A ribbon was cut Tuesday for the four-season cabins at Lake Darling. Photo by Joe Cerwinske

At the recent ribbon-cutting for the four-season cabins at Lake Darling, State Parks Bureau Chief Todd Coffelt announced a special tribute from the National Association of State Park Directors. Coffelt explained every year the NASPD gets together for a conference to talk about their challenges and successes, and also to recognize people who have a positive impact around the nation. This year, the President of the NASPD will be honoring the Friends of Lake Darling with the local group award. Tom Basten, the southeast Iowa parks supervisor for the Department of Natural Resources, submitted the nomination, and the Friends of Lake Darling were chosen from 50 nominees to receive the award.

Coffelt emphasized the importance of the Friends of Lake Darling, as not every park in the country is lucky enough to have a friends group. Since forming in 2001, their work has included fundraising $600,000 to help build the current Lake Darling Lodge, and over $500,000 for the four-season cabins. President of the Friends of Lake Darling Jim Dickinson, along with a few other representatives from the group, will be attending the NASPD conference in Indiana next month to receive the award.