Mahaska Community Recreation Foundation

Mahaska Community Recreation Foundation - Connecting Community Through Recreation

“Recreation is no longer simply having fun. Rather, it involves the kind of America we have and want to have, and the kind of people we are and are likely to become.” 

Laurence S. Rockefeller, son of John D. Rockefeller, Jr.

A glimpse into our history and growth

MCRF’s mission is “To Facilitate and Promote Recreation in the Mahaska Community.” Our vision is to encourage community unison by creating opportunities that allow all youth to participate in recreation. We have recently added initiatives to service or partner with multi-generational recreational activities along the community trail as well. Our programs and facilities serve all of the Mahaska community, even reaching out beyond county borders, with local community members and visitors participating in these recreational activities.

Our Journey
1969
Introduced
An Idea is Born

The story begins with two police officers, Wendell Smith and Joe McGrew, who recognized the lack of sports opportunities for local youth. They founded the Police Athletic League (P.A.L.) and started a girls' softball league and a successful Golden Gloves boxing program for boys. The city attorney, Joe Crookham, saw the need for a permanent home to make the program sustainable.

August 20
1969
The First Donation

Joe Crookham approached local property owner Nita Barnes, who owned five acres on Green Street—a historic, underserved part of the community. On August 20, 1969, she donated the property to P.A.L. to serve as a home for the program. This donation laid the foundation for what would become the vast recreation complex.

1998
Building the Foundation

The community rallied together to transform the donated land. Dozens of volunteers helped clear the property, including a decaying house and overgrown trees. The project was bolstered by significant contributions:

  • Chuck Lamson donated $10,000 in cash.
  • Gus Gilderbloom donated a building, and his foreman, Terry Grace, provided labor to erect it.
  • A youth named Clay Grace, a beneficiary of the Golden Gloves program, put in hundreds of volunteer hours to help build the facility.
  • T.O. Catherman and his son, Jim Catherman, installed drainage tiles. Oskaloosa Brick and Tile donated truckloads of clay tiling. Excess tiles were sold, generating enough profit to cover all plumbing material costs, with $82 left over.
1998
Fall
Formation of MCRF

The Mahaska Community Recreation Foundation (MCRF) was officially formed in the fall of 1998 as a 501(c)3 organization. That same year, MCRF teamed up with the community to secure hotel-motel tax funds through a community vote, providing a dedicated funding source for recreational initiatives.

Today
Modern-Day Complex

Over 50 years and hundreds of thousands of volunteer hours later, the initial five acres have grown into a 200-acre facility. Today, the Lacey Recreation Complex is a key component of MCRF and includes:

  • 20 youth soccer fields
  • 2 collegiate soccer fields
  • A 5-plex softball/baseball complex
  • Kentfield Fields, a 2-field Babe Ruth complex
  • 8 youth football fields
  • A new collegiate-sized stadium for football, soccer, and track.

Meet Our Team

Core Values

Community Connection

Inclusive Participation

Quality Experiences

Lifelong Wellness

Ready to explore our facilities?

Join us in creating lasting memories through sports and recreation. Our facilities are ready for your next adventure—whether it’s a fun day of playing on our fields or enjoying a scenic tram tour on the Mahaska Community Recreation Trail. Let’s get active and make the most of our community!

Book Now