The Corridor is a great place for families and businesses. But how can we make it better?
Years ago, economic development officials started touting trails and other outdoor amenities in their economic development pitches. It may have been a novel approach then, but it is no longer unique when assessing or advertising a region’s viability.
Now, you not only need a robust workforce, reliable electricity, and clean, available water, but you also need these outdoor amenities that have become essential to growing a community, county or region and to attracting and retaining businesses. That’s why we are supportive of the Johnson County Conservation Bond referendum on Nov. 5.
If approved by more than 60% of voters, the county will issue general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $30 million.
While we are reluctant to support increased taxing measures, protecting water quality and investing in more outdoor recreation opportunities is a prudent investment. In fact, the last bond referendum which passed in 2008 for $20 million, enabled those monies to attract an additional $17.1 million in grants and donations, according to bond supporters.
“The 2008 bond has a critical and incredible track record,” said Josh Schamberger, president of Think Iowa City and bond committee co-chair, along with Pat Heiden, a former Johnson County Supervisor.
Those funds enabled the county to acquire 1,176 acres of mostly non-farmable land for public use as well as 9.2 miles of trails.
The other aspect of the importance of outdoor recreation with trails and other amenities is remembering the COVID-19 pandemic and the importance of getting residents outside and into nature. When residents were unable to work or socialize due to the pandemic, trails and outdoor recreation became an even more important option.
We are hopeful that another pandemic won’t impact our region for many years, but if it does, these outdoor amenities will surely help.
“When we saw the impacts that those projects had, those public areas had on people trying to survive through COVID, with needing to get out and have physical activities … we really found that those projects we were able to complete with the 2008 conservation bond were very important,” said Brad Friedhof, Johnson County conservation program manager, according to a news article.
And preserving some wetlands or converting land to wetlands through land acquisition is also a prudent measure to prevent flooding.
As Johnson County continues to grow at a rapid pace with communities like Tiffin and North Liberty, smart investments in outdoor recreational amenities will only grow in importance, and continue to position the county and region for more economic development success. This bond issue will help.
