Iowa’s Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) assemblies begin this fall, giving all Iowans an opportunity to discuss what their vision is for Iowa’s outdoor recreation, soil and water enhancement, historical resources and land management and more.
REAP assemblies are locally led meetings where issues can be brought forth and voted upon. Iowans can discuss the program, recommend changes and discuss impacts in their region. Delegates may also be selected from the local meeting to attend the REAP congress in January at the State Capitol in Des Moines.
Each assembly represents a region of counties and participants are required to attend the region for the county in which they reside. Meetings are held in the evening and last 90 minutes. A list of REAP assembly locations is available online atwww.iowareap.com.
“We come to these meetings to listen to Iowans tell us what they want for their parks, trails, museums and other amenities,” said Tammie Krausman, who coordinates the REAP program for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. “This program belongs to Iowans and we want their input.”
Each year, REAP provides funding for local projects through a grant process and each year, the requests for city and county grants exceed the amount available by two or three times. Since the program debuted in 1989, more than $300 million has been awarded to more than 14,500 projects.
“REAP benefits every county every year either through improved water quality, by preserving our historical assets or providing outdoor recreation and it has had a significant impact on the quality of life,” she said.