Beautification effort receives WCDA grant

For the past few years a group of Worth County residents have worked to improve the Worth County Fairgrounds and make the facilities more attractive for year round use. Thanks to a grant from the Worth County Development Authority (WCDA), the Worth County Beautification group will be able to add two major projects in the next year.

The Worth County Beautification efforts began as a project developed by Worth County residents and staff and students at Iowa State University Landscape Architecture Extension. Their collaboration led to a multi-phase plan to update and improve the fairgrounds.

Recent visitors to the fairgrounds have likely noticed some of the improvements that have already taken place. That includes the walking trail that now lines the outer edge of the fairgrounds. New fences have also been installed along the fairgrounds. Over 50 new trees are also in place all around the fairgrounds.

The grant that Worth County Beautification received, for $35,362, will pay for two of the more costly aspects of the fairgrounds project, including a gazebo in a picnic area on the north end of the fairgrounds and an RV park on the east side.

With funding in place for those projects, others will advance. Another project, to be planted in the northeast corner of the fairgrounds, is a butterfly garden, being taken on by the Green Thumb Garden Club. This spring, water lines will also be put in place. Other projects are in the works, that the Beautification group plans to reveal in the future.

For the WCDA, the Beautification project is another of those granted that seemingly fits perfectly with their stated goal: "Grow Worth County." As the Worth County Fairgrounds are continually improved and beautified, new year-round uses will be available for Worth County residents, including exercise via the walking trail, picnics and sightseeing in the gazebo and near and around the butterfly garden and prairie areas, and a place to stay in the RV park. These improvements and more will also be yet another reason for tourist and visitors to make Worth County their travel destination.