Firewood Vending Machine

Project Details

Picture this:

It's moments before your perfectly planned weekend getaway. The camping equipment is packed and ready to go, bags, and the coolers are stocked. You're ready! As soon as the clock strikes quittin' time, it's time to hit the road! You've made all the calls and picked the perfect spot, and your friends are meeting up with you at the park. Finally, you get backed up into the ideal place; it's time to set up your weekend home. You've ensured your registration is all paid, and the lawn chairs have been precisely placed around the fire ring. The perfect camping weekend can now begin. The only thing left is to get the fire started. No worries, you're familiar with this park and know that the rangers stop by with firewood. The next thing you know, you're looking for the ranger to flag down, only to find a cloud of dust following the ranger's truck right out of the park. Well, there goes getting the fire started for dinner. Who knows how long it'll be before he gets back this way? So, do you leave the park to purchase wood or wait an unknown amount of time to get some from the ranger?

Though our rangers are usually near our main parks, Plymouth County Conservation staff manages over 17 natural resource areas, with four campgrounds and over 50 campsites. That's a lot of ground for us to cover. The last thing our rangers want to see is unhappy campers, and that's why this year, Plymouth County Conservation Foundation is turning to you, Siouxland, to give our rangers more ways to be there for our park visitors.

This year PCCF is asking for $10,000 in donations to fund a Firewood Vending Machine for the campgrounds at Hillview Recreational Area. The machine would consist of 31 locker compartments. Each compartment will hold a bundle of wood available to purchase through the system's point of sale. Campers would have the luxury of buying firewood at their convenience, eliminating the stress of watching for the ranger to stop by. This machine is not intended to replace our rangers; we'll still have that personal touch, but simply offers an immediate convenience of having firewood when needed.

When getting that perfect camping weekend planned, you've got enough to worry about; let us take the hassle of rounding up firewood off your plate. 

Expanding Hillview

Project Details

Hillview is growing! 305 acres to be exact!

We're coming close to completing our purchase agreement for the addition of 305 acres to Hillview Park. With the completion of our contract, we can begin to plan for future development to better serve Plymouth County. Many of you have had terrific suggestions for the property, trails, archery, equestrian camping, fishing, the list goes on and on. This year Plymouth County is participating in the Siouxland Big Give to raise funds for those future developments. We're looking into building a possible archery range with 3-D targeting trails. Equestrian camping has been a popular suggestion coming our way. Our goal is to provide environmental education opportunities for the county, while showcasing the natural beauty Plymouth County has to offer. 

Hillview Recreation Area Improvement Project

Project Details

Hillview Recreation Area Improvement Project

In 2018 Hillview Recreation Area aquired 305 acres directly adjacent to it.  One of the first things done was fencing the bounderies and putting up park signage.  Last year we seeded rye grass as a cover crop, this fall it will be seeded with native grasses.   In the spring of 2020 we did a prescribed burn on 55 acres as well as planted a 10 acre food plot.  A crossing from the original park to the new area has also been constructed. A certain portion of this area will be open to hunting this fall.  Over time our plans include building hiking and riding trails, developing a fishing pond, opening more areas to hunting, expanding our disc golf course from 9 holes to 18, and possibly building an equine camping area.

Hillview Recreation Area Improvement Project

Project Details

Hillview Recreation Area just acquired an additional 300 acres directly adjacent to it. We are in the process of returning the land to its natural state by seeding it with native grasses as well as removing and replacing fencing. Over time we hope to build hiking and riding trails, develop a fishing pond, open more areas to hunting, expand our disc golf course from 9 holes to 18, and possibly build an equine camping area.