By:
Submission
A wide variety of natural and recreational features can be found at the 352-acre Morgan Creek County Park.
The arboretum and butterfly park is plentiful with over 250 species of native and exotic trees and shrubs, which is located on the northside of the park at 7439 Worcester Rd, Palo.
Morgan Creek Park is located at 7212 E Ave, Cedar Rapids. This is a new entrance on the south side of the park off the Highway 100 extension, north of Highway 30.
The Morgan Creek Campground is on the northside of the park at 7287 Worcester Rd, Palo.
Sites are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. All campers must self-register and pay the required fee.
A "pack-in" group campground is located near the older shelter at 7001 Morgan Park Road. A short walk is required to reach the campground. The capacity is 15 tents or 45 people. Visit the website to learn more and reserve a group camp online.
This is the best futuristic kids park I have ever been to. If a kid would fall down the ground was cushioned rubber. The structures were also good for special needs persons to explore.
I stayed at a nearby hotel and needed a place to run in the morning, so I chose this park. It was cold and dark. Ran about 3 miles and saw 2 rabbits, a small herd of deer (twice), a hawk and 2 shooting stars. The trails were perfect and pretty flat. I’d highly recommend.
When visiting Morgan Creek Park, I exclusively visit the Arboretum side of the park; accessible from the East Worcester Rd entrance. I value this park so highly for the peaceful respite in a beautiful wooded area. Birds, glorious open sky, trees of all types. In spring, the crab apple blossoms are spectacular. Lilacs in May. A butterfly garden with benches is a delight in summer. I hold this in my memory with joy for revisiting during the winter months. The walking trails are carefully tended. The park has recently expanded into another area that i choose not to frequent very often, but I understand what a valuable asset it is to this area. It contains some nice picnic grounds and a children's playground which seems very popular. I'm here for nature experience, the flowers when available, and the quiet. So I stick to the Arboretum side.
There is only one critical observation I have of this park. It has a vast open area in the center of the Arboretum that is scrupulously mowed in summer. I find it a lost opportunity for a reclaimed natural meadow as well as a heart sinking use of petrol. Maybe this is part of the future plan and fund raising. Further, I was sadly disappointed this last summer when the rain swail/garden was mowed to the ground. Defeating the purpose of Ground water run off control.
