Granite City Park District - 3000 Fehling Rd -

Granite City Park District
3000 Fehling Rd
618-877-2549
website
Profile

Hours

Monday:	9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Tuesday:	9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Wednesday:	9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Thursday:	9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Friday:	9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Saturday:	CLOSED
Sunday:	CLOSED

Phone:	618-877-3059
Established:	1921

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Visit our Website

http://park.granitecity.com

About the Granite City Park District

The Granite City Park District came into existence as a result of a special election held on February 19,1921. The first taxes collected in 1921 were just over $5,000.

A bond issue of $135,000 was passed later in 1921 and Wilson Park was developed and opened to the public on June 1, 1923. An additional 18 acres was added to Wilson Park in 1926.

Mr. Ernest Svieking served as the first Superintendent and was responsible for the development of the beautiful garden area which occurred in the mid 1920s.

The first swimming pool was built in 1922 and had a sand bottom. The diving tower still exists and is now known as the sunken gardens. A new pool was completed in 1940, the result of a $55,000 bond issue and was used until 1992.� The latest (current) pool opened in July 1994 after the community passed a bond referendum for $1.8 million.� It was built adjacent to the ice rink which opened in 1967 after a successful campaign to sell $465,000 in bonds.

One of the first properties purchased by the Park District was the property across from St. Elizabeth Hospital (Now Gateway). It was purchased for $6,500 and was dedicated in 1921 as a memorial to war veterans. The fountain on the property was dedicated in 1961 and is currently undergoing a major renovation to be completed in the spring of 2004.

The information contained here, as well as a full pictorial history of Granite City, can be found in "Granite City A Pictorial History" published in 1996 during Granite City's 100th anniversary, which was the Park District's 75th anniversary.

Patriots In the Park - 2008

You can download a copy of the decorating contest form here: http://park.granitecity.com/wfapp/park?ACTION=Node&NodeID=173

Essay Winner for 2008 - Rachel Roy

Rachel's Biography:

This is Rachel Roy. All four years I was a member of the Varsity Bowling Team and I was captain my junior year. Sophomore year I was a member of the Young Authors' Club and I had some poetry published in GCHS's Student Voice. Junior year I was a novice debater and I am activitely involved in the Social Studies Club. Also my junior year, I was an ALPHA (Adolescents Learning Positive Health Alternative) Leader, and I was initiated in the National Honor Society. My Senior year I continued in National Honor Society and the ALPHA Peer Leader program. Also, I joined the Freshman mentor program, Warriors Guiding Warriors. These are the highlights of my high school career. As for honors, I was Summa Cum Laude at GCHS, I was a part of the Greater Belleville Youth Salute program, I earned an exceeds on the PSAE for science, and I was Rotary Student of the Month and Elks' Student of the Month.

Her Essay:

Rachel Roy
Mrs. Aleman
Senior Composition A

My heart beams with pride when I reflect upon the greatness of America. Every time I stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance after the morning bell, and every time I hear the Star Spangled Banner before an evening baseball game, my heart swells. It swells because of the excellent ideals this country was founded on, it marvels at the accomplishments of thousands of people, and it celebrates the opportunities granted to every willing soul. I am proud to be an American for these reasons, and I am proud to know that I share in this greatness.

What causes you to stand every time the National Anthem begins to ring aloud? Is it pride that pushes you onto your feet and lets your heart soak in the splendor of that rich song? I stand when I hear that melodious ode to America, because I have the choice. I am proud of my country and I love it for the freedom it ensures me. Every time I see the American Flag fluttering smoothly in the summer wind, I smile with appreciation. I know I am in the land where every child is guaranteed an education and its people have resolved to �leave no child behind.� I know I stand on the same soil as did Rosa Parks, who chose to demand the freedoms she deserved. I always remember where I am when I hear our country�s thunderous anthem, and when I see those broad stripes flapping in the wind.

America�s heart is found in the homes of every family and every American. That heart beats for every child living with one parent and on one income. It pumps for the college student studying to pass final exams, and it thumps for the elderly as they leave an imprint on the upcoming generation. E Pluribus Unum is our country�s motto and states that America as many is one. We are all one people and one family. My admiration for America intensified after the events of September 11th, 2001 when millions of people joined together and welcomed wounded hearts into strange arms. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the hearts of America beat as one in hope of assisting those impoverished by the storm. My eyes sparkle at the recollection of these memories, because it reminds me of the true greatness of America.

The many accomplishments of the American people are enough to deserve every accolade and praise. I am moved by the determination of our previous presidents including Abraham Lincoln, who ended slavery, Franklin D. Roosevelt, who relieved the Great Depression, and John F. Kennedy, who challenged us to land on the moon. Yet, ordinary people inspire pride as well. I am impressed when I see a working mother attending college, when I read in the local newspaper about firefighters saving a life, and when I hear a high school valedictorian speak about the prospective future during a graduation ceremony. These small events fill my heart with pride because they are the core of what America is. America is the people, and I am proud to be one of those people. I am proud that I have the potential to achieve these same honors and goals.

America is the land of equal opportunity and potential. The Statue of Liberty stands welcoming thousands of immigrants into this country, and beams invitingly sharing the idea of the American Dream. Every time an immigrant is awarded American citizenship, the true of spirit of America ignites. I am proud that I am included into the mix of millions of other people striving toward their own goal: a writer seeking the perfect story, a singer belting his heart�s song, a scientist working toward the cure for cancer, a student studying for her first A, and a parent working to support a new family are all examples of the meaning of America. Whenever I feel a folded dollar bill in my hand, I remember the effort every one of us must exert to accomplish our dreams. Anyone has the potential to change the world, and in America everyone has the chance to actualize that potential and turn dreams into realties.

I am proud of America. I am proud of all the people who gather to celebrate this glorious country and remember its true meaning. From the child playing with fiery sparklers to the old veteran saluting Old Glory, I am proud of you. I am proud to be numbered among you and to know that I am a part of that one made of many. I am proud to be an American and I will honor and celebrate this country�s awe-inspiring ideals, accomplishments, and dreams. Be proud of this country, because it is your country. Be proud of America, and be proud of everything it stands for. Always remember that it is the people who make America great. You are that people, and you are America, so be proud of your country and of yourself.

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