Last year, Governor Terry Branstad proclaimed February 12th as Jay Norwood “Ding” Darling Day. That was the day Lake Darling’s dam was closed, allowing it to fill with water following its renovation, and also the day cartoonist and conservationist Jay N. “Ding” Darling passed away in 1962.

The lake renovation is the subject of an upcoming documentary entitled Darling is Back. It’s a co-production of Marvo Entertainment Group and Iowa Public Television. Sam Koltinsky, Marvo Entertainment’s owner and producer, says they expect the release date will be sometime this fall.

To learn more about Ding’s legacy, the documentary, and ways the word is being spread about Lake Darling State Park, listen to today’s In Touch with Southeast Iowa.

Click here for more information on the upcoming documentary.

Click here for clips from the documentary.

For more photos from Lake Darling’s ribbon cutting click here.