McFarland Park is a 200-acre area located northeast of Ames at 56461 180th Street. The park offers visitors a variety of ecotypes to explore including tallgrass prairie, woodland, and stream habitats. Facilities include:

• Story County Conservation Center: Office hours are Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., and Sundays, 2-5 p.m. April through October. The offices of the administrative and environmental education staff are housed at this building, and the multipurpose room is available for rent for social gatherings and meetings. Educational displays throughout the year fill the center. A cedar deck is adjacent to the building for picnics and public use.
• Stargazing Observatory:  Supervised by the Ames Area Amateur Astronomers (AAAA); available to the public through astronomy programs offered by AAAA.
• Touch-a-Life Trail: Hard-surfaced trail through various plant communities including prairie, woodlands, and ponds; handicapped access to fishing dock, deck overlooking the lake, and handicapped accessible picnic sites.
• Picnic areas with grills: Some sites are handicap accessible
• Supervised youth camping -  $20/site/night payable at time of reservation - reservation required. Campsites are closed Dec 1-Mar 31.
• Two primitive campsites: These campsites are located along the Skunk River. Campers must carry in equipment approximately 3/4 mile from the parking area to the camping sites and contact the conservation center office prior to their stay.  Campsites are closed Dec 1-Mar 31.
• Hiking and Off-road Biking: The park's 5.5 miles of trails are open to hiking and off-road biking, but interior trails with stairs are closed to bicyclists. Please obey all signs. Equestrians are not allowed in the park; horseback riding is allowed on the trails at Peterson Park and along the greenbelt.
• 6.5-acre Lake: The lake is stocked with bluegill, bass, and catfish.
• Winter activities: Ice fishing and cross-country skiing.

The Story County Conservation Center located  in McFarland Park is available to rent for social gatherings as well as meetings. The air-conditioned multipurpose room seats 80-100 comfortably and is equipped with tables and chairs, kitchenette, amphitheater area, audio-visual equipment, and microphone system. The multipurpose room is available for rent between 5:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. Sunday-Saturday.

The rental fee is $30 per hour with a four-hour minimum. Youth groups may rent the facility at $15 per hour with a two-hour minimum. A fee waiver, except for a $30 utility fee, is available to groups who qualify.  As a public facility, the center is a smoke-free zone.

Beer (no kegs) and wine are allowed outdoors, as well as inside the conservation center Multipurpose Room during hours of a paid reservation with an additional, non-refundable $50.00 beer/wine fee.

To schedule a reservation at the conservation center, contact the administrative office during business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.) at 515/232-2516 or by e-mail at conservation@storycounty.com