The Cherokee County Conservation Board continued to provide well-maintained parks, excellent education programs, and a range of facilities for the public to use. Several of their facilities received improvements including big updates at Silver Sioux Recreation Area, Redtail Ridge, and the Licklider Shooting Complex.
Silver Sioux saw eight campsites relocated across the road to the north. This not only creates more space for users, but it allowed the CCCB to upgrade the sites from water and electrical only to fully modern with the addition of sewer. Electrical was updated in the lower campground to include 50 AMP hook-ups.
Access was improved at Redtail Ridge by putting in a larger loading zone, making it easier for those with canoes and kayaks to enter and exit the Little Sioux River. Facility repairs were made to a back storage building located at the office property.
In June the Cherokee County Board of Supervisors made a motion to transfer the management of the county-owned property located at 5949 Little Sioux Road, commonly known as the Little Sioux Wildlife Area of the Rendezvous, to the Cherokee County Conservation Board. That property is also where the Cherokee Ridgerunners host their historical reenactment events. The area required extensive updates and improvements and work was begun immediately.
The county conservation board met on July 10 to review concerns presented by insurance representatives. The board then decided to temporarily close the park in order to address as many improvements and repairs as possible with the goal of reopening temporarily in the fall, specifically for the annual Ridgerunner Rendezvous event. In October the CCCB announced its intention to rename the facility in honor of local conservationist and outdoor enthusiast Les Licklider.
Some of the planned upgrades and repairs to the site included bringing electrical areas up to code, installing bathrooms that are suitable for regular cleaning and are ADA accessible, updating or repairing structures, and installing standard protocol safety measures at the shooting range.
Future development plans for this property include a trap/sporting clay area as well as an archery range and a 3-D target trail.
The property consists of a rifle/pistol range with 25, 50, and 100-yard shooting distances. In the future, the hope is to expand to include a trap area and archery area with a 3-D target trail. Even more than that, the CCCB hopes to add a hands-on component to hunter safety, an area for day camps to be held, and an area for competitive events, like local high school shooting teams, various adult shooting leagues, and other specialty clubs and organizations. The goal is to have this property be a diverse area for outdoor education and recreation.
New berms were installed at the shooting range which meet safety requirements. Previously, the shooting range featured only back berms along the rear of the targets, which the county’s insurance carrier recommended improving. A berm is an earthen mound that serves as a backstop to stop bullets from leaving the firing lane. Now, there are three shooting lanes, 25’, 50’, and 100’, each surrounded by earthen berms on three sides. This will allow users to change their targets more safely and increase safety overall. Additionally, the lanes will be completely enclosed by a perimeter fence with periodic signage indicating that the area is a live range.
The berms have been firmly compacted and exceed NRA guidelines. The back berms are 22’ and the lateral ones are 10’. The area also now has hard service walkways in each lane to allow for users who may have mobility issues to more easily access the range. A service roadway to allow for regular maintenance and a parking area have been added as well.
Another safety feature that has been installed is a red light fixture. The light is on a tall pole and is used to indicate that the range is currently in use. Electrical work and an informational kiosk have also been completed. Jones noted that the range’s rules and regulations can also be found on the CCCB website.
The county’s campgrounds remain a popular destination. In FY2 2022-2023, CCCB saw a total camping and rental facility revenue of $109,527.66. The total number of camping nights (the sum of the campers multiplied by the number of nights stayed in the park) was 10,184. The most popular park for camping in the county was Silver Sioux with 6,400.
New to the CCCB’s Board of Directors is Mike Letsche, who took his oath of office in January 2023. CCCB held several programs over the year including a 2-day cross country ski program at the Cherokee High School, a variety of summer camps, a Halloween Hike, Hunter Safety Field Day, and Naturalist Lunchboxes.
In FY 2022-2023 CCCB offered educational programming reaching 4,733 people through 268 programs. The department also assisted with the development and installation of educational and historic signs along the Cherokee Trail System, especially in Magnetic Park.
CCCB expanded its online presence and now allows for online reservations at mycountyparks.org. This system is a fast and convenient way for campers to make reservations.
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