OREM — It's more than just a beautiful, tulip-filled park. It's a historical dream come true.
Orem's Nielsen's Grove Park, at 1931 South Sandhill Road, has been re-created just the way Danish immigrant and horticulturist Jorgen Nielsen originally built it nearly 120 years ago.
There's a fountain, a reflecting pool, a vine-covered bowery and a giant carousel swing — all reflections of the earlier European-style park.
"This is truly a cultural jewel," Mayor Jerry Washburn said at the official park dedication Wednesday evening. "Here we can enjoy the finer things of nature."
The park has been a work in progress for almost 15 years, as the city's Historical Preservation Commission worked to ensure they were preserving the Nielsen legacy.
The park includes a museum replica of the Nielsen home, complete with pictures and personal history accounts.
Descendants of Nielsen attended the dedication and said it was like seeing the final piece of a puzzle fall into place.
"It's nice to see it come to fruition," said Karen Johnson, a great- great- great-granddaughter who lives in Provo. "We'd come down as a family to check on it, and every time it just (got) more and more beautiful."
The $2.5 million-dollar park is one of Orem's five large citywide parks, most of which are close to 20 acres. The city also boasts 17 smaller neighborhood parks in the range of three to five acres.
Foot and bike paths circle round the giant grassy fields and picnic pavilions at Nielsen's Grove with nearly 300 trees and 25,000 tulips in myriad colors lining the walks.
"We are really known for our parks" said Orem Recreation Director Jerry Ortiz. "People are very, very appreciative of our park system."
It will take seven people to maintain the 22-acre park during summer months — including the biweekly mowing. During the winter, city officials expect park attendance to taper off, but on Wednesday evening, families had spread out picnic blankets, couples were flying kites and children splashed each other as they frolicked in the fountain.
The swing was in high demand as well, with a child in every seat, sailing through the air thanks to volunteers who made the carousel spin.
It brought back old childhood memories for Johnson, who remembered playing on Nielsen's original swing — which was spun by a mule walking around the center pole.
"It's nice to see people enjoy it," Johnson said. "I know grandpa's spirit is here."
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