Accomplishments & Goals:

​

2015

• Took possession of Martin Marietta property April 20, 2015.    Accepted Reclamation Donation. 

• Cleaned up leftover materials from quarry work.

• Created boat ramp on SW lake.

• Established Dike walking trail.

• Reroofed Block building.

• Repaired West Pole building.

• Razed East Pole building.

• Partnered with Landscaping students at Iowa State University student-master plan exercise for ideas for park development. Shared with Community in several public forums. 

2016

• Opened park to Public in Spring 2016.

• Created 10 site primitive campground.

• Purchased 60” deck zero radius turn mower.

• Received Prairie Meadows Community Betterment Grant for 8 ADA picnic tables to be utilized in all 6 city parks.

• Hosted 1st Free Kids fishing tournament with free lunch and prizes.

• Hosted first Rock the Quarry fundraiser concert.  Ticket Sales 300+ / $3400 raised.

• Extended Dike Trail loop to 3.5 miles around East Lake.

• Conducted naming contest to name Park, with final name as Quarry Springs Park.

• Launched Quarry Springs Website and Facebook Page.

• Awarded IDNR REAP grant for lakeshore improvements ($53K).  Completed improvements over next 2 years.

• Created Park Master Plan and Estimate operating and capital budget thru major stakeholders and community input.

2017

• Purchased targets and created indoor archery range with funds donated by area businesses.  .

• Tuck-pointed and painted exterior of block building.

• Purchased 6 passenger Polaris Ranger ATV work vehicle 

• Planted 200 trees along entry road and on lakeshores.

• Negotiated donation of 300 ton of rock to create new road on west end of park to provide easier access to more parts of the park.

• Hosted Colfax-Mingo Schools 5th grade classes for 2 day conservation education event with help from ISU Extension Office, Jasper County Conservation staff and speakers on fish/wildlife in Iowa.

• Hosted (2) Rock the Quarry fundraising concerts. Ticket Sales approx. 225 / $2300 raised

• Hosted 2nd Annual free kids fishing derby tournament with free lunch and prizes

• Framed in new windows donated by World of Windows and painted interior walls with painted donated by Diamond Vogel as part of “Paint Iowa Beautiful” program for Block Building on QSP Park grounds.  

• Purchase 40 wood picnic tables with funding support from Jasper Community Foundation.   Boy Scout Troop of Altoona helped assemble and place tables on Park Ground.

2018

• Signed contract with 1st concessionaire for rental and sales of kayaks at QSP.

• Erected kiosks for kayak rentals nest to boat ramp to southwest lake.

• Sponsored and funded Eagle Scout project to erect a self-registration information kiosk for QSP, including self-serve primitive parking instructions.

• Sponsored and funded Eagle Scout projects create and place signs marking each half mile on the 3.5 mile Dike Loop Trail.  

• Hosted large scale Fundraising Concert (Rock the Quarry) with big name bands.  Create larger event weekend for town to include other activities to make it a “weekend” in Colfax with many things to do (disc golf, softball tournament, restaurants, hotels, fishing, kayaking, golf).

• Hosted 3rd Annual Fishing Derby first weekend in June, free event for kids who attend.  Host free lunch and prizes.

• Hosted Colfax-Mingo Schools 5th grade classes for 2 day conservation education event in April.

• Hosted Baxter Elementary School for a 1-day event on QSP Grounds.

• Seek development partner for appropriate commercial development in NW corner of QSP to fund other parts of park for further public use.

• Build 2 shelters for picnic use (grant).

• Build and place 25-30 picnic tables within park (grant).

• Construct road to east side of island on Park (grant).

• Open Concessionaire for kayak rentals most days during summer months. Start up in April.

• Install sewer and water to island for basic infrastructure needs.

• Complete interior painting and window replacement of west portion of Block Building.

• Plant trees on park premise (funded by grant).

• Place benches on dike trail.

2019

• Hosted and funded Eagle Scout Project to create and place (5) Osprey nesting platforms around the park with the assistance of Mid-American Energy.

• Hosted 4th Annual Free Kids Fishing Derby first weekend in June with free lunch and prizes.

• Hosted Colfax-Mingo 5th grade classes for 2-day conservation education event.

• Hosted Baxter Elementary School for 1-day conservation event.

• Create Paddle-Skedaddle Kayak and Running Biathlon fundraising event.

• Installed 3 off road bike trails along Dike Trail.

• Sponsored and funded Eagle Scout project that created a kayak-in/hike-in Boy Scout primitive campground at the far southeast corner of park grounds.

• Acquired and placed 40 concrete culverts to sink during thaw and act as new fish habitat.

• Designed and place new lit sign at entrances to Park, with donated funds from the Bob Brown Family.

• Oversaw clean-up and managed repairs to Block building as created by severe wind storm including new roof and furniture.

 

2020

• Added 5 new primitive campgrounds for a total of 15 sites to rent.

• Opened new access road to the east of end of the “island.”

• Opened new parking area at the west end (NW corner of SW Lake) for better access for those that like to fish.

• Sponsored and funded Eagle Scout project to place 5 park benches along trails around the park grounds. Funds donated for all 5 as a memorial/in honor of gift in kind.

• Renewed concessionaire’s contract for kayak rental at QSP:  seasonal Memorial Day to Labor Day.

• From April 2014 through end of Dec 2020, we have been blessed with over 37,000 volunteer hours.

2021

• Build (3) park picnic table size park shelters on shores of SW lake.  Funds donated entirely by Bob Brown Family of Colfax.

• Promote and accept reservations of west side of Block building for events.

• Design, build and operate a 30 site RV Campground and Shower/Restroom Facility.

• Design and build new “pedestrian” bridge over isthmus opening between east and north lakes for boat traffic between 2 lakes.

• Sponsor and fund Eagle Scout project to purchase and place additional picnic tables around the park grounds.

• Sponsor and fund Eagle Scout project to place pvc pipe fishing line disposal holders along lake shores.

• Host 5th Annual Free Kids Fishing Derby on the first Saturday in June with free lunch and prizes.

• Host Colfax-Mingo 5th grade classes for a 2-day conservation education event in Spring.

• Host Baxter Elementary School for a 1-day conservation even in Spring. 

• Conduct fundraising event to include a progressive Kayak dinner in late summer. Funds to go to RV campground project.​​

 

2022​

• Hosted 5th annual Colfax-Mingo Schools 5th Grade classes 2-day conservation education event.​​

• Hosted 5th annual free kids fishing tournament with free lunch and prizes donated by area businesses and individual donors. 

• Created game area with corn hole, rope toss, and tetherball as part of an Eagle Scout project.

• Hosted 1st annual Progressive Paddle Picnic fundraiser event.

• Hosted 2nd annual Paddle Skedaddle race comprised of a 3.5 mile run and a 2 mile kayak duathlon.

• Opened road behind Kum & Go with additional parking areas.

• Purchased and placed 10 memorial park benches as part of an Eagle Scout project.

• Hosted 2nd annual Paddle Skedaddle race comprised of a 3.5 mile run and a 2 mile kayak duathlon.

• Negotiated the donation of the polishing of the concrete floor in event venue.

• Created four bike trails as off-chutes of the dike trail.

• Received Destination Iowa Grant to pay for bringing water & sewer into park, creation of 40 RV electric and sewer hookup campsites, an ADA dock and kayak launch, and rock to create additional parking.

• Received Iowa DNR Forestry Grant for Derecho damage replacement to pay for 100 trees. Students, teachers, and parents along with other volunteers joined to plant and stake in several areas of the park.

​

2023​

• Hosted 6th annual Colfax-Mingo Schools 5th Grade classes 2-day conservation education event.

• Hosted 6th annual free kids fishing tournament with free lunch and prizes donated by area businesses and individual donors.

• Erected a large metal sign as a memorial honoring former park board member Pete Parvi by renaming the dike trail as “The Pete Parvi Pathway”.

• Created an additional 12 primitive campsites.

• Hosted 2nd annual Progressive Paddle Picnic fundraiser event.

• Received Prairie Meadows Community Betterment Grant for the purchase and placement of a warning siren to allow for a safer I-80 corridor area.

• Hosted 3rd annual Paddle Skedaddle race comprised of a 3.5 mile run and a 2 mile kayak duathlon.

• Hosted Country Foodie Fest fundraiser.

​

2024​

• Received donation of 40+acres that comprised the former Schlosser Trust property that houses the Colfax Historical Society and area that abuts the South Skunk River.

• Hosted 7th annual free kids fishing tournament with free lunch and prizes donated by area businesses and individual donors.

• Hired part-time Campground Host and will continue annually

• Purchased and placed ADA dock with handicap kayak launch

• Added 40 RV campsites with 35 and 50 amp electrical hookups

• Added 4 stall shower and toilet facility for campers

• Added dump station for RV camper refuse

​

2025​

• Remodeled interior of the east half of the park office and painted exterior of entire building

• Hosted workday to plant 50 new trees in the RV campground area

• Will host 8th annual free kids fishing tournament with free lunch and prizes donated by area businesses and individual donors.

• Will host 4th annual Paddle Skedaddle race comprised o a 3.5 mile run and a 2-mile kayak duathlon.

• Will host grand opening of the RV 40 campsite campground over Memorial Day weekend

• Opened Restroom and shower facility

• Opened dump station

• Opening 18-hole disc golf course in summer