Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance Newsletter

Trying to find the perfect gift this holiday season? Follow the research and give the gift of an experience! "Spending on Doing Promotes More Moment-to-Moment Happiness than Spending on Having" was published in the May 2020 issue of the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. The researchers concluded that people are happier with experiential purchases over material ones, irrespective of when you measure happiness: before, during, or after consumption. The research supports what we all know to be true: a fun time is the gift that keeps on giving! When gifted an experience, you get the joy of finding out about it, the excitement of anticipation, the fun of the experience, and the satisfaction of lasting memories. Doesn’t this sound perfect? Greater Fort Dodge has some great local businesses ready to serve up memory-making enjoyment. Nothing could be easier than grabbing a gift certificate today to be well on your way to winning “Best Gifter Ever.”

Fun for the Whole Family

Fort Frenzy is the Midwest’s most unique event center with a large arcade, go-karts, mini-golf, bumper cars, laser tag, pizza, beer, state-of-the-art events venue with a full bar, and more. Fort Frenzy has something for everybody in the family, no matter the occasion! Give passes, Frenzy Cards, or check out their Stay & Play package with Brookstone Suites! It includes overnight accommodations, complimentary parking, a hot breakfast buffet, use of the Brookstone pool, four all-day passes to Fort Frenzy attractions, a large pizza, and unlimited fountain soda. Be a gift-giving hero with Fort Frenzy experiences!

The Rec, also known as the Fort Dodge Community Recreation Center, is ready to help you reach, excel, and celebrate with four facilities around Fort Dodge! Give a membership to provide family and friends access to cutting-edge exercise equipment, an Olympic-size pool, fitness classes, and youth activities. What could be better than giving the gift of health and fitness with a side of community? Community Apple Orchard offers a season pass to its Back 40 Playground. This special venue can keep your family busy all day with things to climb, carts to pedal, and goats to pet. There’s even a cow to milk! Visit the sand pile and jumping pillow on your way to take a spin on the Cow Train. This is fun at its most wholesome out in the fresh air and sunshine!

The Gift of Health and Wellness

Give friends and family the nudge they need to prioritize themselves with a gift card for health and wellness services. Let them discover the benefits of massage therapy by a licensed and professionally trained practitioner at Tranquility Touch Massage. Explore specials and see the facilities on their Facebook Page. Tranquility Touch welcomes clients of all ages and adjusts massage therapy treatments according to an individual’s specific condition, physical limitations, and personal needs. Next Edge Performance is a health and wellness center that promotes relaxation, maximizing performance, and recovery. They provide services to reduce pain and inflammation, promote health, fitness, wellness, weight loss, healing, and recovery. Their goal is to help everyone improve their health and live a better life. Check out their Fitness Pod, IV therapy, cosmetic Botox, infrared sauna, Oxygen Bar, and more! Follow their Facebook Page for calendars and specials. Rejuvenate Health and Wellness is a premier wellness clinic offering Botox, dermal fillers, functional medicine, and IV therapy. Check out their bioidentical hormone replacement and weight loss boosts. And did you know, Rejuvenate Health and Wellness will come to your workplace or home for an IV infusion or Botox party? They make it easy to give the gift of better health.

Staycation Holiday

Give some R&R without the travel hassles by booking a stay at one of Greater Fort Dodge’s hotels; find the list here. Contact your favorite to find out how you can give the gift of a staycation! There is just something about crisp, clean sheets, fresh towels, and a change of scenery that can bring on the relaxation.

Golfing Fun

Book time on the simulator, a lesson, or even a party for all of your friends at Golf Central! They sell top-of-the-line products and provide club repair, too. Schedule some FlightScope sessions for the golfer who has everything! This diagnostic tool gives golfers an easy-to-understand look at their swing and ball flight to help them fine-tune their golf game. Give Golf Central a call today for help finding the perfect experience for the golfers on your list!

Arts and Culture

Blanden Memorial Art Museum is the center of art and culture for Fort Dodge and a large area of North Central Iowa. The museum has art classes for all ages that would make fantastic experience gifts. You could also give a membership or book a private tour for your family and friends. The docent-led tours must be scheduled, but they are provided at no cost. The museum offers so many unique (and economical) ways to let those you love get in touch with their artistic sides! Studio Fusion is “your happy place!” Studio Fusion provides a wide-open space and the tools to create fused glass, pottery, ceramics, canvas art, and more! No appointments are necessary to use the studio to pursue your passion at your own pace and schedule, but classes are also available. Private parties are a great option, and mobile services are available. Give the gift of creativity and time spent together! Book a Fort Dodge Experience Today! Avoid clutter, wrong sizes, and duplications by giving the gift of experiences! Your friends and family will feel the joy of anticipation, fresh experiences, and memories made. Be the best gifter ever and book an adventure in Fort Dodge today!

County Connect Webster

Webster County Believes in Investing in Quality of Life

Promoting healthy communities is at the heart of what local government is all about. It means creating places that cultivate belonging, inclusion, connectedness, and engagement. It means creating a well-planned built environment that supports healthy behaviors and choices. It means a vibrant social environment in which people can live, work, and play.

The leaders of Webster County believe in creating conditions in which all citizens, no matter where they are in life, can thrive, now and in the future. To accomplish this, they prioritize quality-of-life initiatives that will benefit residents of Webster County.

In November, the Webster County Supervisors approved funding for the new River’s Edge Discovery Center and Central River District Park when they issued up to $11,000,000 in general obligation capital loan notes. In addition, the Supervisors approved the grant agreement between the County, the City of Fort Dodge, and the Iowa Economic Development Authority for the $4,000,000 Destination Iowa Grant.

When Matt Cosgrove, Webster County Conservation Director, presented to the Supervisors, he shared more information on what the funding will do: $2 million will be spent on the Discovery Center $200,00 on the natural playscape in the Central River District $1.4 million for in-river features $125,000 for river access $130,000 for a fishing plaza and scenic overlook where Soldier Creek meets the Des Moines River

Multiple trail projects will create more connectivity and provide for improved quality of life for Webster County residents. Inside John F. Kennedy Memorial Park, the completion of the trail around Badger Lake provides 1.4 miles of a 10-foot-wide asphalt trail. There are plans to connect Fort Dodge and Badger with an additional 4.7 miles along Paragon Avenue, and loops are planned for Dayton and Gowrie. Additionally, the north end of the Fort Dodge Nature Trail at 170t Street will connect to the soccer fields at Harlan and Hazel Rogers Sports Complex, extending the trail system by 1.5 miles.

At the December 6th Board Meeting, the Webster County Supervisors approved extended agreements with two firms that will be assisting the county with the riverfront project and trail extensions.

ISG will provide services in designing, permitting, and bidding out the River’s Edge Scenic Discovery Center campus project. This agreement includes an outdoor playscape, trails, a streamscape, a fishing area/scenic overlook and the Des Moines River streambank.

Snyder and Associates will help with appraisals to acquire eleven parcels needed on the route between Fort Dodge and Badger for the trail extension. According to Matt Cosgrove, about half of the landowners of the needed parcels are agreeable toward permanent easements for the trails, and he’s working with the County Engineer’s office to move trails to the existing right of way on the remaining parcels.