(Harlan) Prairie Rose State Park’s new park manager, Beth Collins, feels at home in her new role. As a child, Collins was always interested in natural resources and outdoor activities such as backpacking, hiking, camping, and gardening. In her position, Collins manages the park’s facilities, grounds, campground use, and natural resources.
Her journey to this role included studying at Iowa Lakes Community College and earning a bachelor’s degree from Northwest Missouri State University.
According to the park’s website, Prairie Rose State Park spans 422 acres and is named after the nearby Village of Prairie Rose. The park features a 218-acre lake popular for canoeing and kayaking and is known for its bass, channel catfish, bluegill, and crappie. Additionally, the park offers an overnight fishing area, one of the few available in Iowa’s state parks.