Jones County, Iowa

Planning And Zoning Commission Meeting

Meeting Agenda

Central Park Nature Center Holiday Open House

Join us for our festive 2023 Central Park Nature Center Holiday Open Houses!  View our winter exhibits and live animal displays.  Make a pine cone bird feeder and a fun holiday craft to take home or give away as  gifts.  Enter the winter coloring contest, test your wits to complete the Central Park Holiday Digital Scavenger Hunt, or take the Nature Center Challenge to win a small prize.   If we have snow on the ground, check out a pair of snowshoes to explore the park trails , venture out on the Wild for Reading Jones County StoryWalk® Trail, or watch runners of the 2023 5K Polar Run/Reindeer Plunge (Sponsored by B&W Racing Services).   Once back inside enjoy a cup of hot chocolate and a cookie provided by the Friends of Jones County Conservation and Nature Center.    Don't forget to sign up for one of our many door prizes!

Central Park Nature Center Holiday Open House

Join us for our festive 2023 Central Park Nature Center Holiday Open Houses!  View our winter exhibits and live animal displays.  Make a pine cone bird feeder and a fun holiday craft to take home or give away as  gifts.  Enter the winter coloring contest, test your wits to complete the Central Park Holiday Digital Scavenger Hunt, or take the Nature Center Challenge to win a small prize.   If we have snow on the ground, check out a pair of snowshoes to explore the park trails including the Wild for Reading Jones County StoryWalk® Trail.  (No snow? - Go hiking!)  Once back inside enjoy a cup of hot chocolate and a cookie provided by the Friends of Jones County Conservation and Nature Center.    Don't forget to sign up for one of our many door prizes!

Central Park Nature Center Holiday Open House

Join us for our festive 2023 Central Park Nature Center Holiday Open Houses!  View our winter exhibits and live animal displays.  Make a pine cone bird feeder and a fun holiday craft to take home or give away as  gifts.  Enter the winter coloring contest, test your wits to complete the Central Park Holiday Digital Scavenger Hunt, or take the Nature Center Challenge to win a small prize.   If we have snow on the ground, check out a pair of snowshoes to explore the park trails including the Wild for Reading Jones County StoryWalk® Trail.  (No snow? - Go hiking!)  Once back inside enjoy a cup of hot chocolate and a cookie provided by the Friends of Jones County Conservation and Nature Center.    Don't forget to sign up for one of our many door prizes!

Central Park Nature Center Winter Fun Day

Join us on Monday, January 15th, from Noon to 4 PM for some Winter Fun!  Explore the trails of Central Park by snowshoe or try your luck at catching a fish through the ice.  Enjoy hot chocolate and cookies in the Central Park Nature Center as you color carefully to enter the Winter Coloring Contest.  Don't forget to make a pinecone bird feeder to take home.  

Loaner ice fishing equipment and bait will be available at the Nature Center.   Park Staff will be on hand on the Central Park West Pond to assist with drilling holes, to give tips, and to answer questions.  

Loaner snowshoes, for almost every size, are available first-come first-serve at the Central Park Nature Center.  Dress for the weather and make sure to wear snow gear and boots.

Want to learn more about Ice Fishing?  Register to attend the Beginning Ice Fishing Class to be held from 10:30 - Noon in the lower level Meeting Room of the Nature Center. Registration is required to attend the ice fishing class - Space is limited.  Register at  https://www.mycountyparks.com/County/Jones.aspx 

***All children must be accompanied by an adult.  (Anyone 16 and older planning to fish needs a valid Iowa Fishing License.)  

(Snowshoeing and ice fishing are weather and snow and ice dependent.)  

Central Park Early Out Family Shed Hunts

Looking for a fun early out after school activity?  Head to Central Park for some winter fun!  Join us at 2 PM in the Lower Level of the Central Park Nature Center for a quick introduction to shed hunting before we head outside to try our luck.  Search and you might just find!    Click Here to Register for this event.

Central Park Early Out Family Shed Hunts

Looking for a fun early out after school activity?  Head to Central Park for some winter fun!  Join us at 2 PM in the Lower Level of the Central Park Nature Center for a quick introduction to shed hunting before we head outside to try our luck.  Search and you might just find!    Click Here to Register for this event.

Central Park Nature Center Early Out Wednesday - Phenology Fun

Join us for Phenology Fun during our March Early Out Wednesdays.  Find out what phenology is.  After a short introduction to phenology we'll go on a short phenology hike to take notice of seasonal phenology cues we can observe.  Once back at the Nature Center we'll get creative with paint and colored pencils to create our own phenology wheels based on our outdoor observations.  

Central Park Nature Center Early Out Wednesday - Phenology Fun

Join us for Phenology Fun during our March Early Out Wednesdays.  Find out what phenology is.  After a short introduction to phenology we'll go on a short phenology hike to take notice of seasonal phenology cues we can observe.  Once back at the Nature Center we'll get creative with paint and colored pencils to create our own phenology wheels based on our outdoor observations.