concepts could be changed and there is currently no timeline or funding for the project.