The Importance of Open Spaces – Ahrens Park Foundation

October 3, 2022

Open spaces are vital to foster interconnectedness and cooperation. The Ahrens Park Foundation embodies this principle in its provision of recreational and athletic facilities for all inhabitants of Grinnell and the surrounding area. This mission is exemplified by the Ahrens/Paschall Memorial Park, which has many facilities open for public use. The park is already a boon to the community and its youth, and the Ahrens Park Foundation wants to make it even more so. With a $3,500 grant awarded in fall 2022 by the Grinnell College Community Mini-Grant Program, the foundation has been able to enter into an agreement with North Carolina State University’s Natural Learning Initiative to construct an outdoor learning space and playscape for the benefit of the Grinnell Early Learning Center and the youth of the wider community.

“This project is an asset that benefits the youth, the community, and members at all economic levels, and it shines a light for other communities to follow,” said Chad Nath, president/CEO of the Ahrens Park Foundation

This area, which will be to the west of the Ahrens Community Center, will use natural building materials to create a stimulating environment for kids. The foundation’s intent is to provide a space for the physical and mental enrichment of children, giving them space for exploration as well as structured activities in an outdoor environment. This outdoor classroom and play area have the potential to serve as a natural learning environment for Grinnell Early Learning Center’s students, providing them with the benefits that learning, inquiring, and investigating outside can give. The project is in its preliminary stages, but three outdoor classrooms are planned; more details will be available after community surveys and future progress has been made.