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For months the Red Rock Lake Association, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, U.S. Army Corp of Engineers and dozens of volunteers have been working to establish the Hickory Ridge camp, now the plan for the site has been significantly expanded. The original plan for the site, located south of the Whitebreast Recreation Area on Lake Red Rock, was a 47 acre woodland area. Now the scope of the project has been increased to include 200 acres of primitive camping and nature area. The organizations are currently working to raise the final $30,000 needed before the end of 2010 in order to complete the $400,000 project and open the area up to the public. The project has received donations from 79 different individuals, families and businesses so far. Half of which comes from Marion County, another third from the Des Moines area and about 15 percent from donors who living elsewhere in Iowa or out of state. The Hickory Ridge woodland was once a timeshare campground which has since been abandoned, and is being purchased and restored with plans to transfer management to the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers. The additional space that has been included in the master plan will increase opportunities for secluded camping, and activities by scouts, paddlers, and nature enthusiasts. Hopes are to have the Hickory Ridge camp open to the public sometime in 2011.

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