Dubuque County Conservation Wants Your Thoughts on Trail and Park Updates

Dubuque has so many amazing places to explore and visit. I think I've visited most of them by now: whether it's Horseshoe Bluff at the Mines of Spain, a trip through Swiss Valley Nature Preserve, a quick visit to Deere Dike Park, or any of the many other natural beauties we have in Dubuque County. But someone's got make them all "run," right?

Where a lot of the protecting and research is done by our Iowa DNR, our friends at Dubuque County Conservation make an incredible impact on the places we love to hike, hunt, fish, and relax in. Now, they’re asking the community to help shape the future of those spaces.

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Dubuque County Conservation has launched an update to its Comprehensive Parks, Trails, and Open Spaces Plan. This document that helps guide how the county’s outdoor areas are improved and grown. The original plan was adopted in 2020, so this update will help determine priorities for the next several years while also looking ahead to long-term goals through the year 2035.

According to the press release from Dubuque County Conservation, the update is needed. Interest in our outdoor recreation area has grown significantly in recent years. Park visitation across Dubuque County has increased by nearly 50 percent in just the past five years, and you can certainly add me and my family to those numbers. The numbers show how important local parks, trails, and natural areas are to both residents and visitors.

“Working in partnership with local conservation organizations, we’ve been able to add new properties—such as the Locher Recreation Area in Cascade—and make improvements within our natural areas, campgrounds, parks, and trails. But significant work remains. As we imagine what the next 10 years look like, I invite you to help us shape the plans that will guide us well into the future”

-Brian Preston, Dubuque County Conservation Director

Since the 2020 plan was adopted, Dubuque County Conservation has completed more than forty projects across our county park systems. These projects include improving fishing access, upgrading campgrounds to meet increased RV demand, restoring streams, and expanding natural areas. The county has also added new properties, including Locher Recreation Area in Cascade, creating even more opportunities for people to enjoy the outdoors.

The updated plan hopes to outline potential improvements for individual parks as well as broader opportunities across the entire county. Community feedback will play a key role in helping determine those priorities. To that end, Dubuque County Conservation will be hosting several open house events where residents can learn about the planning process and share their ideas. All meetings are open to the public, family-friendly, and will include some light refreshments.

Open house sessions will be held at:

• March 19, 2026 – Swiss Valley Nature Center, Peosta
  4:30–6:30 PM
• March 31, 2026 – Asbury Public Library, Asbury
  4:30–6:30 PM
• April 2, 2026 – Backpocket Events Space, Millwork District, Dubuque
  11:30 AM–1:00 PM
• April 2, 2026 – Cascade Public Library, Cascade
  4:30–6:30 PM

Each session will include Dubuque County Conservation staff and members of the consulting team who will help guide conversations and gather feedback. For those unable to attend in person, a public input survey will also be available on the Dubuque County website beginning March 18. Community input from both the survey and the open houses will help guide future improvements and ensure Dubuque County’s parks, trails, and natural spaces continue to serve the community for years to come. I'll see you, on the trails!