When Bob Greeley thinks of Willow Creek Park, he remembers the happy days he spent visiting his grandparents, who used to live in the area that is now the park. William and Hilma Greeley owned what is the eastern half of Willow Creek Park, beyond the left field fence of the baseball field. The Greeleys had what many people would now call a hobby farm – a few acres, on which they raised sheep and chickens. Bob, who grew up on a dairy farm just outside of town, used to love to visit grandma and grandpa, where he remembers fishing in the creek, skipping stones, and going to the carnival when it came to town. “We were spoiled,” said Bob. “Our grandparents would give us 50 cents so we could go to the carnival. We’d spend it, and then come back and ask for more.” On Sundays, the whole family walked to the Methodist Church from the elder Greeleys’ house. After church, there was Sunday dinner at grandma and grandpa’s. By late afternoon, Bob and his parents and siblings headed home to milk the cows Grandpa often came over to help on the farm. In fact, it was in grandpa Greeley’s 1957 Chevy Pickup that Bob learned to drive. He remembers sitting behind the wheel of the truck, unable to reach the pedals, but learning to steer and how to shift. He doesn’t remember how old he was, but he knows he was much younger than 16. “If you were a farm kid,” said Bob, “you had to learn early.” After his grandparents passed away, Bob’s father Alton inherited William and Hilma’s property. He rented out the house for a few years, but eventually the old house became too costly to maintain. Alton and his wife Marge donated the property to the city in the early 1980s. The fire department then did a controlled burn, and the house and other buildings on the property were reduced to ashes. With grants from the state, the Greeley property, along with land that had been part of the Fogarty estate, was developed into Willow Creek Park. Entering the driveway just south of the baseball field, you can see the well-kept playground and horseshoe pits; the Veterans’ Memorial, erected by the Kimball American Legion, is straight ahead. The park looks like the type often seen in small towns. A few picnic tables are spread throughout, and a road circles the main portion of the park. But if you venture a little further, you can cross Willow Creek on one of the three bridges that span its width. Trails that stretch throughout the 22 1/2-acre park can be found on both sides of the creek which the DNR keeps stocked with brown trout. Over the years, many people have contributed to the beauty of Willow Creek Park. But it seems that those who have done the most modestly avoid publicity for all that they have done. It is safe to say that it has been a community effort, with contributions from groups such as the Lions’ Club and American Legion. Doug Knaus mowed the grass in the park for many years, but recently the City of Kimball took over maintenance of the park. The city council has now designated a City Park Committee to oversee maintenance and improvements. Upcoming renovations include trail maintenance and repairs to the bridges, planned for this spring and summer. Bob Greeley had a lot of fun on his grandparents’ property when he was young, and the park is still a kid-friendly place. The stream is still available for fishing and skipping rocks, and the miles of trails are just waiting for a young person to explore them. On a recent warm afternoon, 6-year-old George Matua checked out the park, crossing bridges, walking along trails, and playing in the playground. The playground, erected courtesy of the Lions’ Club, has tunnels, climbing rails, slides, and even a pole to slide down – or climb up. “It’s really hard to climb up,” said George, “and you have to be really careful when you go down, too. You can burn your hands if you go down too fast.” There’s a separate set of swings as well, and a couple of benches and picnic tables for the adults. “This is a great park!” said George. “Let’s come back again!”
