Adventure Learning Center

With the knowledge that the lease on our current facility would expire at the end of August 2008, the Extension Council spent a good deal of time discussing options for relocation. Their primary criteria were: accessibility, visibility, adequate meeting space and parking, and safety (particularly in the evening hours).

In January, the Extension Council formed a Strategic Planning and Facilities Task Force to investigate our options. Our first step was to retain the services of a real estate broker who provided us with a list of 50 properties in Polk County. That list was narrowed to 33, then to 12, four, two, and finally one.

We are very pleased to announce that in August we will be relocating to 1625 Adventureland Drive in Altoona. This 21,000 square foot facility is approximately 10 years old and was formerly occupied by the administrative departments of Prairie Meadows. We will be leasing to own approximately 12,000 square feet. The interior will be totally redesigned to fit the needs of ISU Extension, Polk County for the next 15-20 years. This location has a lot of potential and the plans for immediate (Bass Pro Shops, Olympic Village) and future development are very exciting.

What we are most pleased to announce is that we will have a 3,300 square foot conference facility which can easily accommodate 150 persons with sufficient parking. The room will also have the capability of being divided into three separate meeting rooms for smaller groups. The popularity of our programs has grown dramatically over the past few years. We now boast 619 4-H members, 475 Master Gardeners, 200 ServSafe participants, 325 Pesticide Applicator clients, and have increasingly been asked to hold simultaneous sessions.

Located across from two highly recognizable landmarks (Adventureland and Prairie Meadows) and able to be viewed from one of the nation's busy interstate highways (I-80) makes this location very attractive to our clients.

We hope that you are as pleased with this news as we are and look forward to continuing to serve and grow our programming efforts for the citizens of Polk County.

Author: J Baldwin

Date: 6/8/2008