Iowa’s Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) assemblies will begin next month, 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 area. 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 approximately 90 minutes. A list of REAP assembly locations is available online at https://www.iowadnr.gov/Conservation/REAP/REAP-Public-Participation/REAP-Regional-Assemblies.
“These individual meetings are a great opportunity for us to meet with Iowans one-on-one and hear their ideas for their parks, trails, museums and other amenities,” said Chuck Gipp, director of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR). “Participation from community members is essential for all of us to work together to enhance our recreational opportunities in our state.”
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 $330 million has been awarded to more than 15,000 projects.
“REAP benefits every single county every year in one way or another, either through improved water quality, by preserving our historical assets or providing outdoor recreation,” said Tammie Krausman, coordinator for REAP with the Iowa DNR. “It has and will continue to have a significant impact on the quality of life for all Iowans.”