DNR gives Green Valley a face lift

Park visitors may notice something different visiting Green Valley in the coming weeks.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is installing dozens of signs this week, both replacing old signage and being put in new locations to better help visitors find their destinations.

“We’re going to have a lot more way finding, directional signage,” DNR Park Ranger Jason Hyde said. “There was no beach sign before or signs that directed people to our shelters.”

The ongoing project is happening in two phases — Entry portals were first followed by way finding and campground signage. Down the road, trail signage will be addressed, though likely not for several years.

DNR Central Office Program Planner Logan Draisey said the department is completing this project for close to 70 Iowa state parks.

“We go around and make a sign plan,” she explained. “We drive through the entire park and identify the locations where we need to put something to keep it consistent with other parks.”

Carpenter Tim Schutt out of the Lake MacBride State Park in Solon has been assisting Green Valley with the project. Hyde says their fortunate to still have their seasonal staff, Steve Moeller, Jon Carroll and Steve Birchard, to assist them in getting the signage installed. Also assisting is the park manager, Joe Burg.

Though they only started Monday, the work has been going smoothly. “We should be done by the end of the week,” Hyde said. “We’ve been going really fast with the equipment we have, augers. Tim’s got a lot of experience.”

Drivers should be aware of workers on Green Valley Road as the Union County Secondary Roads Department installs signs on the side of the road. “We’ve got a good partnership with them to help us install signs at the distances they need them from the road for the mowers,” Hyde said. “I’m hoping it will be done this week, but it will be soon. We have pretty much the outside of the park done except one or two signs, maybe.”

In addition to having extra signs, the signs themselves are of higher quality.

“We’ve shortened the messages so it’s easier to read as you drive by. It’s more clear, concise messaging,” Draisey explained. “The directional signs are reflective so headlights will bounce off of those. We’re putting them in advance of intersections so it prepares you with some time to turn.”

Though locals may know their way around the state park, the signage will be a big benefit for visitors.

Hyde said the youth site often rented by groups like Boy Scouts is difficult to locate. “It’s not even in our campsite, so a lot of people couldn’t even find it,” he said. “We’ll have signage now to direct them right to it.”

The signs on Green Valley Road will point drivers to different parts of the park like the boat ramps and shelters.

“Pretty much at every park we’re getting not just the main destinations like the beach, but everything that’s reservable so if someone has a reservation for a shelter or a cabin, they can find that reservable facility,” Draisey said. “A lot of our rules signs will have pictograms, bigger font size and the color contrast is closer to being ADA compliant.”

Green Valley is one of Iowa’s first state parks to go through this process, and Hyde said it will make a big difference for park visitors.

“The way finding is going to be much easier to find places in the park,” he said. “You’ll be able to find things much easier that way. The ruling is consistent throughout the park too.”