Spirit Lake Protective Association receives $100,000

The Spirit Lake Protective Association, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Iowa Great Lakes area community members are working closely together to accomplish the renovation of the Mini-Wakan shelterhouse. (Photo submitted)

With an endowment of more than $3 million, the Okoboji Foundation makes a tremendous impact on the Iowa Great Lakes Area.

To date, grants of more than $2.1 million have been awarded to more than 50 local non-profit organizations in support of over 100 projects. A recent recipient of $100,000 of the Okoboji Foundation's bounty is the Spirit Lake Protective Association.

Established in 1989 to encourage dreams of a better place to live and to support projects that improve the quality of life in the Iowa Great Lakes region, the Okoboji Foundation provided the Spirit Lake Protective Association with $100,000 to renovate and rehabilitate the historic Mini-Wakan shelterhouse and state park on the north shore of Big Spirit Lake.

Ann Ditsworth, executive director of the Okoboji Foundation said, "As the community foundation in the Iowa Great Lakes Area, it is the vision of the Okoboji Foundation to facilitate projects here which are not fulfilled by government or for-profit enterprises. These projects may be, but are not limited to cultural, educational, environmental, historical, life-saving or recreational needs."

The Spirit Lake Protective Association's wish for a fully usable Mini-Wakan shelterhouse and park is significantly helped by the Okoboji Foundation's encouragement of this project.

"The Okoboji Foundation's generous support of the renovation of the historic Mini-Wakan Shelterhouse and State Park demonstrates the foundation's commitment to turning dreams into reality," said Joe Ulman, chairman of the SLPA's Mini-Wakan Committee. "We are grateful that the Okoboji Foundation recognizes the importance of this work.".

Additional grant applications are being made to various funding bodies.

"The supplemental funds needed to bring about the transformation at Mini-Wakan State Park will be more easily obtained because the Okoboji Foundation provided the first large donation of local funds," said Ulman.

The Iowa DNR is expected to partially fund the restoration. Public support also will be sought.

The Spirit Lake Protective Association, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Iowa Great Lakes area community members are working closely together to accomplish the renovation. To ensure that the historical and cultural significance of the project has the highest priority, the SLPA and the Mini-Wakan Committee are working with DNR engineers in Des Moines, local DNR staff, and the Iowa State Historic Preservation Office.

Built in 1934 by Company 778 of the Civilian Conservation Corps, the Mini-Wakan shelterhouse is the only shelter on the banks of Big Spirit Lake and only the second of its size in the Iowa Great Lakes area. When it is converted into usable space with the addition of a kitchen, restrooms, windows, doors, and a functional roof, the Iowa Great Lakes area will have another beautifully restored stone structure in which to expand the educational, cultural, and social opportunities of year-round residents as well as summer tourists.

* For more information on the Mini-Wakan project visit the Spirit Lake Protective Association website, www.theslpa.org and click on Mini-Wakan or write to the Spirit Lake Protective Association, Mini-Wakan Committee, P.O. Box 95, Spirit Lake, IA 51360.