The date of the Lake Darling dam closing ceremony is set. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Friends of Lake Darling announced yesterday they plan to close the gate on February 12th, so the lake can begin impounding water.

This comes nearly 65 years after the park’s namesake, Jay N. Ding Darling, closed the lake’s dam in September of 1950.

President of Friends of Lake Darling Fay Vittetoe says between the new dam, lake restoration, camp ground renovation, new lodge and cabins, roughly $16 million has been spent on the park over the past 15 years.