Off the Map: Central Park in Jones County offers bounty of activities

Editor's note: Each week we will throw a dart at a map of Eastern Iowa. Where the dart lands, we'll head in search of a story. We hope to discover and share stories of people and places we might not ordinarily take note of, but who make our communities special.

By Katie Mills Giorgio, correspondent

CENTER JUNCTION - Central Park in Jones County, located near Center Junction, is a hidden gem of a county park with amenities designed to please residents and visitors alike.

The park was created in 1965 when 200 acres was acquired by the county.

'It really is centrally located in the county,” said county naturalist Michele Olson.

It grew to its current size of 297 acres when additional land was acquired in 2011 for watershed conservation and efforts, including wetland development and prairie restoration.

'We have done a lot of water quality work around the lake to help capture sediment,” Olson said.

That 24-acre lake is the main feature at Central Park. It is surrounded by two miles of walking trails and also has a 'swim-at-your-own-risk” beach. Olson said there are two boat ramps to accommodate kayaks, canoes and boats - paddle or electric engine only.

'The lake is a popular fishing hole for those looking to catch largemouth bass, blue- gill and channel catfish,” Olson said.

Camping, including modern and primitive sites, also is an option at the park. 'That is really another big draw,” Olson said. Near the camping sites, parkgoers will find horseshoe pits, a playground, open air shelters and an enclosed shelter that is available by reservation.

Olson has worked for Jones County Conservation, which operates the park, for 17 years. As the naturalist, she's responsible for environmental education, including all the public and school programs held in the park.

She also maintains and staffs the on-site Nature Center. Open on Saturdays and Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m., the Nature Center offers exhibits on local natural history and resources. There's a whole host of live animals, mostly snakes, turtles and frogs, to greet visitors.

The Nature Center also offers free public programs Saturdays at 1 p.m.

'I love seeing the spark in people's eyes when they learn something new here,” Olson said. 'It's like seeing them wake up to nature.”

On any given day all kinds of activities are going on in the park, Olson said. This past weekend, for example, the park hosted the Camp Courageous Sprint Triathlon, and a local couple held their wedding on the historic military bridge that spans the lake.

'We have school and daycare field trips and family reunions and people who like to camp or kids that just need to run around the lake,” Olson said. 'People enjoy being outdoors and are often surprised that they have this resource nearby.”