Iowa’s state parks are amazing, but I often find that there are some great hidden gems located in the less-known county parks. These smaller parks, maintained by local governments, are popular spots for recreation and play, but some boast great natural beauty and even a surprising amount of history. One underrated park in Iowa that really caught my attention was Edmundson Park, located in the small town of Oskaloosa. This park is known as a haven for sports and water lovers, but surprisingly, it’s also on the National Register of Historic Places! What makes this humble county park so unique? It all dates back to the park’s construction a century back, and it’s left an impressive legacy that keeps being updated to this day – with some amazing new developments!

Ah, Edmundson Park. There's no question this is one of the most beautiful county parks in the entire Hawkeye State.
Kirk Oler/Google Local
Not only does it look great, but it's one of the best spots for recreation in the state. It features a golf course, a dog park, and three ball diamonds. You could easily spend the whole day here.
Oskaloosa, Iowa
For most anglers, the big highlight here is a 1.5-acre pond stocked with game fish.
Kirk Oler/Google Local

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Almost a century old, the park was built in the 1930s and has been acknowledged for its unique Depression area stone and timber design - meriting a listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
Kirk Oler/Google Local
That's not the only place where it's historic - the playground has unique designs paying tribute to the space race...
Tim Hewitt/Google Local
As well as to the depression-era heritage of the park! The classic wooden playground has won countless hearts over the decades, but all things change with the times.
Garrett Ross/Google Local
Edmundson Park has recently received a massive playground makeover, which will provide a new state-of-the-art play area for local kids and visitors.
Edmundson Playground Project/Facebook

Have you visited Edmundson Park in Oskaloosa? Tell us about your favorite things to do in this underrated park in Iowa in the comments section! You can find out more about the park’s seasonal offerings on the Oskaloosa Parks and Recreation website. A day trip to Oskaloosa offers many other amazing things to do, see, and eat. You can also stay the night by booking a room at the EverSpring Inn & Suites – one of the area’s best, reasonably-priced hotels. 

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Edmundson Park, 1304 Edmundson Dr, Oskaloosa, IA 52577, USA