Ahrens Park Foundation

In 1997, the Ahrens Park Foundation was established as a private operating foundation, which owns and operates Ahrens/Paschall Memorial Park. The Ahrens Park Foundation is dedicated to providing first class recreational and athletic facilities while collaborating with wellness, educational and recreational programs and organizations for the greater good of the community of Grinnell. Its facility lease partners include the Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation, Greater Poweshiek Community Foundation, Grinnell Community Early Learning Center, city of Grinnell’s Parks & Recreation dept., Grinnell Youth Baseball/Softball Association, Grinnell-Newburg Schools,  and Mid-Iowa Futbol Club.

The Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation has provided millions of dollars over the past thirty years to help support the ongoing operations and capital needs of the Ahrens/Paschall Memorial Park since 1993, when the park was being built.

The Ahrens/Paschall Memorial Park, opened in 1994, is home to eight youth softball and baseball fields, outdoor basketball courts, a tennis court, four pickleball courts, a sand volleyball court, three youth soccer fields, a golf driving range, several playground areas, three shelter houses, a sledding hill, community gardens, green spaces, and a one and a half mile outdoor walking path. An outdoor ice skating rink is open during the cold winter months.

The playground areas feature play structures from Miracle Recreation Equipment, the company founded by the late Claude W. Ahrens in Grinnell. Installed in 2018, the playgrounds – one area for 3-5 year-olds and one area for 5-12 year-olds, feature a wide range of play structures and sensory play panels throughout. The younger playground offers handicap accessible features tooffer inclusive play for all children. The accessibility features of this playground include ramped units and transfer points for wheelchair bound children, as well as sensory play panels for kids of all abilities. The transfer points allow kids to use their upper bodies to crawl through play areas. The swing set in the younger children’s unit has an “inclusive seat,” a chair with a high back and shoulder harness.

Surfacing for all of the areas includes rubber poured in place and rubber mulch, considered the #1 safest play surface for playgrounds. The older age appropriate playground area features Miracle’s “biggest and best” Mega Tower with six different slides.

Also located at the park is the Ahrens Family Center, the Grinnell Athletic and Recreation Center, and the offices for the Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation, Ahrens Park Foundation, and Greater Poweshiek Community Foundation.

COMING SOON: Dolly’s Dog Park will be located along the southeast corner of Ahrens Park! 60,000 square feet of enclosures for different sizes of dogs.

To view or download a copy of the Ahrens Park Map

To view or download a copy of the Ahrens Park Facility Usage and Partner Chart

To reserve one of our three park shelter houses, please contact the Ahrens Park Foundation offices at (641)236-5518, ext 106 or email cnath@ahrensfamilyfoundation.org. Please view our calendar section to see current availability of our park shelters and other park events.

President – Jon Pettlon
Vice-President – Steve Sieck
Treasurer/Secretary – Shannon Fitzgerald
Assistant Treasurer – Julie Gosselink
Jarrod Phelps
Kelly Johnson-Rose
Joel Smith
Susan Witt

Chad Nath

Chad is the President and CEO of the Ahrens Park Foundation. Chad Nath previously served as LINK Grinnell’s Executive Director for two years. Prior to his role with LINK, Chad spent sixteen years with UnityPoint Health – GRMC; seven as Director of Wellness, Fitness, and Integrated Health, nine as Director of Safety, Security, and Emergency Preparedness and all 16 as Director of the Summer Day Camp. He has also served on the Board of Directors for the Ahrens Park Foundation, Imagine Grinnell, Kids Against Hunger, and the UnityPoint Health – GRMC Foundation. Chad has over twenty-five years of experience in child education and development, and community health and wellness.

As president & CEO, Chad will be responsible for managing, leading, and promoting the Ahrens Park Foundation (APF) and the Ahrens/Paschall Memorial Park complex. He will work with the APF Board of Directors to develop strategies focused on carrying out the APF’s mission and vision as well as provide fiscal oversight and oversee community, partner and user relationships. Chad will also partner with the Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation (CDAF) to help promote CDAF’s vision and strategies.

Shane Gosselink

For more information on the Mid-Iowa Futbol Club (soccer) please visit their website https://altoonasoccer.demosphere-secure.com/programs/gps-mid-iowa

For more information on Grinnell Youth Baseball & Softball Association please visit their website https://tshq.bluesombrero.com/grinnellball

For more information on Grinnell Parks & Recreation please visit their website https://www.grinnelliowa.gov/164/Recreational-Activities

The Grinnell Athletic & Recreation Center (GARC) was built in 1998 and includes a multi-purpose gymnasium, locker rooms, two offices, and an open lobby. The city of Grinnell’s Parks & Recreation leases the GARC facility year round for its offices and various indoor programs and activities.

For more information regarding the City of Grinnell’s Parks & Recreation department, GARC Open Gym Hours, programs, memberships, guidelines and rental information, please visit the Grinnell Park’s & Recreation website at www.grinnelliowa.gov/159/Parks-Recreation