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TOLLEY There'll be birthday cake and ice cream Sunday when Mouse River Park in Renville County celebrates 100 years.

The centennial events begin at 10:30 a.m. with a health fair sponsored by the Mohall and Tolley ambulance crews. A parade starts at noon in the park, located about 15 miles west of Mohall.

The Renville County Old Settlers Association will conduct a program at 2 p.m. in the auditorium. There will be musical entertainment and a history presentation by Louise Stark.

Cake and ice cream will be served after the program. Park history books will be available for purchase for $10 each.

The park's history goes back to former homesteaders who set aside land in a river bend for public use. William Grinnell, who came to the area before 1885 and worked as foreman of the Mouse River Horse and Cattle Co., homesteaded the park site.

According to history researched by Duane and Louise Stark, early residents of the area would come to the river to swim, fish and picnic. Grinnell's wife, Emily, had the land cleaned, surveyed and platted for Mouse River Park. In 1909, she donated the streets, avenues and alleys forever to the public.

At one time, there was a pavilion used for skating and dances. A band led by Lawrence Welk once played in the pavilion. In about 1912, the Mouse River Loop Chautauqua Association began holding events in a tent on the grounds.

In 1913, the Grinnells and George and Julie Sauer deeded lands to the association.

Over the years, the park has had a zoo, a merry-go-round with up to 40 horses, a picture show house and nine-hole golf course. Highlights of the park included a hot-air balloon show, a game between the locals and the House of David Baseball Club from Bronx, N.Y., and Fourth of July celebrations. Mouse River Park had a hockey team for a few years.

Also during the 1920s, there were floods in the park that damaged many cottages and park buildings. In the early 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps built a small dam. In later years, a dike was built.

Boating was popular in the 1930s. The park was a favorite place for church conventions, homemakers, 4-H and Boy Scout encampments. In the 1940s, carnivals would set up in the park.

In 1947, Renville County took over the deed for the park. The park's name was established as Renville County Memorial Mouse River Park in 1953.

In the mid-1970s, electrical camper hookups were installed. Renville County made a land trade with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to acquire more room for the growing need for campers in the mid-1990s.

Park facilities today include a picnic area, camping and tenting areas, a playground, walking path, softball complex, fishing dock with fish-cleaning station and boat dock, chapel, auditorium, gazebo, gift shop, convenience store, lounge and cafe.

The Mouse River Park Improvement Committee is working to raise about $415,000 to pave the county and township road from N.D. Highway 5 to the park.

Donna Weaver of Tolley, a member of the committee, said the group is just $70,000 short of its goal. Funding has included a $250,000 grant from the North Dakota Special Roads Fund and $5,000 from the Renville County Economic Development Corp. The county also has donated $30,000 of in-kind assistance through the use of its equipment toward the work.

The committee plans to do the paving next year.