Matthews Park

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Matthews Park is a public park located in the city of Galva, Illinois.


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Summary

The park offers a variety of recreational activities and is a popular destination for locals and visitors alike. Some good reasons to visit the park include its beautiful scenery, peaceful atmosphere, and numerous amenities.

One of the main points of interest in Matthews Park is the large pond located in the center of the park. The pond is stocked with fish and offers excellent opportunities for fishing. Visitors can also enjoy a picnic in one of the park's many picnic areas, take a walk on one of the scenic trails, or play a game of disc golf on the park's course.

Matthews Park is also home to a variety of wildlife, including birds, deer, and other small animals. Visitors can often spot these animals while walking or hiking in the park.

Interesting facts about Matthews Park include its history as a former railroad bed and its conversion into a public park in the 1970s. The park is named after the Matthews family, who were early settlers in the area.

The best time of year to visit Matthews Park is in the summer months, when the weather is warm and the park is in full bloom. However, the park is also a beautiful destination in the fall, when the leaves on the trees change colors.

Overall, Matthews Park is a must-visit destination for anyone traveling to the Galva area. With its beautiful scenery, numerous activities, and interesting history, it is a great place to spend a day or an afternoon.

       

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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