City
of Burlington, Iowa
Parks and Recreation Department
A Guide to Burlington's Parks
Parks and Recreation Department
A Guide to Burlington's Parks
| Crapo Park This 85 acre park was established in 1895 through the efforts of Philip Crapo, a local businessman and philanthropist. There was a great flurry of activity in 1896 to ready the park for the Iowa semi-centennial. The roads and plantings were designed at that time by the landscape engineering firm of Earnshaw and Punshon of Cincinnati, Ohio. In addition to the four shelter houses and walking trails through the arboretum and a number of beautiful gardens, the park includes: |
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Lake
Starker This 1.5 acre lake was completed in 1905 and rebuilt recently. It contains goldfish and is frequented by Canadian geese. It is used for ice skating in the winter. |
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Hawkeye
Natives Log Cabin This log cabin is a replica of the one constructed in 1910 by the Hawkeye Natives, an organization whose membership was limited to people born in Des Moines County who had attained the age of 50. Custody of the cabin was given to the Des Moines County Historical Society in 1971; it is maintained as a museum by this group. |
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Pike Memorial Lt. Zebulon Pike stopped here on the shore of the Mississippi river and unfurled the United States flag in 1805 while he was searching for defensible positions for forts in the new Louisiana Purchase. |
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The
Foehlinger Fountain This electrically operated fountain changes spray patterns and the colors of its lighting during its annual operation between Memorial Day and Labor Day. |
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The
Band Shell Located on the bluff overlooking the Mississippi River, the band shell is the setting for regular outdoor concerts by the Municipal Band on Sunday evenings in the summer. |
| Dankwardt Park These 72 acres were given to the city of Burlington in 1937 by Miss Lydia Dankwardt as a memorial to the members of her family. This park, which is directly adjacent to Crapo Park, includes tennis courts, ball diamonds, and the municipal swimming pool. |
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| DeEdwin and Gladys White
Memorial Park The 1.3 acres in this park, adjacent to the 300 block of Angular Street, offer large shade trees, basketball courts, tables, and playground equipment. |
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| Kersch Park Picnic tables, playground equipment, and a basketball court are tucked into this "pocket" park (under one-half acre) located in the 500 block of South Sixth. |
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Mosquito Park This park, which dates from the earliest days of the city, is located at the junction of North Third and Franklin Streets offering a spectacular view of the Mississippi River as it flows into the Burlington area. This is a popular spot for weddings and, in the winter months, for watching the eagles that soar overhead in search of their daily meals. |
| Nancy Neafie Park Dedicated to the memory of the first woman mayor of this city, the Nancy Neafie Park occupies the corner of Sixth and Jefferson in downtown Burlington. This newest "pocket" park, just one block south of Snake Alley, will contain a low limestone wall, boulder of native Iowa stone, benches, tables, an attractive walkway, and a space for public art. |
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| North Hill Park Located on North Fourth between Court and High Streets, this is one of the two original city parks. This park was the site of the first Methodist church in Iowa (founded in 1833). Although the log cabin which housed the church and the first school in Burlington is no longer standing, the land has been used for a public park since the original platting of the city. |
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Perkins Park - An 18-acre tract, part of the Perkins estate, was given to the City of Burlington in 1927 to be used as a public park. The land, which was purchased by Mr. Charles Elliot Perkins (associated with the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Railroad) in 1867, was the site of his home "The Apple Trees." This park includes a shelter house, gazebo, playground, and several attractive foot bridges. |
| Riverside Park The Mississippi riverfront was the focus of activity in early Burlington. The river traffic (which could dock at the cobblestone steamboat landing) brought a tremendous number of people into the community and provided strong social and commercial links to the eastern part of the United States. Today's visitors to the riverfront can walk along the river from the south boat ramps to the welcoming gazebo at the north end of the park. Eventually, this park will be linked with the Hoover Nature Trail which terminates in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. |
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Snake Alley This local landmark was constructed in 1894 to help horses scale the steep change in elevation that occurs between the Jefferson Street commercial district and the Heritage Hill residential district. The alley, which features seven curves within one block, was designed and built by the team of Charles Starker, William Steyh, and George Kriechbaum. |
| South Hill Park South Hill Park was the other park that was originally platted within the city limits. By an act of the legislature, North Hill and South Hill parks were made "parks for the use of the public" in July 1836. In 1924 the Stars and Stripes Chapter of the DAR dedicated a bronze marker in this park to commemorate the spot where the United States Department of the Navy set their instruments to observe a total eclipse of the sun on August 7, 1869. This park offers an outstanding view of the downtown commercial district and the river beyond. |
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| Summer Street Park Another of Burlington's "pocket" parks, this little (one-half acre) park, located on Summer Street between Pine and South Streets, includes a picnic table and some playground equipment. |
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| Sunnyside Park Adjacent to Sunnyside School at 2000 Sunnyside, this 4 acre park contains three Little League ball diamonds, playground equipment, an open shelter, and picnicking amenities |