Press Release - Hannen Lake Park Receives Support

Improved accessibility to Hannen Lake Park Beach with a new sidewalk.

BLAIRSTOWN, IA – Benton County Conservation (BCC) is proud to announce the installation of a new accessible sidewalk at the Hannen Lake Park beach—another step forward in making outdoor recreation more inclusive and enjoyable for all.

This exciting project began when a visitor to Hannen Lake Park, Amy Williams, expressed a heartfelt hope to see better accessibility at the lake. After evaluating the terrain and consulting with contractors, a feasible route for a sidewalk was identified. Amy generously donated $3,000 to the Benton County Conservation Foundation (BCCF) to kickstart the project.

With continued support from the community—including funds raised at the annual BCCF Hannen Lake Chili Cook-Off, a BCCF t-shirt and dinner fundraisers, and additional contributions from both BCCF and Benton County Conservation, the project was well on its way. The final push came from Benton County Whitetails Unlimited, whose $4,000 donation completed the funding needed to finish the access sidewalk.

While work is still planned for a designated parking space and landing area, the core access is now complete and ready to use—a major milestone in improving accessibility at one of Benton County’s favorite recreation areas.

The Benton County Conservation Foundation plays a vital role in supporting the mission and projects of Benton County Conservation, helping to enhance public spaces, improve facilities, and expand opportunities for all who visit.

“We are thrilled to bring this vision to life,” said Shelby Williams, Director of Benton County Conservation. “It's a great example of what can happen when our community comes together to make outdoor spaces more inclusive for everyone.” Park Ranger, Cam Grubic, added, “community engagement has proven to be one of our most vital roles here. It allows us to hear what more we can do to pave the way for the future of our parks based on the needs of our patrons, making opportunities like this more exciting.”

If you're interested in supporting other park improvement projects across the county, please contact the Benton County Conservation Foundation at [email protected], call 319-472-4942, or visit www.bentoncountyia.gov/conservation.

Making strides and changing lives in Benton County—one project at a time.

Pictured: Lenny Engelking (Whitetails), Dale Henry (BCCF), Chris Pippert (Whitetails), Dan Schorg (BCCF), Kelly Johnson (BCCF), Paul Stults (BCCF), Cam Grubic (BCC)

Photo by: Brenda Engelking (Whitetails)