Neste Valley Recreation Area may be getting a county road

(decorahnews.com file photo)

Winneshiek County's newest public land, the Neste Valley Recreation Area, was officially purchased by Winneshiek County Conservation from the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation last December.

However, the park is not yet open to the public. The Winneshiek County Conservation Board's website explains, "The unimproved driveway poses a safety risk if in public use."

Now county supervisors are studying a proposal to turn the driveway into a county road.  That comes after the county received an estimate of a $55,000 cost to turn the driveway into a two-lane road.  Supervisor Dean Thompson says turning the driveway into a county road would mean county crews would be able to do the widening, saving a substantial amount of money, although also obligating the county to maintain the road in the future.

Still, supervisor Mark Kuhn gave enthusiastic support to the idea, saying, "I don't know why we wouldn't do this."