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ABOUT ELVER PARK:
Elver Park began in 1968. Its
initial fifty-two acres were acquired by the City as the result of a
deed in Mr. Charles Elver’s will, stipulating that all of what
remained of his estate following the passing of his wife and
daughter be used to purchase a public park.
From 1968 to 1988, subsequent land was acquired primarily
through purchase, with the exception of a gift from the First
Unitarian Society who contributed ten acres in 1979 to the expanding
park. Consequently,
Elver Park has grown to a respectable two hundred and twenty acres
and currently remains one of the larger parks in the Madison
district.
The
recreational development of the park was accelerated thanks to
financial contributions from independent, outside sources including
the First Unitarian Society, and the Madison Metropolitan School
District. In 1985, the
funds provided by the Madison Metropolitan School District were
invested specifically to create recreational softball facilities at
Elver. In the same
spirit, a generous donation by Mr. Clarence Duwe in 1997 allowed for
the construction of a five thousand square foot shelter at Elver
Park. It was intended
that this building be, in part, erected as a memorial to Mr.
Duwe’s family, who began farming the northeast corner of Elver
Park in 1911. Shortly
after the new shelter had been completed, it was awarded the
Wisconsin Park and Recreation Association Excellence Award in the
year 2000.
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