Bever Park

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Bever Park is a popular park located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.


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Summary

The park offers many reasons to visit, including a variety of recreational activities, historical landmarks, and natural attractions.

Some of the specific points of interest to see at Bever Park include a children's petting zoo, a historic carousel, an ice skating rink, and a nature center. The park also has several walking and biking trails, as well as picnic areas and playgrounds.

Interesting facts about the area include that Bever Park was established in 1925 and was named after the former mayor of Cedar Rapids, George Bever. The park was originally designed by landscape architect O.C. Simonds and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007.

The best time of year to visit Bever Park depends on your interests. For outdoor enthusiasts, the summer months offer the most favorable weather for hiking, biking, and picnicking. Winter sports enthusiasts may prefer to visit during the colder months for ice skating and other winter activities.

Overall, Bever Park is a great destination for families, nature lovers, and anyone looking to enjoy the great outdoors in the state of Iowa.

       

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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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