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LMQC’s outdoor blogger, Teri Stickler, and her faithful companion, Kaia, take a late-winter walk through Davenport’s Vander Veer Botanical Park and spot the first signs of spring.
By LMQC Outdoor bloggers, Teri Stickler and her Samoyed, Kaia
It is not necessary to travel far to find that inspiring location to take a walk. Kaia and I took our own advice and visited, not once, but three times, Davenport’s Vander Veer Botanical Park.
Vander Veer Park – once farmland (1865) then served as the Scott County Fairgrounds (1867) and eventually a city park (1885) when the city of Davenport purchased the land for $13,000. Designed after New York City’s Central Park, Vander Veer Park originally held the name, Central Park. It wasn’t until 1912 when it was renamed after A.W. Vander Veer, Davenport’s first secretary of the Park Board Commissioners.
Located smack-dab in the middle of Davenport, ergo its original name, Central Park, this 33-acre treasure is certain to draw you back time and time again. Encompassing an entire city block, the park is bordered by Brady Street, West Central Park, and Harrison Street.
We ventured first in mid-February, walking through snow cover, taking in the sights of the yet frozen lagoon (where I first learned to ice skate,) and rediscovering the charm. Upon our March return we felt spring’s arrival.
An early look at spring in the Quad Cities
The lagoon was open, and its ducks and geese were making their presence known. What a racket! People were out walking, jogging, and just sitting a bit. There are plenty of park benches everywhere. Moms and dads were bringing their little ones and dogs were bringing their owners.
Vander Veer is open daily from sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. Ideal for walkers, hard-surface park walkways plus the perimeter city sidewalks make reaching one’s personal goals easy. Apparently seven times around the park gets you five miles.
You may come to walk and then find yourself pausing to read tree identification tags placed on the extensive sampling of various species. Perhaps you will find yourself pulled from the paved surfaces to walk the grassy areas and check out the old stone walking bridge or come see the stone fountain. The fountain is currently under renovations, but once completed it will feature a water spray and changing lights.
Be sure to walk The Grand Allee, re-established in 2001 to replicate Olaf Benson’s original 1890’s tree-lined design. Keep walking and you will head straight to the Park’s Botanical Conservatory, but before you get there you must see Gabe’s Play Village. This play area will make you wish you were a kid again.
And, as a warning, if you happen to have children with you, just understand, you will likely be here for a while. Once you finally leave Gabe’s play area, keep heading toward the Conservatory. There is an extensive Rose Garden adjacent to the Conservatory. Come summer the sight and aroma will be irresistible.
Of course, you plan to come to the park to get in a good walk or run, but do not let a time crunch allow you to miss the Botanical Conservancy. Free of charge (donations welcome,) open year-round and our surprise, even dog friendly.
Vander Veer’s place in history
The Conservancy is thought to be one of the first botanical parks west of the Mississippi River. Step in and experience the Spring Flower Display. Meander the over-whelming variety of plants. The colors, scents, ambience will not disappoint. While in the Conservatory, Kaia checked out a little house with a small front porch.
Quite possibly she thought she had found her very own, custom- made home as she posed on the porch. And should we not forget, there is also a Koi Pond. Now that proved quite interesting to Kaia, watching those orange fish swimming right under her nose. Come now and see the park but come back again in April when the park offers their annual plant sale. You can take home your own piece of summer prior to its arrival.
After we completed our Vander Veer experience, we had seen the lagoon and patiently (we worked on that) watched the geese and ducks, read as many tree tags as we could find, walked the stone bridge, analyzed the progress of the fountain restoration, studied the green roof garden demonstration, walked the Grand Allee, watched little kids rush to use all the playground equipment, checked out the rose garden and the children’s Sculpture Garden, took in all the wonderfulness of the Conservatory and just as icing on the cake, Kaia even found a Quad City Rock. I told her we would need to report that online and then re-hide it on another of our outings for someone else to discover.
Links of interest:
- https://www.pps.org/places/vander-veer-botanical-park
- https://www.davenportiowa.com/government/departments/parks_recreation/locations/vander_veer_botanical_park
Walking Trail Maps:
- https://www.qctrails.org/trails/trail/vander-veer-botanical-park-walking-path
- https://www.mypacer.com/routes/86086/vander-veer-park-davenport-iowa-usa
Check out the images from Teri and Kaia’s latest outdoor adventure …
By LMQC Outdoor bloggers, Teri Stickler and her Samoyed, KaiaIt is not necessary to travel far to find that inspiring location to take a walk. Kaia and I took our own advice and visited, not once, but three times, Davenport’s Vander Veer Botanical Park.
Vander Veer Park – once farmland (1865) then served as the Scott County Fairgrounds (1867) and eventually a city park (1885) when the city of Davenport purchased the land for $13,000. Designed after New York City’s Central Park, Vander Veer Park originally held the name, Central Park. It wasn’t until 1912 when it was renamed after A.W. Vander Veer, Davenport’s first secretary of the Park Board Commissioners.
Located smack-dab in the middle of Davenport, ergo its original name, Central Park, this 33-acre treasure is certain to draw you back time and time again. Encompassing an entire city block, the park is bordered by Brady Street, West Central Park, and Harrison Street.
We ventured first in mid-February, walking through snow cover, taking in the sights of the yet frozen lagoon (where I first learned to ice skate,) and rediscovering the charm. Upon our March return we felt spring’s arrival.
An early look at spring in the Quad Cities
The lagoon was open, and its ducks and geese were making their presence known. What a racket! People were out walking, jogging, and just sitting a bit. There are plenty of park benches everywhere. Moms and dads were bringing their little ones and dogs were bringing their owners.
Vander Veer is open daily from sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. Ideal for walkers, hard-surface park walkways plus the perimeter city sidewalks make reaching one’s personal goals easy. Apparently seven times around the park gets you five miles.You may come to walk and then find yourself pausing to read tree identification tags placed on the extensive sampling of various species. Perhaps you will find yourself pulled from the paved surfaces to walk the grassy areas and check out the old stone walking bridge or come see the stone fountain. The fountain is currently under renovations, but once completed it will feature a water spray and changing lights.
Be sure to walk The Grand Allee, re-established in 2001 to replicate Olaf Benson’s original 1890’s tree-lined design. Keep walking and you will head straight to the Park’s Botanical Conservatory, but before you get there you must see Gabe’s Play Village. This play area will make you wish you were a kid again.
And, as a warning, if you happen to have children with you, just understand, you will likely be here for a while. Once you finally leave Gabe’s play area, keep heading toward the Conservatory. There is an extensive Rose Garden adjacent to the Conservatory. Come summer the sight and aroma will be irresistible.
Of course, you plan to come to the park to get in a good walk or run, but do not let a time crunch allow you to miss the Botanical Conservancy. Free of charge (donations welcome,) open year-round and our surprise, even dog friendly.
Vander Veer’s place in history
The Conservancy is thought to be one of the first botanical parks west of the Mississippi River. Step in and experience the Spring Flower Display. Meander the over-whelming variety of plants. The colors, scents, ambience will not disappoint. While in the Conservatory, Kaia checked out a little house with a small front porch.
Quite possibly she thought she had found her very own, custom- made home as she posed on the porch. And should we not forget, there is also a Koi Pond. Now that proved quite interesting to Kaia, watching those orange fish swimming right under her nose. Come now and see the park but come back again in April when the park offers their annual plant sale. You can take home your own piece of summer prior to its arrival.
After we completed our Vander Veer experience, we had seen the lagoon and patiently (we worked on that) watched the geese and ducks, read as many tree tags as we could find, walked the stone bridge, analyzed the progress of the fountain restoration, studied the green roof garden demonstration, walked the Grand Allee, watched little kids rush to use all the playground equipment, checked out the rose garden and the children’s Sculpture Garden, took in all the wonderfulness of the Conservatory and just as icing on the cake, Kaia even found a Quad City Rock. I told her we would need to report that online and then re-hide it on another of our outings for someone else to discover.
Links of interest:
- https://www.pps.org/places/vander-veer-botanical-park
- https://www.davenportiowa.com/government/departments/parks_recreation/locations/vander_veer_botanical_park
Walking Trail Maps:
- https://www.qctrails.org/trails/trail/vander-veer-botanical-park-walking-path
- https://www.mypacer.com/routes/86086/vander-veer-park-davenport-iowa-usa
Check out the images from Teri and Kaia’s latest outdoor adventure …
Teri Stickler
Outdoor Blogger and Co-Adventurer
Meet Teri Stickler. Teri is a retired Quad-City teacher. She thoroughly enjoys the out-of-doors, sharing most of her adventures with her Samoyed companion, Kaia.
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