June 5, 2024

Picture taken on August 18, 1994 during the dedication of the Ahrens/Paschall Memorial Park. Individuals shown include the late Claude W. Ahrens, Governor Terry Brandstad, the late Mayor Robert “Bob” Anderson, the late President of Grinnell College Pamela Ferguson, Chris Nolte, and members of the National Parks and Recreation Association from Ashburn, VA. Governor Brandstad declared August 18th as “Claude W. Ahrens Day” in Iowa at this celebration. 

“Leave It Better Than You Found It”, the words that Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens lived by and led them to build the Ahrens/Paschall Memorial Park, a tribute to their son Paul and his friend Jim Paschall, and the fulfillment of a life-long dream to create a healthy, inclusive environment for children and adults. Today Claude’s legacy lives on as the park celebrates 30 years of service to the betterment of his beloved community.

Since opening in 1994, the Ahrens/Paschall Memorial Park has continued to evolve and support the growing needs of the community with the addition of:

• The Grinnell Athletic and Recreation Center complete with indoor basketball courts, a track and multi-purpose gym (1998)
• A golf driving range (2000)
• Three youth soccer fields (2001)
• Two inclusive playground areas (2018)
• A community garden (2018)
• Four pickleball courts (2019)
• Native landscape areas (2020)
• An outdoor ice-skating rink (2021)
• Park history signage along walking trail (2022)

In addition, the park is also home to eight baseball/softball fields, outdoor basketball and tennis courts, three shelter houses, a sledding hill, a one and a half mile outdoor walking path, the Ahrens Family Center which houses the Grinnell Community Early Learning Center, a gymnasium and swimming pool, and Foundation offices for the Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation, Ahrens Park Foundation and the Greater Poweshiek Community Foundation.

Today, the Ahrens/Paschall Memorial Park, Ahrens Family Center, Grinnell Athletic and Recreation Center, and the Administrative Foundation Offices are privately owned and operated by the Ahrens Park Foundation. Helping to support the Ahrens Park Foundation’s mission in providing first class recreational and athletic facilities are its volunteer board of directors, CEO Chad Nath, Facilities Manager Shane Gosselink, who is celebrating 25 years of service, and park staff members Troy Kingery, Mike Johnson, and the late Bill Mason.

Throughout the year the Ahrens Park Foundation, in collaboration with Grinnell Community Early Learning Center, Grinnell Parks & Recreation Department, USSSA, AAU, Tiger Youth Baseball and Softball, Grinnell-Newburg Schools, and the Altoona Soccer Club), hosts various programs and athletic tournaments welcoming thousands of visitors from around the state and helping to boost the local economy. Youth baseball and softball tournaments attract thousands of participants and spectators each year with an estimated 150,000 games played to date while the Grinnell recreation soccer teams and youth tournaments bring over a thousand players and spectators each season.

In celebration of its 30-year anniversary, the Ahrens Park Foundation, with the help of the Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation and several generous donors, has embarked on a campaign to make $1 million in capital improvements to the Ahrens/Paschall Memorial Park. These park improvements are staged in 4 phases and will take place over the next 3-4 years. Phase 1 includes:

• An Outdoor Learning Environment – To be located on the west side of the Ahrens Family Center. Grants have been pledged and/or received to date from Grinnell College, Grinnell Mutual Group, and Poweshiek County Alliance.
• ADA Concrete Pathways – Providing improved accessibility for playground and garden areas throughout the park.
• Dolly’s Dog Park – A project initiated by Grinnell High School students in partnership with Ahrens Park Foundation to create a new public dog park. The dog park will join existing facilities at the Ahrens/Paschall Memorial Park and provide 60,000 square feet of safe and playful space for community members and their pets. Grant dollars have been received from the 5210 Program/Healthiest State of Iowa, Grinnell College, Grinnell Rotary, and Poweshiek County Alliance along with many individuals providing financial support from the local area.
• Dugout and Press Box updates for softball and baseball fields – Currently in progress and soon to be completed.

In keeping with its mission to meet the needs of the community and enhance the quality of life in Grinnell, the Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation has provided millions of dollars over the past 30 years to help support the ongoing operations and capital needs of the Ahrens/Paschall Memorial Park, allowing it to provide a lower fee structure for tournaments, use by the school district and other community programs. To maintain the long-term sustainability of the park, the Ahrens Park Foundation and the Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation also rely on the generous donations from local businesses, organizations, and individuals. 2024 Ahrens Park Foundation business partners to date include Family Medicine; Jensen Heating and Cooling; Latcham Enterprises; Latitude Signage + Design; Ramsey-Weeks; and Unity Point Grinnell Regional Medical Center.

For 30 years the Ahrens/Paschall Memorial Park and its partners have continued to serve the Grinnell community, providing endless opportunities, and furthering Claude W. Ahrens’ legacy to “Leave It Better Then You Found It” for future generations. It is the hope of the Ahrens Park Foundation that the community will join us in celebrating 30 years of the Ahrens/Paschall Memorial Park.

For more information on the Ahrens Park Foundation or the Ahrens/Paschall Memorial Park please visit our website at www.ahrensfamilyfoundation.org/ahrens-park-foundation/

Anyone interested in donating to the Ahrens Park Foundation can donate online at www.ahrensfamilyfoundation.org/ahrens-park-foundation/ or mail a check to APF, P.O. Box 679, Grinnell, IA 50112. Donors are asked to mention a designation in the check memo or online memo if making a gift to a specific project.