When dedicated individuals partner with governmental bodies and private sector entities in pursuit of a shared vision, amazing things can result. The effort to create a place near Fort Dodge where people can ride their ATVs on trails surrounded by natural beauty is a dramatic example of just such an achievement.

A collaboration involving a wide array of partners turned what was a difficult-to-achieve project into a major community asset – the Gypsum Off-Highway Vehicle Park. It is the largest park of its type in Iowa. It’s so outstanding that it is drawing patrons not only from all across the Hawkeye State, but also from throughout the Midwest and beyond.

The park is near Webster County Road P59 and 220th Street. It covers 800 acres and has 65 miles of trails. There is a lake, motocross track, an area for teaching children how to ride off-highway vehicles and picnic shelters. A campground is being developed. More than $6.5 million has been invested in the park. That money came from license fees paid by owners of ATVs and snowmobiles.

On June 8, this magnificent accomplishment gained national recognition. A tribute to the effort made by many individuals and groups to create the park took place in Washington, D.C. The Coalition for Recreational Trails presented representatives of the Gypsum OHV Park with that group’s annual Achievement Award.

“Basically, they’re giving us an award for all of the collaboration and partnerships that we developed in using the property for the development of trails,” Dennis Plautz, the chief executive officer of the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance, told The Messenger last week.

A listing of the entities that made the park possible is long and impressive. The following groups were involved in creating the park: Webster County Improvement Corp., the Fort Dodge city government, the Webster County government, Webster County Conservation, the Fort Dodge Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the Webster County Wheelers, the National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council, the Growth Alliance, the Iowa Department of Transportation, United States Gypsum, National Gypsum, Georgia-Pacific Corp. and state legislators from the area.

State Rep. Helen Miller wrote legislation that helped make the park possible. Her bill changed liability laws, which then enabled gypsum companies to donate the land for park use. Many other individuals also worked tirelessly for years to make it a reality.

The Messenger applauds the teamwork that made this marvelous park possible. We applaud the CRT’s decision to single out this project for national attention.