DES MOINES, IA (Sept. 26, 2024) – The Great Outdoors Foundation and ICON Water Trails are pleased to announce the recipients of the inaugural Creative Conservationist and Waveshaper awards. These honors celebrate exceptional contributions to conservation and recreation from community members involved with the Great Outdoors Foundation and ICON Water Trails, aligning with the organizations’ values and priorities. The recipients will be formally recognized at the upcoming Wild Prairie Showdown on Oct. 10, 2024.

Patricia Boddy, Councilmember for the City of Urbandale, has been selected as the 2024 Creative Conservationist — Presented by Bolton & Menk. A licensed professional engineer, Boddy retired as a Senior Partner at RDG Planning and Design in 2019, after a long career in leadership in private business and government. Additionally, she served in varying roles as lead conservation administrator for both Polk County Conservation and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Boddy is a former member of the Great Outdoors Foundation Board of Directors and a current member of the ICON Water Trails Board of Directors.

Rick Tollakson, President & CEO of Hubbell Realty Company, has been selected as the 2024 Waveshaper. In addition to his professional accolades, leading Hubbell Realty Company and its subsidiaries for two decades, Tollakson is a major proponent of water trails. His compelling belief in the original Greater Des Moines Water Trails and Greenways Master Plan, the guiding document for ICON Water Trails, has led to other significant support from the private sector for the transformational quality of life initiative. Tollakson serves on the ICON Water Trails Board of Directors as well as a number of its committees.

The Wild Prairie Showdown is a collaborative, high-energy event that features four participants competing to be named MVP — Most Valuable Philanthropist. The presentation of the Creative Conservationist and Waveshaper awards will be included in the event’s festivities, which support conservation and recreation initiatives across the region. To learn more, visit: https://givebutter.com/wps2024.

About Great Outdoors Foundation

The Great Outdoors Foundation exists to advance conservation through innovation, collaboration, and stewardship. We are the foremost fundraising professionals in the conservation and outdoor recreation sector. Together, we activate meaningful, accessible initiatives that enhance our environment and improve quality of life. Over the last three years, we have invested more than $200 million in conservation and outdoor recreation initiatives, and we’re just getting started. Learn more at greatoutdoorsfoundation.org.

About ICON Water Trails

ICON Water Trails is a regionally inclusive recreational confluence connecting culture, conservation, and adventure by empowering our waterways. When complete, ICON will connect 50+ access points across 150 miles of rivers and creeks in Central Iowa.  This transformational initiative represents a new commitment to water safety and conservation as well as a concerted effort to drive economic development, visitor attraction, and workforce retention. Learn more at ICONwatertrails.com.