Muslim Camp Lease Signed
By Frank Gluck
North Liberty, IA -
An organization planning a Muslim youth camp on the shores
of Coralville Lake has signed a lease of up to 25 years
with the federal government, the US Army Corps of Engineers
announced March 22.
Muslim Youth Camps of America (MYCA) now has full rights
to be on the land and, once it works out details with county
and state regulators, can begin building at any time.
The organization has up to five years to begin building
before the Corps of Engineers would reconsider the lease.
If, after five years, MYCA shows it is progressing in a
"satisfactory" fashion, a 20-year lease would
be offered.
Plans for the $934,000 facility call for lodging up to 60
campers ages 10 to 17 -- 40 in cabins and 20 in tents --
plus staffers during summer, and up to 40 per night in the
off-season.
The proposal has been a controversial one. Many neighbors
have complained that the development would overwhelm the
rural Johnson County roads leading to the facility and that
the proposed buildings would mar the scenic nature of the
spot.
A minority of other camp opponents have tried to block construction
by evoking the specter of terrorism…(Courtesy The
Gazette, 3/22/06)
http://www.crgazette.com/2006/03/22/Home/muslimcampleasesigned.htm
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