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.

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, a golf driving range, several playground areas, three shelter houses, a sledding hill, community gardens, green spaces, dog park, and a one and a half mile outdoor walking path. 

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 Ahrens Park Foundation, Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation, Greater Poweshiek Community Foundation, and the Grinnell-Newburg Community School District.

Groundbreaking for the new Grinnell-Newburg elementary school at Ahrens Park occurred in April 2026. Families and Community members can find project timelines, renderings, and ongoing construction updates by visiting the District website and clicking “New School Site” on the homepage of grinnell-k12.org.

parkrun is a place where people can come together to walk, run or volunteer—and feel good—which is why it’s called The Feel Good Movement.

parkrun started in the United Kingdom in 2004 with a mission to make the world healthier and happier through free, inclusive and accessible community events. People of all ages, abilities, backgrounds and walks of life come together every Saturday morning and participate by walking, running or volunteering. There are almost 100 parkruns throughout the United States, and almost half a million people participate in parkruns around the world each week.

Grinnell is the latest community to join the parkrun family. The volunteer-led initiative takes place weekly on Saturday mornings at Ahrens Park at 8:00 a.m. May thru September, and 9:00 a.m. October thru April. Participants are invited to complete a 5K (3.1 mile) double-loop by walking, jogging or running. There are also a variety of volunteer opportunities. Dogs on leashes are welcome as are young children in strollers.

For more information, visit parkrun.com or email grinnellparkrun@gmail.com

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

To view or download a copy of the Ahrens Park Map

You can now book facility reservations online through the Grinnell Park and Recreation website. Whether you’re planning a birthday party or a family reunion at one of our outdoor park shelters, a team practice, or pickleball court at the GARC, it’s now easier than ever to secure your spot! To check out a listing of all recreational facilities to rent in Grinnell, Click the link: https://bit.ly/ReserveNowRecreation and reserve your spot today! (If viewing from a mobile device you may have to go to top drop down & hit register.)

For more information on Grinnell Community Early Learning Center, please visit their website www.grinnellcommunitydaycare.com

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

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

Chad Nath

Chad Nath is the President and CEO of the Ahrens Park Foundation. Chad 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 is responsible for managing, leading, and promoting the Ahrens Park Foundation (APF) and the Ahrens/Paschall Memorial Park complex. He works 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 also partners with the Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation (CDAF) to help promote CDAF’s vision and strategies.

Shane Gosselink

Celebrating over 25 years of service to the Ahrens Park Foundation!

Troy Kingery