To the editor:

For over 28 years, I have had the privilege of living across from Armstrong Park. I’ve seen neighbors cast fishing lines into the pond, children running along the banks, and families gathering to picnic and enjoy nature. Armstrong Park has always been more than just land and water — it is a vital part of our community’s identity and quality of life.

That is why it breaks my heart to see the park fall into decline. Since the reconstruction project began in June of 2020, what was meant to restore and protect the pond has instead been left to deteriorate. The fore bay designed to catch sediment is nearly full, and the main pond is once again filling with silt. The water is no cleaner than it was before, and the natural filtration system has not been maintained to do its job.

A sign still invites the public to fish, but the truth is, fewer and fewer people come each year. Thick mats of algae choke the surface, and invasive weeds make fishing nearly impossible — hooks don’t sink, and reels come up tangled. What was once a place of joy is becoming an eyesore of frustration.

The shoreline tells a similar story. The wildflowers that once promised beauty have been overtaken by weeds and tall grass, pushing people farther away from the pond. A narrow, welcoming strip of flowers has now grown into an overrun barrier of nearly 20 feet, discouraging walking, playing, and gathering. This is not what a community park should look like.

The city invested $423,000 into this project. Without care and stewardship, that investment is slipping away — and with it, the spirit of the park. Armstrong Park should be a place of pride, not disappointment.

There are practical solutions. A simple aeration fountain, powered by electricity or solar energy, would bring new life to the pond by increasing oxygen, reducing algae, supporting fish and aquatic life, and even discouraging mosquitoes. It would also restore the pond’s beauty, making it once again a place where people want to gather. These systems are affordable, sustainable, and exactly the kind of improvement that shows commitment to both the park and the community it serves.

Armstrong Park deserves better. Our community deserves better. We owe it to the families who visit today, and to the generations who will come after us, to protect and preserve this park. With care, Armstrong Park can once again be a thriving, welcoming space where nature and community meet.

Please let me know how we can work together to ensure Armstrong Park does not fade into neglect, but instead shines as a place of pride and natural beauty for Fort Dodge.

James Rivera

Fort Dodge