‘End of summer’ party held at historic Carver-Roehl Park

By Celeste Lightner-Greenwalt

For the Topper

CLINTON – Carver-Roehl County Park, located just north of Clinton on Carvers Rock, has been a great location for family reunions, group gatherings, school outings, nature hikes and much more for the people of Rock County.

Recently, the Summer Program of the Clinton Public Library utilized the park for their end of summer party.

Approximately 60 children took part in the party, which included a tour of the park, headed by tour guide Sharon Jones, where the children had booklets that they had to complete at the end to win a prize.

They also played games and had a hot dog lunch, provided by sponsors Clinton Foods, Country Pride Meats and the friends of Carver-Roehl Park, and the Friends of the Clinton Public Library.

The park has a great history of being available for tours for school children and other organizations.

A portion of this park is designated as a Wisconsin State Natural Area (SNA). This designation was made cooperatively with Rock County and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. The land management is also a cooperative venture.

This 53-acre park is Rock County’s second oldest park and one of the most scenic. The park, including the Carvers Rock site, was acquired in 1950 from the Roehl family.

The area had been discussed as a County park since the mid-1920s. Spring Brook Creek runs from north to south through the park, just north of its convergence with Turtle Creek.

In the southern part of the park are the graves of two of the county’s oldest settlers, members of the William C. Chase family. The graves date from 1843 and 1845.

The limestone outcroppings, along with a variety of plant life provide a picturesque setting, whatever the season. Many plants are unique to the area. This wide variety of plant life provides food and shelter to many kinds of birds, reptiles and mammals.

A garlic mustard control program is currently being implemented for the park. Other goals for the park include control of buckthorn, erosion control by the water pump, continued sponsorship of the annual Easter egg hunt and fall fest, and continue education programs.

The highlight of this park is the scenic hiking and skiing trail. The trail is 1.5 miles and is best suited for the intermediate skier as some portions of the trail are a little challenging. The trails of Carver-Roehl Park are open every day from dawn to dusk. The park is closed from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Those that are dedicated to the preservation of the park are the Friends of Carver-Roehl Park. The organization is dedicated to the safety and preservation of the natural beauty of this park for the use of the community.

They raise funds, through fundraisers like the annual fall fest, for the park’s pavilion, playground equipment, swing set, and trash cans. They also sponsor the annual Easter egg hunt and annual workdays.

If you are interested in learning more about the volunteer group, their special events, or upcoming workdays, please contact Rock County Parks, or the current president of the Friends, Nancy Pope, at (608) 676-4605. You can also obtain information on the park on the Facebook page.

Celeste Lightner-Greenwalt photos

Sharon Jones, Carver-Roehl Park tour guide, instructs the Clinton Public Library’s Summer Reading Program children on the history of the park prior to a tour as part of the reading program’s end of summer party.