Krape Park (Freeport, Illinois)

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Krape Park features a picturesque 44′ waterfall that tumbles down from a high limestone bluff, an operating one-of-a-kind carousel that costs just 50 cents to ride, tennis courts, multi-use trails, sledding hills, cross country skiing trails, 18-hole disc golf course, a baseball diamond, numerous picnic tables, a duck pond, Kids’ Kastle, a 10,000 square foot structure built by community volunteers and Little Kids’ Playground, designed for the youngest set.

In 1911 Dr. W.W. Krape, a well-to-do and enterprising dentist, just happened to own 120 acres southwest of the developing community, offered the commissioners an opportunity to purchase his land for the budding Park District. The land was bought for $29,000 “with the stipulation that the name Krape Park be retained as long as the land is used for park purposes.” It has long been noted that the name Krape Park is spelled the same both backwards and forwards.