Last week the Gypsum City Off-Highway Vehicle Park celebrated a major expansion. The second phase of this remarkable recreational area is now open. This enhancement adds 34 miles of trails in this huge outdoor complex south of Fort Dodge. Traversing the park one passes through fields and forested areas and by two lakes. Assorted wildlife are plentiful in this outdoor wonderland.

The park opened to the public in July 2006 and has been growing and evolving ever since. It serves all-terrain-vehicle, dirt bike and snowmobile enthusiasts. The initial phase, which consisted of 15 miles of trails and a motocross track attracted fans from not only Webster County, but also the entire Hawkeye State and beyond. With the latest additions, the park is well on its way to becoming one of the most significant venues of its type in the entire Midwest.

At the celebratory event Friday, which included an open house and ribbon cutting, the importance of this park to the county and state was stressed.

“This is the OHV destination park,” David Downing, the off-highway vehicle program manager for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, said.

That theme was highlighted by many of those in attendance. Also emphasized was the extent of collaborative effort that led to the creation and development of the park. Governmental, community and private sector leaders have worked in harmony to turn the park from an idea first conceived by Larry Leiting, retired former owner of Carpet World Flooring America, of Fort Dodge, into a thriving reality. Among those who helped make this remarkable community asset possible were the Webster County Improvement Corp., which owns the land, and members of an OHV club called the Webster County Wheelers. City and Webster County officials as well as the local delegation in the Legislature have also played key roles.

“The level of collaboration on this project is really unprecedented,” Fort Dodge City Manager David Fierke said.

So far, just under $5 million has been spent on developing the park, according to Dennis Plautz, chief executive officer of the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance. He said that is money from assorted grants, not property tax dollars.

Further development is planned for the years just ahead. A full-service campground featuring septic service, water and electricity is scheduled to open next year. There is also land on the east side of Webster County Road P59 that will eventually be developed into an additional riding area.

This is all terrific news not only for fans of the types of outdoor activity the park facilitates, but also for our town and county. This impressive park helps stimulate the local economy by bringing folks to our community who might otherwise never have a reason to journey – and spend money – here.

The Messenger applauds the expansion of this OHV park and welcomes the plans for its further development. It is a magnificent community asset.