What Story County Conservation does

Story County Conservation is a county government department within Story County, Iowa, headquartered at the Conservation Center at 56461 180th Street in Ames. The department manages more than 30 conservation areas, parks, trails, and recreational facilities across the county, including McFarland Park, Hickory Grove Park, the Tedesco Environmental Learning Corridor, the Heart of Iowa Nature Trail, the South Skunk River Water Trail, and numerous prairie and forest preserves such as Christiansen Forest Preserve, Dakins Lake, and Doolittle Prairie. Its service portfolio spans parks and trails management, environmental education (nature camps, school programming, workshops such as 'Painting in the Park'), natural resources management (habitat restoration, water quality monitoring, invasive species and oak wilt management), facility and equipment rentals, the Nature Box Check Out lending program, and integrated roadside vegetation management.

The organization operates with approximately 10 staff and is funded through Story County tax revenue supplemented by the Story County Water & Land Legacy Bond, which voters approved in November 2024 to underwrite dedicated conservation and parks capital projects. Services are delivered free to the public as a government function, with no commercial pricing. Distribution combines the Conservation Center, online reservation systems, community events, the quarterly Prairie Horizons newsletter, and active social media presence on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

The technology footprint is modest and conventional: the public-facing site runs on CivicPlus CMS, with ESRI providing GIS/mapping capability and Beacon Schneider supporting property and GIS data access. There is no proprietary technology platform, no disclosed AI/ML capability, and no commercial software products. The department's competitive position rests on its statutory jurisdiction over county-managed conservation lands rather than on any technological differentiation.

Name

Story County Conservation

Legal name

Story County, Iowa

Website

https://storycountyconservation.org

Company type

Public

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Story County Conservation is an Iowa county government department managing over 30 parks, trails, and conservation areas. It provides environmental education, habitat restoration, and recreational services to Story County residents, funded by tax revenue and the 2024 Water & Land Legacy Bond.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Parks and Conservation Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Administration of Conservation Programs (92412), Administration of Conservation Programs (924120), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps (72121)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Parks, Recreation & Protected Areas Administration (BPAIAMAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildlife Sanctuaries, Conservation Parks & Reserves (Visitor Operations) (THAAAAAG), Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection (BPAGAGAB), Wildlife, Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation Administration (BPAIAMAG), Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation (BPAGAGAA), Facilities Maintenance & Environmental Services (Waste, Water, Trail Maintenance, Restrooms) (THAAAGAI)

Keywords

• Public parks management
• Conservation services
• Environmental education
• Natural resource management
• Public recreation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Ames

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Tax Funding: Funded through Story County tax revenue and the November 2024 Story County Water & Land Legacy Bond. Services are provided free to the public as a government function.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Story County Conservation is a county government department that manages and maintains parks, trails, campgrounds, and over 30 conservation areas across Story County, Iowa. It delivers environmental education programs, nature camps, school programming, and volunteer opportunities, while also conducting habitat restoration, water quality monitoring, invasive species control, and integrated roadside vegetation management for county residents and visitors free of charge.

Product overview

Story County Conservation is a government agency managing parks, trails, natural resources, and environmental education programs. Rather than a commercial product or software platform, it provides a portfolio of conservation services including recreation facilities, environmental education, habitat restoration, water quality monitoring, and equipment rentals. The Conservation Center serves as the hub for these programs at McFarland Park.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Conservation & Parks Programs Environmental education programs, nature camps, school programming, and interpretation services connecting people with nature and improving natural resources in Story County, Iowa.
• Parks & Trails Management Management and maintenance of county parks, trails, campgrounds, and recreational facilities including McFarland Park, Hickory Grove Park, and Tedesco Environmental Learning Corridor.
• Natural Resources Management Habitat restoration, water quality monitoring, invasive species management, oak wilt management, and bird-friendly county initiatives.
• Facilities & Equipment Rentals Rental services for park facilities, campgrounds, and conservation equipment for public use.
• Nature Box Check Out Educational resource lending program allowing schools and groups to check out nature-related educational materials.
• Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management Roadside vegetation management including herbicide application, noxious weed control, vegetation establishment, and weed commissioner services.

Quantifiable outcome

• Connecting people with nature and improving natural resources — making Story County a great place to live, work, and recreate

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Story County Water & Land LegacycoreOthersA bond initiative passed by Story County voters in November 2024 to fund conservation and parks projects. This is a funding mechanism through which the conservation department receives dedicated revenue for capital improvements and projects.
• Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency partner referenced in quick links. The department likely coordinates on wildlife management, state parks, and conservation programs with the Iowa DNR.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Boone County Conservation: Neighboring Iowa county with a similarly small conservation staff managing parks, prairie, and trails. Comparable in scale, headcount, and rural Iowa county operating model.
• Polk County Conservation: Polk County, Iowa's conservation department manages parks, trails, and environmental education for the Des Moines metro. Directly comparable in mandate, Iowa-based operating geography, and customer base of county residents seeking outdoor recreation.
• Linn County Conservation: Linn County, Iowa's conservation board operates parks, trails, and nature education programs in the Cedar Rapids area. Strong peer due to shared Iowa county-level governance, similar parks/trails portfolio, and education-driven mission.
• Black Hawk County Conservation: Black Hawk County, Iowa conservation department managing parks, river greenways, and nature programs near Waterloo/Cedar Falls. Comparable in Iowa county-department structure, park portfolio breadth, and community education focus.
• Dallas County Conservation: Dallas County, Iowa's conservation department administers parks and trails for a fast-growing Des Moines suburb. Comparable in mandate and Iowa county-department structure, with similar emphasis on recreation and environmental education.

Others

• MyCountyParks (Iowa Association of County Conservation Boards): Network/aggregator site for Iowa county conservation boards, explicitly linked on Story County's website. Indirect peer as an enabling ecosystem that drives visitor traffic and visibility to all member county conservation departments.
• The Nature Conservancy - Iowa Chapter: Iowa chapter of a major nonprofit focused on land and water conservation. Thematically related and shares habitat restoration and water quality priorities, but operates as a private nonprofit rather than a government department.

Broad incumbents

• Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR): State-level agency overseeing state parks, wildlife, fisheries, and conservation programs across Iowa. Comparable in mission and explicit partner (listed on Story County's site), but operates at a much broader scale and overlapping jurisdiction.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/StoryCoCons
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/StoryCoConservation
• Facebookfacebook.com/storycountyconservation
• Instagraminstagram.com/storycountyconservation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/story-county-conservation

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Story County Conservation