In 1992, the City of Janesville entered into a partnership with the two Janesville Optimist Clubs to sponsor development and management of a new park on the east side of Janesville. This 40-acre parcel was, essentially, an undeveloped portion of the City’s Greenbelt system. It had been most recently used to grow agricultural crops and to pasture livestock. Blackhawk Creek, flowing from east to west, bisects the parcel.

A plan was developed to create vegetation zones that represent many of the native plant communities identified by University of Wisconsin Professor John T. Curtis in his famous book, The Vegetation of Wisconsin. In the 1950s, John Curtis conducted extensive research of the forests, prairies and wetlands throughout Wisconsin, and then carefully categorized the diversity of Wisconsin’s flora into named plant communities. A number of these woodland and grassland communities are represented at Optimist Community Park. Many of these zones were sponsored by individuals or organizations when they were established. Sponsorship entailed a monetary donation towards purchasing the plants. Often, the sponsors were involved in the initial planting as well.

In addition to native plant communities, the Optimists have added other developments and points of interest. As you explore Optimist Community Park you will find large rocks with numbers etched on them. This guide includes a brief description of each numbered point of interest.