Hickory Hill Park facts for kids
Hickory Hill Park is a large natural park located in northeast Iowa City, Iowa. It covers about 190 acres (0.77 square kilometers). This park has many different natural areas, including forests, open fields, and even some wetlands. A creek called Ralston Creek flows through the park.
The city of Iowa City owns and manages the park. They get a lot of help from a group called "Friends of Hickory Hill Park." Many people enjoy visiting the park for different activities. You can go hiking, walk your dog, or go cross-country skiing and sledding in the winter. It's also a great place for a picnic.
It's good to know that there are other parks with similar names. Don't confuse Iowa City's Hickory Hill Park with Hickory Hills Park near Waterloo or Hickory Hills Park in Tama County.
The Story of Hickory Hill Park
Hickory Hill Park has grown quite a bit over the years. Its story began in 1927. At that time, the city bought about 40 acres (0.16 square kilometers) of land. This land had some woods and old farm fields. It was originally bought to make the nearby Oakland Cemetery bigger.
However, the cemetery didn't expand very quickly. This allowed much of the land to grow wild and natural. In 1952, another 50 acres (0.20 square kilometers) were added to the area. Thanks to the hard work of citizens like Dee Norton, the land was officially made a park in 1968.
The park grew even more in the 1980s, reaching its current size of 190 acres. This expansion was part of a project to help control storm water. More recently, in 2008, the "Friends of Hickory Hill Park" group helped buy another 16 acres (0.065 square kilometers). This new land is next to the park's northwest side and includes both wooded and open areas. You can even find the remains of an old ice dam and an ice house on this property.
Exploring Hickory Hill Park
Hickory Hill Park has an interesting shape because it was put together piece by piece over time. Much of the park has steep hills and is covered in trees. There are also large areas of old farm fields that are slowly returning to their natural state.
The park offers two main picnic areas where you can relax and eat. One is near the south entrance off Bloomington Street. The other is on the west side, near Conklin Lane. In the middle of the park, you'll find a large dam. This dam was built in the 1990s to help manage water flow.
Challenges Facing the Park
For a long time, Hickory Hill Park was on the very edge of Iowa City. Farmlands bordered it to the north and east. But now, the city has grown around the park. New roads like the First Avenue extension and Scott Avenue have been built. Also, new homes and businesses have been developed nearby. This means it's harder for Hickory Hill Park to expand in the future.
The park's growth is also limited by its neighbors. These include the Oakland Cemetery, St. Joseph’s Cemetery, and Regina High School.
Besides being surrounded by development, the park faces other challenges. Some trails can get worn down from too much use. Also, there are invasive plant species that threaten the park's natural plants. These include plants like garlic mustard, multiflora rose, and tree of heaven. These plants can take over and push out the native plants that belong in the park.
