Johnson County’s F.W. Kent Park is undergoing several enhancements to its campground to improve water quality as a result of the County’s investment of funds received from the federal government through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
The Kent Park Lake Restoration, completed in 2020, was a large-scale, multi-year watershed restoration project to improve runoff and water quality at the Lake. The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a record number of visitors to Kent Park as building closures and social distancing spurred outdoor recreation. The Park is free and open to the public, and offers fishing, swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding, trails, camping, and much more.
With Johnson County’s $3.4 million ARPA investment, the Conservation Department will replace the campground shower house and restroom facility, construct a new wastewater system for the shower house and dump station and dig a new well to provide potable water to the campground. This will not only help to improve water quality in the Lake, but will allow more individuals to enjoy the campground, park and recreational opportunities. More information about F.W. Kent Park is available at https://www.johnsoncountyiowa.gov/conservation/kent-park.
More information about ARPA and how it impacts Johnson County is available at https://www.johnsoncountyiowa.gov/arpa.