Seth Atwood Park (Former Camp Grant Rifle Range) | place with historical importance, landing, nature conservation park / area, canoe

 park, place with historical importance, landing, nature conservation park / area, canoe

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Seth B. Atwood Park (334 acres) is the site of the former Camp Grant that was operational for both World Wars - during WWI as a training center and artillery range and during WWII as an induction center. There are still numerous structures visible within the park.

Atwood Environmental Center is located in historic Atwood Park, which encompasses 334 acres of woodland, prairie, river and marsh habitat. Atwood is home to the Birds of Prey program, with owls, hawks and bald eagles in residence.

Established in 1917, Camp Grant saw its first "selected men" or draftees arrive in September of that year. Primarily a location for training infantry, it became one of the largest military training facilities during World War I. The 86th Infantry Division (Black Hawk Division) was formed there. In October 1940 Camp Grant was re-activated as an induction center, being transferred by Illinois back to the federal government. During the war Camp Grant also served as a POW detention center. In 1946 Camp Grant was permanently closed. The Chicago Rockford International Airport occupies much of the land that used to be Camp Grant. In the 1950s much of the remaining camp land was in the possession of Seth B. Atwood, who would later donate former Camp Grant rifle range to the Rockford Park District, who would name it the Seth Atwood Park.
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