Squirrel Hollow Park facts for kids
Squirrel Hollow County Park is a cool place along the Raccoon River in Iowa. It's southeast of a town called Jefferson. This park is pretty old! It was started in 1934. It's actually the second oldest county park in the whole state of Iowa.
Quick facts for kids |
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Squirrel Hollow County Park
Historic District |
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | Eastern bank of the North Raccoon River southeast of Jefferson |
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| Area | 60 acres (24 ha) |
| Built | 1934-1936 |
| Built by | Civil Works Administration Public Works Administration Works Progress Administration |
| Architect | Central Design Office, Iowa State College |
| MPS | Conservation Movement in Iowa MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 91001835 |
| Added to NRHP | December 23, 1991 |
Contents
Squirrel Hollow County Park
What Can You Do at Squirrel Hollow Park?
Squirrel Hollow County Park covers about 60 acres of land. That's like 45 football fields! Right next to it is a bigger area, about 147 acres, set aside for wildlife. Both areas are looked after by the Greene County Conservation Board.
The park is open from April 1st to November 1st each year. It's a great spot for outdoor fun! You can go camping, fishing, or canoeing on the river. There are also trails for hiking and even for horses. It's a perfect place for a picnic with friends or family.
A Park with History: The Historic District
Squirrel Hollow County Park is special because it's also a historic district. This means some of its old structures are protected. They are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This list helps make sure important places are preserved for the future.
The historic parts of the park were built a long time ago. They were made between 1934 and 1936. This was during a tough time in American history called the Great Depression. The government started programs to help people find work. These programs included the Civil Works Administration, the Works Progress Administration, and the Public Works Administration. They hired people to build parks, roads, and other important things.
The buildings and structures in Squirrel Hollow Park were designed by experts. They came from the Central Design Office at Iowa State College. This college is now known as Iowa State University.
Buildings and Structures You Can See
There are ten main parts of the park that are considered historic. Three of these are buildings you can go inside. The other seven are structures, like walls or roads.
The three historic buildings are:
- A shelter house: This building is about 36 feet long and 20.5 feet wide. It has cool old mill stones in the middle of its concrete floor.
- Two latrines: These are small buildings that serve as restrooms.
The seven historic structures include:
- Two fireplaces: These are located near the shelter house.
- A stone retaining wall: This wall helps hold back the soil along the Raccoon River.
- Two entrance portals: These are special gateways where you enter the park from the county road.
- A ball diamond: This is a field used for playing baseball or softball.
- The gravel road system: The roads within the park are also part of its history.
These old buildings and structures show how parks were built during the Great Depression. They are a reminder of the past and how people worked together to create beautiful public spaces.
