4550 College Avenue (Route 140)
Alton, Illinois

Led by Dr. Gordon F. Moore, local clubs, organizations, businesses and volunteers built this 702 acre park on the east side of Alton. Highlights in the park include a first class golf course, a rose garden, an oriental garden, a native prairie grassland area, a 13 acre lake for fishing, a tennis center, a freedom shrine, and a monument to all the volunteers that helped create the park. In addition there soccer and baseball fields, picnic shelters and playgrounds.

Park Attractions

The Heartland Prairie
The Heartland Prairie at Gordon Moore Park was planted by the Sierra Club in 1977. This 27 acre oasis of native prairie is managed by The Nature Institute, which keeps the trails maintained, provides incredible trail/plant guides, and does annual and semi-annual controlled burns. At the Heartland Prairie one can find any number of the 150 forbs and 9 grasses in bloom late March through early October. The Heartland Prairie is located on the north side of the park (across IL-111 from where most of the activities take place.

The Nan Elliott Memorial Rose Garden
Dr. Robert Elliott donated the funds for this stunning 1 acre rose garden as a memorial to his wife. This All-America Rose Selections accredited garden contains more than 1,600 rose bushes and a gazebo. On Sundays at 5 pm from Memorial Day through Labor Day, bring your lawn chair or blanket to hear the caroling of the bells from the Carillon Tower. The garden is located on the south side of the park.

The Oriental Garden
The funds for this garden were donated by Alton area Doctors. The garden is located on the south side of the park with a walkway over bridges that goes around the pond and past a waterfall and the Pagoda. Colorful Koi fish make the pond their home.

Nature Trail
This 1/4 mile handicapped accessible nature trail starts and ends near the Oriental Garden on the south side of the park. There approximately 50 different trees and shrubs grouped in areas and include native trees, deciduous trees, conifers, and shrubs. There are informational plaques, using both plain text and Braille, located along the trail, a raised herb garden, an observation deck, and two curved bridges.

Spencer T. Olin Golf Course
Designed and managed by Arnold Palmer, Spencer T. Olin Golf Course is recognized as the finest public facility in the mid-west with a 4 1/2 Star rating by Golf Digest magazine. This 18 hole, par 72 course is designed to accommodate all levels of play. Carts and lessons are available. Restaurant on the premises.

Other Park Amenities

► 13 acre lake and dam - providing fishing opportunities
► Beautification Fountain
► Freedom Shrine
► George Spence Hosta Garden
► Memorial Tree Preserve
► Tennis Courts
► Soccer, Baseball, & Football Fields

Visiting the Nan Elliott Rose Garden
The Nan Elliott Rose Garden can be visited at any time from dusk to dawn.
There is no charge to visit the Nan Elliott Rose Garden.