A Kalona resident is in the process of creating a bust of Lake Darling’s namesake. Doris Park of Max-Cast received a grant from the Iowa Arts Council for the project last year.

She’s nearly done with the clay model of the bust that will be used to make one out of rubber, which is used to make a wax model that’s used to make the final product. Park says she expects it to be done by the end of next month.

Once complete, the bronze bust of Jay N Ding Darling will be part of a plaza area at Lake Darling State Park. The location in mind already features a granite and marble monument. Park says they also plan to install interpretive panels that will give people an idea of who the conservationist was and what he accomplished.