Grinnell Central Park

Gifted to the City by J.B. Grinnell in the late 1800’s, the 3.8-acre Central Park has provided generations of citizens with a civic venue for festivals, concerts, community events and family gatherings. Recent improvements are designed to capitalize on the rich cultural history of Grinnell and reinforce the spirit and emotion the park has come to embody. Detailed design and construction of the improvements began following a public-private fundraising campaign, and include a new outdoor covered performance stage, open-air shelters, family restrooms, a central plaza with interactive zero-depth spray water feature, relocated historic gazebo, exploratory play features and other amenities.

Detailed design and construction of the improvements began following a public-private fundraising campaign, and includes a new outdoor covered performance stage, open air shelters, family restrooms, central plaza with interactive zero depth spray water feature, relocated historic gazebo, exploratory play features and other amenities.

Showcasing interdisciplinary design, Grinnell’s Central Park honors the past, invigorates the present, anticipates the future. Within the 3.8-acre park project, the Art Studio designed, modeled, and fabricated over 250 terra cotta pieces inspired by Louis Sullivan’s “Jewel Box” bank located downtown. The studio also handcrafted six 36” diameter Louis Sullivan urns, with a portion of the proceeds benefitting the Louis Sullivan Building Foundation.