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To restore and preserve the park for quiet enjoyment, environmental education and research.
PROJECTS
- Sat, Oct 03Oct 03, 2026, 10:00 AM – 11:50 AMAutumn is here, and we're celebrating it at Big Rock Park. Join Ali (of Thistles) and Friends of Big Rock Park on October 3rd at 10am for a morning of fall fun, made just for kids. Paint a pumpkin, toss a hoop, hunt for fall color through the park, and build your own fall wreath.
- Sat, Oct 03Oct 03, 2026, 10:00 AM – 11:50 AMAutumn is here, and we're celebrating it at Big Rock Park. Join Ali (of Thistles) and Friends of Big Rock Park on October 3rd at 10am for a morning of fall fun, made just for kids. Paint a pumpkin, toss a hoop, hunt for fall color through the park, and build your own fall wreath.
- Sat, Sep 05
- Sat, Jun 20
- Sat, May 02May 02, 2026, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PMJoin us for a guided spring hike focused on seasonal foraging and hands-on conservation. Participants will learn to identify common edible spring plants while also helping protect native ecosystems by removing invasive garlic mustard along the trail. The walk is geared towards those 10+
OUR LATEST NEWS
Fall Fun At Big Rock Park
Skies cleared and fun seekers came to our Autumn Celebration, funded by the Pella Community Foundation in Cooperation with Thistles. Color matching with nature, pumpkin ring toss, pumpkin painting, wreath making, tic tac toe, and a photo booth were all part of the fun. Although our programs for this year have finished, please be sure to enjoy the park. Every season has something to enjoy!
1 hour ago
Water Testing by Citizen Scientists
On September 24, twenty Central College students from the course Community and Citizen Science visited Big Rock Park and tested the water that runs through it. Thunder Creek takes a long and winding road around Pella before making it to Big Rock Park. The students wanted to know what was in it. What had it picked up along the way? Was it safe for wading? They tested for twenty chemical and physical parameters and for pathogenic bacteria using simple tests and meters. The
Sep 27
A Perfect Day for Monarchs
A large crowd was on hand for our September monarch release led by biologist Kristin Siewert. Monarch’s have the longest migration of any insect and are the only insect with a two-way migration. Monarchs roost in Mexico (those living West of the Rockies migrate to California) for the winter. In the spring, they migrate north as far as Canada, live in the North for the summer, and then, their offspring make the return trip south. Participants pretended to be monarch migrati
Sep 10
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