Mahaska County Conservation Breaks Ground on Nature Playscape, Expands Offerings for 2025
The Mahaska County Conservation Board has officially broken ground on a new Nature Playscape project, a unique and interactive outdoor play area designed to connect children and families with nature.
The Mahaska County Conservation Board has officially broken ground on a new Nature Playscape project, a unique and interactive outdoor play area designed to connect children and families with nature. Located on the west side of the Environmental Learning Center (ELC), this multi-featured landscape is expected to be completed by mid-September, weather permitting.
The Nature Playscape is not a typical playground. Instead, it features natural elements and educational components, including a concrete sculpture of a fossilized mammoth skeleton, log traverses, musical play areas, pollinator gardens, and an outdoor classroom space. The design emphasizes creativity, exploration, and environmental education, all within a carefully landscaped area filled with native plantings and shaded seating.
Fundraising for the project began in earnest in 2023, with the Friends of Mahaska County Conservation taking the lead on grant writing and donations. Contributions from the McQuiston Trust, Iowa Economic Development Authority, and the Georgia Daily Trust, among others, helped push total fundraising over $500,000. MidwestOne Bank also presented a donation at the recent groundbreaking ceremony.
In addition to providing a space for recreation and learning, the playscape is designed to support the Conservation Board’s educational programming, which currently brings over 7,500 students to the ELC annually. The addition of the outdoor classroom will provide a gathering area for school groups and public events.
Alongside the playscape, Mahaska County Conservation is offering a full slate of programming for spring and summer 2025. Highlights include:
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New events like an evening canoe float, a nightcrawler hunt, and a terrarium-building workshop
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Summer day camps for children with a focus on nature education
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B.A.R.K. Ranger activities for dog owners and their canine companions
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Volunteer training opportunities and recognition
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A recent statewide award for a tourism promotional video
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Ongoing educational sessions for adults, youth, and all ages
The Woolly Mammoth exhibit at the ELC also remains a major draw, featuring a life-size replica skeleton on display alongside mammoth bones found in Mahaska County in 2010.
For a full schedule of programs or to learn more about the Nature Playscape project, visit www.mahaskaconservation.com or follow Mahaska County Conservation on Facebook. A digital copy of the Spring/Summer edition of The Prairie Star newsletter is also available for download at:
https://www.mahaskaconservation.com/…/prairie_star
As the playscape begins to take shape, Mahaska County residents can look forward to a space that blends outdoor fun, education, and conservation—built entirely with community support and designed to grow alongside the next generation.
