The D-N-R building on the Iowa State Fairgrounds known for its large tanks displaying the various fish species from across the state is getting a new interactive display. D-N-R spokesperson Tammie Krausman says the new feature is called the Conservation Discovery Area.
The inside feature will also have a tower designed into it that’s modeled after the one at Pilot Knobb State Park. Krausman says another feature will be an in-floor river.
They had various outdoor displays in the 100 years the building has been on the fairgrounds, and an archery area has been one of the more recent popular attractions. Krausman says the new feature will fit in well with what they have now.
Krausman says it’s hard to nail down exactly how many visitors the D-N-R building gets during the entire run of the State Fair.
The Natural Resource Commission approved the project at its monthly meeting and Krausman says they hope to have it done sometime in July.
The N-R-C approved a contract with Austincrete of Newton for nearly 125-thousand dollars to build the display. Krausman says the money comes from a 500-thousand dollar special legislative appropriation that was made to fund the update at the D-N-R building.
-Radio Iowa
