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Downtown Parks >>>
How
Park, is located in the 200 block of East Center Street, between Chestnut
and East streets, in Downtown LeRoy. This Victorian sitting park, complete
with fountain, benches, bird feeders and side gardens, was completed in
2000.
Kiwanis
Park, at the intersection of Center and Main streets, is locally known
as “the circle.” The park was originally a swamp area, and was later the
site of the horse watering trough and hitching posts. The park includes
an Indian chieftain statue, which faces toward what was once the Grand
Village of the Kickapoo Indians. Also found in the park are a cannon from
the Spanish-American war, commemorative markers, and the bandstand. The
park is utilized for most of LeRoy’s community-wide celebrations and festivals.
Neighborhood Parks >>>
Gaultney
Memorial Park, located on the north west side of town on Green Street
between Buck and Allen, the park and playground is named in honor of the
Gaultney brothers, who lost their lives in World War II. In addition to
playground equipment, this park has a butterfly garden and a sand volleyball
court.
Bowman Park,
located on East Center Street, between Pearl and Mill, and directly across
from Crumbaugh Memorial Library. The park was named in honor of Randy
C. Bowman, a long-time teacher and coach in the school system. In addition
to playground equipment, this park also has a basketball court and a pavilion.
Lester C.
Wilson Park, located on Pheasant Lane in the Golden Eagle subdivision,
was named for another long-time faculty member. The park contains a pavilion,
provided by the LeRoy Kiwanis Club, as well as play equipment and tables.
Falcon Ridge
Park, at the intersection of Falcon Ridge and Marsh Hawk in Falcon Ridge
subdivision, is the home of the Owens Memorial Playground, dedicated in
2007 in memory of Bob and Rosie Owens, who were in the grocery business
in LeRoy for over fifty years. The playground was a gift from Bruce and
Jan Owens and family, son and daughter-in-law of Bob and Rosie Owens,
and is the first phase of this park, which will also include a pavilion
and a full basketball court.
Howard Virgin Timber Park and James A. Bane Park,
are located east of
LeRoy on U.S. Route 150, just east of Oak Grove Cemetery. The parks include
a fishing pond, stocked by the city on a regular basis, as well as a virgin
timber area with walking paths, pavilions, and a large meadow that will
also soon be bordered by a native prairie grass and wildflower bed.
Brickyard Fields, is located southeast of town on County Road 21 (Bicentennial
Drive), and is a park under construction. The long-range plan for the
ground includes three soccer fields, with one completed, and two ball
fields. Other amenities will be added over time.
And
Where Does the Money Come From?
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The City of Le Roy
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The City of LeRoy, in its annual
budget, provides funds for parks and playgrounds work, expansion,
and development. These funds are augmented by other funds in several
ways:
Parkfest!!!!
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PARKFEST! PARKFEST is a celebration of LeRoy’s
parks and playgrounds, and is held in late September or early October,
either in Downtown LeRoy or at one of the various parks. Local organizations
and businesses help support the event, which includes food, games,
hayrack rides, and other activities, and all proceeds are used for
parks and playgrounds development.
Gifts
and Memorials
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Gifts and Memorials – A number of LeRoyans, and former residents,
have made special gifts and memorials to LeRoy’s parks and playgrounds.
There are memorial lampposts and a memorial fountain in How Park,
a memorial bench in Kiwanis Park, and a memorial drinking fountain
in Gaultney Park. In addition, there are memorial trees in several
parks. Other private gifts have provided for a renovation of the city’s
bandstand, the purchase of park benches and play equipment, and the
decorative wall at the rear of How Park. Indeed, most of the flowers
blooming in the How Park gardens were given from the flowerbeds of
a number of local gardeners. A volunteer group, P.A.R.K.S., raised
funds for all of the new play equipment in Bowman Park. The Kiwanis
Club has provided pavilions for several parks, and annually builds
picnic tables for use in all parks. In 2007, new playground equipment
for Falcon Ridge Park was provided in memorial to Bob and Rosie Owens,
and Steve Dean provided new equipment in Gaultney and Lester C. Wilson
parks.
Would you like to Help? >>>
| There is a “Wish List” of items for each of our parks and playgrounds,
and information about each is available by contacting Steve Dean,
Parks and Playgrounds Coordinator, at 309-530-7466, or by e-mail to
smdean49@verizon.net.
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And
There's More!! >>>
LeRoy PARK DISTRICT is a separate taxing body with an elected Board,
and is working in conjunction and partnership with the city to build
the new Community Recreation Center, which will include both indoor
and outdoor pools, a gymnasium, running track, and many other amenities.
SPORTS COMPLEX
is located just east of LeRoy Elementary School,
and provides lighted fields for baseball. It is used by LeRoy’s
very active Summer Baseball program, as well as visiting teams.
MEMBERSHIP CLUBS include LeRoy Country Club, with its nine-hole
golf course, swimming pool, and clubhouse facilities; LeRoy Rifle
and Pistol Club, and LeRoy Sportsmen’s Club.
MORAINE VIEW STATE
PARK is located north of LeRoy seven miles, and contains the 158-acre
Dawson Lake, hiking trails, camping and boating facilities, and
much more, within its 1,687 acres.
CLINTON LAKE is located approximately twelve miles south of LeRoy,
and provides boating, fishing, and hiking.
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GRAND VILLAGE OF THE KICKAPOO PARK is located northeast of LeRoy,
and is the ancestral Grand Village of the Kickapoo Indians. A weekend
long Powwow is held at the site each year.
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