McKinley Lake drain begins early August

Creston Parks and Recreation board Wednesday reviewed the plan and schedule for the improvement project at McKinley Lake, as funding was approved by Creston voters in the November 2021 election.

Draining the water is scheduled to begin in early August. Park and Recreation board members are expecting notification from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to allow unlimited fishing in the lake prior to draining the water. Board members were expecting at least a week for the lake to be empty.

The improvement project, valued at $4 million with all engineering fees, will include dredging. Years of silt build up have made the lake only be as deep at 4 feet in places. The plan is to remove much of the silt. The material will be placed at strategically determined locations as hauling what is essentially mud. Plans are to have the lake as deep as 12 feet in areas.

Work is expected to last through 2025. Board members are hoping snow melt and spring rains in 2026 will begin refilling McKinley Lake.

The board is also researching a grant for other improvements at the lake. Included are a boat dock, shoreline work and handicap accessible parking features. The total for the amenities are $170,000. The grant will pay 75% of the cost and the park board will pay 25% percent.

The park board is also considering a kakyak launch device. Kayak users secure a kayak on the platform that is just a few inches below the water’s surface. The rider gets in the kayak, unhooks the kayak from the platform and then uses handrails to pull the kayak into the water. The platform prevents the kayak from tipping during entering or exiting. Board members are researching grants for funding.

Because of the work at the lake, this year will be the last McKinley Park Festival until the lake is restored. Scheduled for Saturday, July 27, the event is family friendly. Fishing will be from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The Creston Fire Department will organize water fights from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Inflatables will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The park board will provide hot dogs from 10:30 a.m. until they are gone.

In other park and recreation board news...

Approval was given to the Iglesia De Cristo church for use of the city soccer fields. The church will have a soccer tournament fundraiser from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 3.

The next park and recreation board meeting is scheduled Aug. 14.