Big, Wild, Wonderful News!
September 21, 2023 Big Rock Park was Pella Preservation Trust's Historic Landmark Award Winner this year! We're thrilled and you should...
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Friends of Big Rock Park
- Jul 29
- 2 min
Of Owls and Orbs
If you didn’t have enough reason to visit Big Rock Park, the Directors have added a fun summer twist—hidden glass orbs. If you find one,...
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Friends of Big Rock Park
- Jun 12
- 4 min
Hidden in the water
A child’s quick eyes and soft footfall helped her catch (and release) this American toad at Big Rock Park. In May, the final 2023 spring...
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Friends of Big Rock Park
- May 27
- 4 min
The Importance of Being Ephemeral
If you want to understand how living populations work together, a walk through Big Rock Park to view the spring ephemerals will do it....
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Friends of Big Rock Park
- May 1
- 3 min
Orchestrated Frenzy: Birds of Big Rock Park
On April 29, a band of nature lovers met with Dr. Russ Benedict to learn about the birds of Big Rock Park. The Central College naturalist...
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Friends of Big Rock Park
- Apr 25
- 3 min
The Magnificent Splendor of Native Bees
If you want to see bees, find a flowery meadow above 50 degrees F with no wind. April 23 was not one of these days. It was cold and...
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Friends of Big Rock Park
- Apr 7
- 1 min
Spring Events 2023
Enjoy these events with our team of experts. Get to know the park and celebrate spring! Marion County Community Foundation and Pella...
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Friends of Big Rock Park
- Apr 5
- 1 min
Story Map
Get to know the park better using this Interactive Guide. https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/4159ad0642ad453fb557b294fb59895f
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Friends of Big Rock Park
- Mar 27
- 3 min
Refugia Faith in Pella, the City of Refuge
Friends of Big Rock Park joined with Central College, the Pella Public Library, and Pella’s Second Reformed Church to host Dr. Debra...
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Friends of Big Rock Park
- Mar 14
- 2 min
As You Like It
This month, it was time to test the creek for arsenic since arsenic is common in Iowa soil and water. Arsenic occurs naturally and has...
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Friends of Big Rock Park
- Feb 22
- 1 min
Big Rock in Winter
In December, the water in Big Rock Creek was still showing signs of human run off. This past month, the water was tested again and it...
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Friends of Big Rock Park
- Dec 1, 2022
- 5 min
When I'm 64
As autumn gives way to winter, people are still enjoying the park. And Big Rock approaches a special birthday. It was dedicated to the...
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Friends of Big Rock Park
- Nov 29, 2022
- 1 min
November Surprises
November is still a wonderful time to enjoy Big Rock Park. We had three inches of rain early in the month which partly filled the creek....
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Friends of Big Rock Park
- Nov 3, 2022
- 1 min
October finds
Cooler weather made Big Rock Park an enjoyable place to visit this past month and people came up with a variety of ways to take advantage...
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Friends of Big Rock Park
- Oct 24, 2022
- 2 min
A Sense of Wonder Across Generations
Biologist Rachel Carson once pointed out that "a child's world is fresh and new and beautiful, full of wonder....If I had influence with...
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Friends of Big Rock Park
- Sep 30, 2022
- 2 min
Girl Scouts compare water samples
Group 938 visited Big Rock Park recently and compared the creek water to water from Sunken Gardens, Knoxville drinking water, and Pella...
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Friends of Big Rock Park
- Sep 28, 2022
- 1 min
Season of Renewal
We rarely consider autumn as a season of renewal but for Big Rock Creek, it's a thing! The recent rains have replenished the water at...
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Friends of Big Rock Park
- Sep 27, 2022
- 2 min
Drought Impacted Summer Water Quality
The water quality assistant above shows the foamy water and the meter confirming a high concentration of dissolved minerals and solids in...
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Friends of Big Rock Park
- Sep 24, 2022
- 1 min
Special Events June 10 & 11, 2022
About 100 people turned out for the Special Events events this past June. The festivities began Friday evening at dark. Russ Benedict...
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Friends of Big Rock Park
- Sep 22, 2022
- 1 min
What's in the Water? June 1, 2022
On the first day of June, chemist Dr. Cathy Haustein was a guest of the Pella Garden Club. Meeting at the shelter, the group sampled...
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