Parker's Woods (Mason City, Iowa) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Parker's Woods Park Historic District
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The picnic shelter and entrance bollards (1941)
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | N. Jackson Ave. between 1st & 4th Sts., NW., Mason City, Iowa |
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| Area | 13 acres (5.3 ha) |
| Architect | Floyd W. Sapp |
| NRHP reference No. | 14000856 |
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 2014 |
Parker's Woods is a fun park located in Mason City, Iowa, United States. It's a great place to play and relax outdoors. This park is also a special "historic district." This means it's recognized for its important past. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2014.
The park covers about 13 acres of land. Willow Creek runs through it, offering a nice spot for fishing. You can also find picnic areas, three tennis courts, a volleyball court, basketball courts, and playgrounds here.
A Park with History
Before it became a park, this land was part of A.T. Parker's farm. He owned it since 1874. The land was used for animals to graze. Because it was close to the Union Pacific Railroad tracks, Parker also let circuses use it.
In 1939, A.T. Parker's widow, Martha J. Parker, and his daughter, Belle Parker Jackson, gave the land to Mason City. They wanted it to be a park. It has been used as a park ever since.
Building the Park
The park was developed between 1939 and 1941. This work was done by the National Youth Administration (NYA). The NYA was a program during the Great Depression. This was a time when many people didn't have jobs. The NYA helped young men and women by giving them part-time work and job training.
Parker's Woods is a rare example of a park in Iowa that was built entirely by the NYA. A landscape architect named Floyd W. Sapp from Cedar Rapids, Iowa created the plan for the park. The Parker family wanted the park to stay very natural. So, the development was kept simple.
The NYA workers started by clearing away brush and poison ivy. They also built the rustic picnic shelter and the entrance bollards. These were finished in 1941. The NYA also worked on projects in East Park at the same time. The Parker's Woods project gave jobs to 40 young men. After World War II, the city added more improvements. These included playgrounds and athletic fields and courts.
