LeClaire Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids LeClaire Park |
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W.D. Petersen Memorial Music Pavilion
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| Type | Public park |
| Location | Davenport, Iowa |
| Area | 400-acre (1.6 km2) |
| Created | c. 1890 |
| Operated by | Davenport Parks and Recreation |
| Open | Year round |
LeClaire Park is a fun public park in downtown Davenport, Iowa, United States. It sits right along the amazing Mississippi River. This park is located between two other cool riverfront parks: Centennial Park to the west and the new River Heritage Park to the east.
LeClaire Park is about 400-acre (1.6 km2) big. It has many interesting things to see and do. You can find monuments, a special stage called a bandshell, and even a baseball stadium here. The Davenport Skybridge also starts or ends right in this park. The Riverfront Parkway goes through LeClaire Park, making it easy to explore. You can also enjoy picnic areas, horseshoe pits, and places to fish in the river. A riverboat casino is often docked near the park's levee.
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Discovering LeClaire Park's History
LeClaire Park was created along the riverfront around the 1890s. This happened when C.A. Ficke was the mayor of Davenport. In 1911, a group called the Levee Improvement Commission was formed. Their job was to make the city's riverfront better for fun, businesses, and transportation. They also wanted to make the area look more beautiful.
The river wall, called a seawall, was made longer over many years, from 1912 to 1931. LeClaire Park itself got a big makeover between 1912 and 1914. Many new things were added to the park during this time. The John Dillon Memorial was put in place in 1918. A public swimming pool, called the Municipal Natatorium, was built in 1923. The W.D. Petersen Music Pavilion, a stage for music, was added the next year. The Municipal Inn, a concession stand, opened in 1929. Finally, Municipal Stadium, a baseball park, opened in 1931.
Some other buildings were also added by private groups. These included the Lend-A-Hand Club building in 1923 and the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Freight House in 1918. Union Station, a train station, was built in 1924. The President Casino was one of the first boats to offer riverboat gambling in Iowa in the early 1990s. Later, the Lend-A-Hand building and the swimming pool were taken down.
John Dillon Memorial
The memorial for Judge John Forrest Dillon was paid for by a special gift he left behind. This fountain was first built in the middle of Main Street. The Lend-A-Hand Club and the swimming pool were on either side of the street. In 1997, after those buildings were removed, Main Street was closed south of River Drive. A new open area, called a plaza, was then created around the memorial.
W.D. Petersen Music Pavilion
The W.D. Petersen Music Pavilion is often called the LeClaire Park Bandshell. It was named after William D. Petersen. He was a person who helped make Davenport's riverfront popular in the late 1800s and early 1900s. This pavilion hosts many concerts every year. Some popular events include the Mississippi Valley Blues Festival and the Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival. Other public events also take place here.
Municipal Inn
The Municipal Inn is a concession stand in the park. It was designed by a local architecture company. It first opened in 1929. This building is special because it helps mark how high the Mississippi River floods. For example, during the Great Flood of 1993, the water almost reached the building's roof. This structure is listed on the Davenport Register of Historic Properties. This means it is an important historical building.
Modern Woodmen Park
This baseball stadium first opened as Municipal Stadium on May 26, 1931. It is located between LeClaire Park to the east and Centennial Park to the west. The stadium's name was changed to John O’Donnell Stadium in 1971. This was to honor a local sportswriter. In 2007, its name changed again to Modern Woodmen Park. This happened after an insurance company bought the rights to the name.
The stadium has been home to many minor league baseball teams from Davenport. These include the Davenport Blue Sox. It has also hosted teams that are part of the Midwest League. The team that plays there now is the Quad City River Bandits. The stadium has also been used by the sports teams from St. Ambrose University and Assumption High School. Besides baseball, concerts and other sports events are also held at Modern Woodmen Park.
