Island Grove Park & Centennial Village are located at 14th Ave and D Street in Greeley. The original area when discovered by the early settlers had a natural stand of cottonwood trees, which contemporary biologists suggest was probably rare for the 19th Century river corridor. Thus, it was a popular gathering site then and now.

The site was used as a burial site by the Arapaho, Cheyenne, and Sioux tribe even after the arrival of European settlers. However, the natural beauty of the site also attracted recreationists of all kind. During the 1870s the new settlers used this area for picnics. The first cowboy tournament, the forerunner of the Greeley Independence Stampede, was also held at the park in 1898. In 1912 a trolley line was extended to the Park and in 1976 Centennial Village was established in Island Grove to re-create the Greeley/ Weld County lifestyle between 1860 to 1920.

Today it is the trailhead for the Poudre River Trail and still a popular attraction for thousands of people who attend the annual events held in and around the park.

To learn more visit the Island Grove Park site or the Centennial Village site.