The University of Iowa previously announced it wasn’t renewing its lease at the Macbride Nature Recreation Area, a partnership that has existed since 1959. The lease is set to expire on July 1, 2029, with many university programs forced to move or shutter altogether in the next few weeks.
The UI recently decided to slightly alter that plan with little explanation, programs like School of the Wild, the Sailing Club and Lifetime Leisure Skills classes to continue through next year.
The Sailing Club faces a fee increase to stay in the nature area.
Why the University of Iowa is ending its Macbride lease
The University of Iowa announced in July 2025 that after reviewing the “financial and operational sustainability” of the property and considering the cost for upkeep of the roads, landscape and buildings, they no longer wanted to continue the nature area lease.
The university has leased the 485 acres, for free, from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers since 1959. Researchers, naturalists and College of Education students have used the land near Solon for decades. The school is currently responsible for maintaining the landscape, all structures, and the roads under its existing lease.
A recreation area committee was formed in the summer of 2024 to analyze the feasibility of the UI’s partnership. A report released in May estimated that the University of Iowa would need to invest nearly $15 million in immediate improvements to continue using the property, in addition to $1 million per year for maintenance.
“This was not an easy decision,” UI President Barbara Wilson said in a statement. “….I very much appreciate the work of the committee and their outreach to potential partners as we explored numerous options.”
Sailing club considers options amid rising rental fee
The UI Sailing Club is expected to pay a monthly fee of $500 starting on Aug. 1, a $300 increase that nearly triples the previous cost. Because the College of Education now pays the utility costs and maintenance, the Cedar Rapids Gazette reported that the entities have “agreed that it makes sense for the Sailing Club to pay rent if the club decides to stay through July 31, 2027.”
If the sailing club stays at Macbride Nature Recreation, it would be at a cost of $6,000 per year.
University programs like the Raptor Project, UI WILD will continue
The Macbride Nature Recreation Area hosts programs under the UI WILD umbrella, including the School of the Wild, a College of Education experiential learning and teaching space, as well as the Iowa Raptor Project and the Iowa Wildlife Camps.
The programs will continue after the lease expires, the UI said in a release. Program leaders are exploring future homes for the components of UI WILD.
Jessica Rish is an entertainment, dining and education reporter for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. She can be reached at JRish@press-citizen.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @rishjessica_
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: UI extends Macbride programs, Sailing Club faces higher rent fee
Reporting by Jessica Rish, Iowa City Press-Citizen / Iowa City Press-Citizen
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By Jessica Rish, Iowa City Press-Citizen | USA TODAY Network
