The Jewels of Warren County

1. Process Welcome to Warren County The Jewelsof Warren County

2. Process Iowa Great Places Process Background In 2005 and 2006, several Warren County events and organizations submitted Iowa Great Place Letters of Invitation to the IA Department of Cultural Affairs. They decided to collaborate and develop one Iowa Great Place Offer called The Jewels of Warren County. The Jewels represent multi-dimensional interests including arts and culture, heritage, education, outdoor recreation, agriculture, events and conservation. The primary qualities in the 2007 Warren County Great Place Offer continue to be opportunities for collaboration and the potential for growth. The Jewelsof Warren County

3. Process The following initiatives are the focus of the 2007 Steering Committee: Carlisle Scotch Ridge Center Warren County Trails Warren County Horse Trails Association Des Moines Metro Opera and Simpson College Wine Trail and Iowa Wine Festival Simpson College National Balloon Classic Warren County Fair The Jewelsof Warren County

4. Synergy While working on the Warren County Iowa Great Place offer the Steering Committee discovered the following: Each Jewel wants to improve itself and in the process, make Warren County not only a better place. Each Jewel has a unique function in Warren County and can be confident that this will not be lost in collaborating with other Jewels. Warren County has a unique position in Iowa as a destination in the Des Moines metropolitan area. The Jewels have many unrealized opportunities to connect and collaborate that are beneficial to each entity involved. The Jewelsof Warren County

5. Synergy Also, the Steering Committee has identified the following opportunities that all Jewels could benefit from having in Warren County: Connections and collaborations that will strengthen everybody’s programming. Development of more year-round recreational and environmentally-focused activities. Comprehensive data base for all events and attractions in Warren County and clearinghouse for all communications and marketing. Additional marketing and communication of events to people within the community and outside the community. A variety of additional overnight accommodations, including camping, hotels, and bed & breakfasts. The Jewelsof Warren County

6. Locations Scotch Ridge Center Scotch Ridge Bridge Summerset Winery Palisades Equestrian Estates Des Moines Metro Opera National Balloon Classic LaVida Loca Winery Warren County Fair Simpson College Box Culvert Trail Underpass Location Jewels Trail Connectivity Vertical Infrastructure The Jewelsof Warren County

7. Interconnected The Jewels of Warren County will interact together as one and will… …create A Unique and Greater Sense of Place …provide Engaging Experiences …promote and encourage A Rich, Diverse Social Fabric …nurture and maintain A Vital, Creative Economy …offer A Pleasing Environment …put forward A Strong Foundation …display A Creative Culture The Jewelsof Warren County

8. Jewels The Jewels Are: Carlisle Scotch Ridge Center Warren County Trails Warren County Horse Trails Association Des Moines Metro Opera Simpson College Wine Trail and Iowa Wine Festival National Balloon Classic Warren County Fair The Jewelsof Warren County

9. Jewels • Carlisle Scotch Ridge Center • Celebrates the area’s environmental and cultural heritage. • Protects and improves the environment. • Demonstrates low impact, sustainable design principles that help form the theory of Landscape Urbanism. • Hosts multi-cultural events. • Develops the ‘naturalist intelligences’ of its visitors. The Jewelsof Warren County

10. Jewels Scotch Ridge Bridge The Jewelsof Warren County

11. Jewels Warren County Trails The Jewelsof Warren County

12. Jewels Warren County Trails will: • Enhance access to the private, city, county and state Jewels in Warren County. • Connect the Jewels to both Warren County urban and rural communities as well as to Central Iowa. • Make Warren County a better place to live. • Have a positive economic impact on Warren County. • Have a significant heath &  fitness impact in Warren County. The Jewelsof Warren County

13. Jewels • Warren County Horse Trails Association • Establish interconnected locations for horseback riders and wagon drivers. • Destination for horse owners from throughout the Midwest. • Palisades Equestrian Center and other equestrian venues. The Jewelsof Warren County

14. Jewels • Des Moines Metro Opera and Simpson College • One of the top 20 summer opera companies in the world. • Produces opera as a living art form. • Offers a stage for American-trained principal artists. • Provides a high caliber Apprentice Artist experience for the best and brightest young artists who will be the opera stars of tomorrow. • Develops regional audiences of all ages through educational outreach programs. The Jewelsof Warren County

15. Jewels • Warren County Wine Trail & Iowa Wine Festival • 3 wineries and 34 vineyards (most of any county in Iowa). • Potential for applying the principles of Landscape Urbanism and the creative economy to replicate the same types of lifestyle amenities that are found in the Napa and Sonoma Valleys of California. • Home of the Iowa Wine Festival. The Jewelsof Warren County

16. Jewels • National Balloon Classic • Second largest multi-day balloon festival in the country. • High quality experience for beginning and experienced balloon pilots. • Excellent spectator venue. • Fire in the Sky – largest nite-glo extravaganza in the Midwest. • On the Fly – opportunity for spectators to book balloon rides. The Jewelsof Warren County

17. Jewels • Warren County Fair • Special events such as mutton bustin’ and regular season racing as well as demolition derby. • Farmers market. • Historical museum and research archive. • Campgrounds. • Annual tractor pulling contest. The Jewelsof Warren County

18. Budget Jewels of Warren County Budget Following is the total cost of projects for each Jewel of Warren County. Jewel Amount Des Moines Metro Opera $0 Simpson College $6,000,000 National Balloon Classic $0 Scotch Ridge Center $10,505,483 Warren County Fair $0 Warren Co. Horse Trails Association $250,000 Wine Tour/Iowa Wine Festival $0 TOTAL $16,755,483 The Jewelsof Warren County

19. Warren County Great Place Steering Committee has identified the following outcomes that would benefit all of Warren County: Additional opportunities for engaging in moderate physical activity such as walking, bicycling or horseback riding in order to improve health. Opportunities for connections and collaborations that will strengthen everybody’s programming for health and creativity. Opportunities to develop more year-round recreational and environmentally-focused activities. Additional marketing and communication of events to people within the community and outside the community. Support The Jewelsof Warren County

20. Conclusion • Conclusion • A Great Places award would be used by the Jewels of Warren County to build vertical infrastructure, including a recreation trail bridge, balloon field improvements, signage and parking for horse trails. • The projects listed will be completed within 12 and 18 months with the support of Iowa Great Places. • The Jewels of Warren County are connected physically by roads, trails, and fiber optics. • The Jewels of Warren County are connected by vision, creativity, and diversity. • The connections create a high quality necklace of jewels for residents and visitors. • The vision of Warren County Great Places will become a reality with the assistance of Iowa Great Places. The Jewelsof Warren County