The information on this page was collected through the efforts of the Leader Vindicator Newspaper, Former Manager Ron Neiswonger, Current Rink Manager Bea Sayers, local resident Ann Hetrick & American Legion members Don Baker and Karl Smith.
Since early 1900 The Redbank Valley Park has been a vital source of recreation and enjoyment to generations of families in the Redbank Valley area. On September 9th 1933 the American Legion purchased the park property from the Johnston family estate, but the park was mostly referred to as the Alcola Park in honor of the original property owner Alice Coleman. The Park was incorporated as a non-profit organization on August 21st, 1950. The Legion sold the park in 1972 to several municipalities and the facility was then renamed the Redbank Valley Municipal Park.
Previously landscaped with several large goldfish ponds spanned by concrete bridges, a Ferris Wheel, and yo-yo swings, the first major project of the American Legion was the erection of the present grandstand. Built sometime in the late 1930’s the Grandstand was intended to be used for everything from dog races to concerts and baseball. Although no dog races ever took place at the Grandstand, numerous concerts, ball games, demo derbies, tractor pulls and more have been enjoyed for over 65 years. One of the first and longest standing structures established on the property was known as “The Merry Go Round Building”. For several generations the building housed a carousel that quickly became the center attraction for visitors. The Merry Go Round was purchased from Alameda Park in Butler County. After the Merry Go Round was removed, the building was used as a dance hall then was developed into a skate rink. The Morrey family of Baxter operated a beer garden in a section built onto the Hawthorne side of the structure. A collapsible stage was used in the building to hold wrestling and boxing matches supported by the Golden Gloves outfit out of Indiana. In the late 1940’s a new skate rink was built on the foundation of an open air theater on the park property where it still operates today. A Kitchen Booth once stood at the park entrance and was eventually replaced by a miniature golf course which operated for several years before being closed in the late 1990’s. The Park’s main concession booth which is used during the Clarion Fair and most of the Parks major events was constructed in 1952. The swimming pool which still operates today was added to the park in 1958. Originally the pool was built with a high dive and wading pool. The high dive was eventually replaced with a standard diving board and remnants of the wading pool can still be seen past the pools shallow end under the gazebo.
One group of citizens who continues to see the advantages of such a park in the Redbank Valley is the Clarion County Fair Association that rents the facilities one week each year. The event that originated as the Harvest Home Picnic on September 4th 1933 later became known as the Farmers and Merchants Picnic. What began with one farmer and one merchant and a board of directors eventually developed into the Clarion County Fair Association and the local event, which had grown into a week long affair, became known as the Clarion County Fair in the early 1970’s. Today the Redbank Valley Municipal Park is operated by the Redbank Valley Park Commission which is made up of two representatives from each of the Redbank Townships in Armstrong and Clarion Counties as well as Porter Township and Hawthorne and South Bethlehem Boroughs.
Newspaper clipings from days past
We Need Your Help!
Park Management is seeking stories and photos of the Redbank Valley Municipal
Park throughout the years. If you have any old pictures of the park maybe an old family photo taken in the park we would love to see it and maybe post it on this page.
If you can be of assistance in helping us expand and
improve our park history section of this web site please contact the park office.
Please feel free to contact the Park Office with any questions.
137 Park Road, Fairmont City, PA 16224 phone: 814-365-5924 e-mail us:
redbankpark@windstream.net Redbank Valley Municipal Park is a non-profit organization. Contact the website Administrator
