OTTUMWA —
While an idea is floating around to possibly move the campground from Ottumwa Park, the city’s parks director said that’s not likely to happen.
“It was an idea the [Ottumwa Regional] Legacy Foundation had, but at the park board meeting, it sounds like the majority of people there don’t want to move the campground,” said Parks Director Gene Rathje of this week’s Parks Advisory Board meeting.
Instead, he hopes to make improvements to the campground where it stands by paving camping pads and eventually installing sewer dump sites at each campsite.
But that all costs money, and campground improvements Rathje has tried to include in past budget cycles have been cut out.
“I tried last year,” he said. “Their reasoning is that the city uses CIP [Capital Improvements Program] for streets and sewers, which I understand. So I’ll continue applying for grants to improve our park system.”
The campground has been in the park since around 1970, said Wapello County Supervisor Jerry Parker.
“A lot was built with federal grants,” Rathje said. “They built the shower house and most of the original camping spaces in section 1 and 2 with federal money. They paved all of the camping spaces in section 1 and four of the camping spaces in section 2. They only got four in section 2 paved, I think, because they ran out of money.”
The campground is comprised of five sections, totaling nearly 200 camping spaces. When RAGBRAI came to town in 2009, the city was able to create even more spaces at the site with extra hook-up boxes.
In April and May, the campground sees around 25 campers, but by the time the Ottumwa Pro Balloon Races, Fourth of July and Labor Day weekends roll around, the campground is at capacity.
“The space Legacy has been talking about — and this is strictly preliminary — is the southeast corner of Ottumwa Park between the Babe Ruth field and the Boy Scouts cabin,” Rathje said of the idea for a new location. “Off the top of my head, that could cost $400,000, maybe $500,000.”
The campground, where it stands now, would essentially be abandoned, Rathje said, and nothing would be able to be salvaged to transport to a new site.
“Realistically, I think moving the campground is not very likely,” he said. “It will probably stay right where it is, and we’ll make improvements.”
The campground will open for the season on April 1. Those who would like to apply to be campground hosts for the 2013 season may call Rathje at 641-682-8208 or City Attorney/Human Resources Manager Joni Keith at 641-683-0600.
Ottumwa
Ottumwa Park Campground move not likely
Parks director hopes improvements can be made to 40-year-old site
- Ottumwa
-
- City to purchase radios, antennas OTTUMWA — New communications equipment will soon sit atop the Memorial Park water tower. At its meeting Tuesday night, the City Council approved the emergency purchase of new radios, antennas and related equipment to be secured on the water tower. Af
-
New communications tower assembled
OTTUMWA — Ottumwa's newest 250-foot structure was constructed in just more than four hours.
-
Storefronts to get a big facelift
OTTUMWA -- A fresh set of facades in one city block could build momentum for the revitalization of downtown Ottumwa. The city has received conditional approval for a $500,000 grant from the Iowa Economic Development Authority's downtown master facade
-
Tenco productivity increases thanks to new equipment
OTTUMWA — There's nothing like good partners who team up and improve the world around them. Tenco Industries and John Deere Ottumwa Works have teamed up to improve the way Tenco workers handle all the containers they receive for recycling and other
-
Date set in Pam Ward retrial
A date has been set for the retrial of former Ottumwa Transit Authority Director Pam Ward.
- Changes coming to council chambers OTTUMWA — Four city officials are up for re-election this fall, though only two plan on running. Mayor Frank Flanders, as well as Councilmen Bob Meyers, Brian Morgan and Jeremy Weller, will finish out their terms at the end of this year. "Things are
-
Hatchet attack suspect pleads guilty
OTTUMWA — The Ottumwa man charged in last summer's hatchet attack is headed to prison. Charles Julian Jason Zwer, 27, pleaded guilty this month to willful injury causing serious injury, a Class C felony, and assault while participating in a felony, a
-
Lightning damages city communications equipment
OTTUMWA — After lightning struck the water tower in Memorial Park, the public works department has been struggling to communicate with the city's pump stations. In May, lightning struck Memorial Park's water tower, damaging nearly $20,000 worth of ra
-
Trial set in 1974 murder case
OTTUMWA — The man accused of murdering a 17-year-old Ottumwa girl 39 years ago will stand trial this fall. Robert Eugene Pilcher, 67, was charged with first-degree murder in November after DNA evidence linked him to the death of Mary Jayne Jones, 17,
- Ottumwan arrested for sexual assault OTTUMWA — The Ottumwa Police Department has arrested an Ottumwa man on a sexual assault charge. The OPD reported that on Friday, law enforcement received a report that a 14-year-old girl had been sexually assaulted. During the course of the initial i
- More Ottumwa Headlines
