They called their little group Friends of Webster County Conservation.

That group, now much bigger and with a solid track record of providing money and volunteers for the park system, held its annual meeting and dinner Thursday evening in the lodge at Camp WaNoKi by Coalville.

During its existence, the group has raised more than $1 million for the county’s parks and trails, according to Matt Cosgrove, director of Webster County Conservation.

“It’s been a nice addition to what we do,” he said.

-Messenger photo by Bill Shea
Members of the Friends of Webster County Conservation listen to a presentation by Matt Cosgrove, director of Webster County Conservation, Thursday evening during the group’s annual meeting and dinner.

In recognizing the 20th anniversary of the group, Cosgrove noted that current board member Jerry Beck was a founder of the organization and has served as its treasurer since its inception.

The group now has 92 members.

The organization played a leading role in securing some needed funding for the Matt Cosgrove River’s Edge Discovery Center that opened last year.

A total of $500,000 was needed to match a $4 million state grant for the center along the Des Moines River in downtown Fort Dodge. The friends group raised about $557,000. The extra money is being used to help pay for exhibits in the center.

Cosgrove said the group’s contribution was part of a $22,292,223 investment in quality of life projects that included the Discovery Center, a natural playscape next to the center, a trail connecting Fort Dodge to Badger, and trails through Dayton and Gowrie.

The next phase of quality of life projects, he said, will include the construction of a large open air pavilion south of the Discovery Center, a trail along 160th Street and improvements in the area of the boat ramp on the Des Moines River near the former Sunkissed Meadows Golf Course.

During the annual meeting and dinner of the Friends of Webster County Conservation Thursday evening, the following volunteers were recognized.

Local businesses and organizations

Cargill

Elanco

Johnson Jaguars 4-H Club

Grace Lutheran Church

Fort Dodge Ford Lincoln Toyota

Koch Fertilizer

Georgia Pacific

Master Gardeners

Individuals

Volunteer greeters at the Matt Cosgrove River’s Edge Discovery Center

Connie Johnson

Lynn Rittgers

Fran and Barb Long

Cooper Marxen

John Thrams

Nancy Hamilton

Doug Janke

Doug Breyfogle

Matt Mitchell

Donnie Arends

Bob Singer

Camp hosts at both John F. Kennedy Memorial Park and Gypsum City OHV park

Mark Anderson

Deann Haden

Bruce Breeser