Rock Island's Longview lives up to its name

The Quad-Cities is blessed with many wonderful parks. One I don’t visit often enough is Longview in Rock Island.

Situated on a high bluff, the view from the top, across the Mississippi River into Iowa, is beautiful.

Working and living on the Iowa side of the Mississippi River, I often don’t know, or forget, how our geography looks from the other side. I am always amazed. You might be, too. After all, that “long view” is how the park got its name!

If you decide to visit, there is some history that might add to your appreciation.

The park was designed by O.C. Simonds (1855-1931) of Chicago, a founding member of the American Society of Landscape Architects.

According to a recently published book by Barbara Geiger, Simonds had requested that a tower be built in Longview to better view the natural landscape. That didn’t happen, but it’s still a visual treat.

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