Lang
4/4/25
The University of Iowa is finalizing a report studying its 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. A ten-member committee was formed, which consists of UI students and administrators. It’s tasked with studying areas including finance, history, and academics related to the property. The committee first met last September, and is scheduled to deliver a final report on May 1st.
The Daily Iowan reports the current 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.