The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has announced record attendance at the First Day Hikes of 2020, and the unseasonably warm weather likely played a role in that record. At least 4,358 hikers took part in the 49 scheduled events to kick off the Iowa state parks’ centennial celebration. “We couldn’t be more excited to have so many people enjoy state parks on New Year’s Day,” said Todd Coffelt, Parks, Forests and Preserves bureau chief for the Iowa DNR. “We heard many reports of first-time park visitors from Iowa and other states, and we were glad to see long-time park users among the thousands enjoying hikes.” Walnut Woods State Park in West Des Moines tallied the highest attendance with 410 hikers.
