Lang
5/16/25
The University of Iowa has released its report on the school’s agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to lease the Macbride Nature Recreation Area.
The university has leased the 485-acre area since 1959. It sits off Mehaffey Bridge Road just east of Coralville Lake and includes the Iowa Raptor Project, UI WILD, the Wildlife Campus, and the School of the Wild. Last summer, UI officials decided to review the contract to see if it was still economically feasible and still met the academic goals of the university. The year-long study found that in order to maintain the Macbride Nature Recreation Area in a safe and reliable manner, the university would need to invest approximately $14.8 million in the first year of a new agreement and at least $900,000 in recurring funding. That money includes replacing a “significant amount” of the 2.2 miles of asphalt paving that has been in place since the UI began the original lease in the 1960s, improving cellular and Wi-Fi coverage in the area, building storm shelters and new restrooms, and other assorted maintenance costs.
The study also showed the Macbride property hosts 33 courses and educates 592 students per academic year.
The contract between the UI and the Corps of Engineers ends in July of 2029. While the UI does not pay rent on the property, it is charged with maintaining all landscapes, structures, and roads inside the area.
The full report can be found here.