Government Shutdown Hasn't Affected State Parks

A news release:

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says calls are coming in to state park officers faster than they can be answered. 

Yes, Iowa’s state parks, including those like Honey Creek and Elk Rock that are on federal land, are open.

That’s the message being relayed during the federal government shutdown.

“It can be confusing about what is open and what isn’t, especially for parks on federal reservoirs,” said Jim Lawson, State Parks Bureau supervisor for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. “But Iowa’s state parks are open for business as usual.”

Walnut Woods State Park in West Des Moines is also open. For a listing of state parks, go to www.iowadnr.gov/parks

Facilities run by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the National Monuments and Federal Refuges and other federal areas are closed during the shutdown.