Anamosa playground channels rail history for inspiration

A new train-themed playground is drawing a large number of families to Wapsiana Park in Anamosa.

The playground at Linn and Dubuque streets was built on the site of a former train roundhouse, and was dreamed up by longtime Anamosa residents Cecilia and John Hatcher. After seeing her young grandchildren enjoy a wooden train set at a park in Illinois, Cecilia said she wanted to see something similar in Anamosa.

She and her husband donated $500 to get the project off the ground. The playground also received an $8,000 grant from the Jones County Endowment Fund, according to Scott Kelly, director of the Parks and Recreation department in Anamosa.

The department raised an additional $2,500 to pay for the completion of the playground, which opened the last week of May.

Kelly said the park has been a hit with area children so far. It has a slide, swings, climbing wall and climbing bars.

'There's sand volleyball, there's swing sets, a shelter, a lot of it is geared towards families and older kids,” Kelly said of Wapsiana Park. 'We really didn't have anything for very young kids. This really filled that spot, and they love it.”

The parks department is trying to get a plaque put up at the playground describing the historic tie to the roundhouse.

'The little kids have just been on it non-stop, it's been great,” Kelly said of the playground. 'It's a good feeling to see that you've met a need.”