bergie
Bronze Member
- Aug 2, 2004
- 1,815
- 1,147
Here's one. Do you live near it? I'll look for more. Check around both the north and south old swimming holes and the band stand...
Island Park in Rock Rapids is one of the largest and most scenic city parks in northwest Iowa. It's a great place to go for a picnic in the shade, to fish, for a leisurely stroll, for children to play and for families to camp.
It was in the summer of 1909 that the town of Rock Rapids bought the property. A clean-up day was celebrated with most of the town's able-bodied men doing the work of trimming, cutting, hauling and burning. The women served the noon meal on temporary tables in the shade of the great trees.
That was the official beginning. Later came:
? The construction of the big dam in the north part of the park, the stepping stones below which have thrilled youngsters for decades and the low concrete bridge below the dam
The original river swimming hole was located in what is now the north part of the park and where the big dam is located in the bend of the river. In 1927, after the smaller dam was built in the south end of the park, a new swimming hole was developed. There was even a bathhouse. When the dam went out one spring, the old swimming hole went, too.
There were weekly band concerts during the park's glory days. The stone and concrete band stand remains as a reminder of those musical times.
Island Park in Rock Rapids is one of the largest and most scenic city parks in northwest Iowa. It's a great place to go for a picnic in the shade, to fish, for a leisurely stroll, for children to play and for families to camp.
It was in the summer of 1909 that the town of Rock Rapids bought the property. A clean-up day was celebrated with most of the town's able-bodied men doing the work of trimming, cutting, hauling and burning. The women served the noon meal on temporary tables in the shade of the great trees.
That was the official beginning. Later came:
? The construction of the big dam in the north part of the park, the stepping stones below which have thrilled youngsters for decades and the low concrete bridge below the dam
The original river swimming hole was located in what is now the north part of the park and where the big dam is located in the bend of the river. In 1927, after the smaller dam was built in the south end of the park, a new swimming hole was developed. There was even a bathhouse. When the dam went out one spring, the old swimming hole went, too.
There were weekly band concerts during the park's glory days. The stone and concrete band stand remains as a reminder of those musical times.
