To say that the late Donna Monkelien liked Oleson Park would be putting it mildly.

Her name and her love of the sprawling park on the south side of Fort Dodge will be remembered for decades to come thanks to the newly opened shelter in the park which is named after her. A $183,412.93 gift she left the city in her will specifically to support the park made its construction possible.

Monkelien and her husband, Richard, lived across the street from the park. They could see the park’s historic bandshell from their living room. The Monkeliens had a front row seat for all the sights and sounds of Oleson Park. Through the passage of years, it became a very special place for them. And when Donna Monkelien made her final arrangements, she remembered the park she loved so much over the years. The result was an astonishing gift.

One of the elements of the park the Mokeliens likely saw every day was a shelter house that was the site of many happy family reunions, picnics and birthday parties. City Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department crews made some significant repairs to it about 10 years ago, but the passage of time took its toll. That shelter was demolished in 2020.

The new shelter stands where that old one once did.

It is heated and air conditioned, which makes it useable all year. It has a kitchen and handicapped-accessible restrooms. It can accommodate 75 people.

It is named the Donna Jean Monkelien Pavilion. It is a fine tribute to a woman whose gift will make it possible for future generations to enjoy Oleson Park the way she did.

The fact that Donna Monkelien left so much for the park she loved says much about her character. It also reminds the rest of us that Oleson Park is indeed a special place.