Club History of the Waterloo Iowa Exchange Club

Waterloo Exchange Club History

The Waterloo Exchange Club was founded in 1951

And recently celebrated its 50th Birthday. Over the years the club has been very active in the community on many different facets to support three objectives of Exchange: Community, Youth, and Americanism.

Having donated over $150,000 and manpower to develop area parks and recreational facilities. Providing funding to support the Family Children's Council, a center that works to provide education and assistance to area families for the Prevention of Child Abuse, our National Exchange cause.

Providing funding to support many youth oriented endeavors in the community.

Honors Waterloo Fireman of the Year.

Honors Waterloo Policeman of the Year.

The Waterloo Exchange Club annually sponsors the Eastern Iowa Home and Landscaping Show at the Five Sullivan Brothers Center in Waterloo. The Show serves as the major fundraiser for the club to provide financial support for its various community projects.

The Club serves as a Partner in Education with EXPO High School in Waterloo and teams with Columbus High School in its Student of the Month/Year project.

Playground Equipment at Exchange Park

The first initial Park Project took place in 1954 and was the redevelopment of the old Chatauqua Park. It now bears the name “Exchange Park”. Gifts from the exchange were more than $16,000 to develop the park. The gifts included Picnic Grounds development, Play Equipment, Recreation Slab (used for Square Dancing) and a storage building.

Shelter House at Exchange Park

Over the years, the Exchange Club has assisted in manpower and funding for many shelter houses and playground equipment at many of the various parks in the community. Back in 1969, the Club provided $15,000 to provide landscaping around the Recreation Center of Waterloo which included Locust Trees around the Center, pennant poles to display convention displays, as well as to acquire canopied circular tables.

Disc Golf Hole at Exchange Park

Exchange has been involved in the building and funding of the Championship Disc golf course located in Exchange Park. Thousands of players utilize the course each year and it also serves as host for major tournaments.

One of the many softball fields at Exchange Park

Other projects include providing floating boat docks at Exchange Park and developing and later reconstruction of the Black Hawk Creek Green Belt Park and shelter house. The club has also purchased picnic tables and helped fund handicap ramps at Martin Lake. Recent projects include funding for the renovation of the downtown Veterans Hall area as well as the "Welcome to Waterloo" entrance sign located north of Waterloo on Highway 63.