Lake Darling State Park: Iowa Time Machine September 17, 1950

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On September 17, 1950, the Iowa Conservation Commission officially dedicated Lake Darling State Park. Named for Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Jay N. “Ding” Darling, the park honors the influential Iowan's legacy as a conservationist.

Darling’s influence on Iowa’s public lands predated the park's dedication. Credited as the visionary behind the state’s 1933 Iowa 25-Year Conservation Plan, which brought all of Iowa’s state lands and waters under one agency, Darling long advocated for improved access to nature for all Iowans.

The 25-year plan included creating artificial lakes throughout southern Iowa. Lake Darling, near Brighton in Washington County, resulted directly from the project. Darling personally set the impoundment gate on the dam built to create the lake in a ceremony before the dedication. As the waters filled, Darling was again on hand in September 1950 to celebrate the dedication of the new lake and state park named in his honor.

Today, the 1,387-acre park offers visitors many opportunities to enjoy the outdoors in southeastern Iowa. An all-season lodge, camping cabins, the universally accessible Ding Darling Interpretive Pathway, and other amenities await visitors to the park named for one of Iowa’s most important early conservationists. #Iowa #OTD #History #Conservation #StateParks