Earthpark
41°21′N 93°00′W / 41.35°N 93.0°W
 | This article needs to be updated. (July 2019) |
Earthpark is a proposed best-in-class educational facility with indoor rain forest and aquarium elements, and a mission of "inspiring generations to learn from the natural world." It was previously called the Environmental Project. Inspired by The Eden Project in Cornwall, England, Earthpark was aimed to be an educational ecosystem and a popular visitor attraction. The project remains dormant since 2008, though it was briefly re-visited in 2018.
History and Funding
[edit]Earthpark was to be located around Lake Red Rock, near the town of Pella, Iowa.[1]
Proposals from a variety of potential hosts, some outside of Iowa are being considered. Talks between Earthpark and the city of Coralville, Iowa, the original planned location of Earthpark, ended in 2006. The project then found a new home in Pella, Iowa.[2] but that did not become a reality.
In December 2007, federal funding from the U.S. Department of Energy for the Pella location was rescinded, in a form of $50 million.
In August 2008, when asked if any efforts would be made to get additional federal money for the project, U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley said "Not by this senator, and I don't think there will be any by other senators."[3] Same year, one of the prospective founders behind this project, Ray Townsend's son, Ted, had pledged $32.9 million of his own money.[4]
Size and scope
[edit]The total project cost for Earthpark was estimated to be $155 million, though over a third of that financial demand was met. [5] The complex was planned to be 3.5 acres (14,000 m2) in area with a 600,000 gallon aquarium and outdoor wetland and prairie exhibits.[1]
The Earthpark project was expected to employ 150 people directly and create an additional 2000 indirect jobs. The economic impact was estimated to be US$130 million annually. [6]The park was projected to draw 1 million visitors annually to the Pella area.[1][7]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Press Citizen, "Top 10 news stories of 2006", December 27, 2006, retrieved on December 29, 2006.
- ^ "Can this vision become reality?", Press-Citizen, September 2, 2008
- ^ Stephen Schmidt (August 26, 2008). "Grassley frustrated with federal response to flood". The Gazette.
- ^ Rugg, Peter (August 14, 2015). "An Oral History of the Indoor Rainforest Iowa Almost Built".
- ^ Zielinski, Mary (September 30, 2018). "Pella selected as location for Earthpark".
- ^ Henderson, O. Kay (July 30, 2006). "Earthpark fundraising so far: $75 million".
- ^ "Pella Lands the Earthpark", Town Crier News, retrieved on December 29, 2006
External links
[edit]- Official website
- Sarah Franklin (November 19, 2003). "Coralville rain forest loses federal funds". The Daily Iowan.[permanent dead link]
- Emily Derrico (March 31, 2005). "Coralville rain forest still short". The Daily Iowan.[permanent dead link]
- Michael Judge (March 9, 2006). "The Incredible Shrinking Rain Forest: The strange odyssey of Sen. Grassley's earmark". The Wall Street Journal.
- "Campaign Ad Calls Rainforest Wasteful Spending; Organizers Say Earthpark Will Bring In $130M Annually". KCCI. October 25, 2006. Archived from the original on November 30, 2006. Retrieved September 22, 2008.