To restore and preserve the park for quiet enjoyment, environmental education and research.

Physical therapist Paula Plaza welcomed an enthusiastic group to Big Rock Park on July 11. She reviewed the importance of exercise and maintaining balance and strength and lead people in outdoor workouts. She was gracious and gave alternative exercises for those who couldn’t keep up with her. Finding an enjoyable location like a park stimulates, motivates and allows you to enjoy being active while surrounded by nature. Moves included squats, woodchoppers, lunges, adductors, a

The first Saturday in May was a beautiful day for foraging and Marion County naturalist Karen Johlas-Szalkowski led an enthusiastic group through Big Rock Park in search of nature’s edibles. She began with a list of safety rules. 1. Tell someone where you are going. 2. Get permission if you want to forage on private property. Be sure to check park rules and regulations before harvesting in public areas. 3. Forage sustainably by not overharvesting and take only what you will u

Saturday April 25, 2026, was a beautiful day for the first program at Big Rock Park sponsored by the Pella Community Foundation. It was also a beautiful day for bees. Lead by biologist Paulina Mena of Central College, a sizeable crowd heard about Iowa’s native bees and went on a walk along the edge of the park. 10 am- 2pm is the ideal time to spot bees. The group met at 11 and the bees were active. Iowa’s native bees are solitary, arising from their underground burrows in the