1931 S. Sandhill Rd
Orem, UT 84058
Acres . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21.4
Playground . . . . . . . . . Yes
Soccer Fields . . . . . . . No
Basketball Court . . . . . No
Baseball Diamond . .. . No
Tennis Courts . . . . . . . No
Volleyball Courts . . . . No
Horseshoe Pits . . . . . . No
Restrooms . . . . . . . . . Yes
Historic Structures . . Yes
Gardens . . . . . . . . . . . . Yes
Pond . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Yes
Walking Path . . . . . (2) mile loop
Date Opened . . . . . Summer 2005

When King Fredrick IV of Denmark built his castle in Odense in 1730, he oversaw the creation of a castle garden known as “Kongens Have,” or literally “The King’s Garden.” Jorgen’s Uncle was a gardener in the castle garden, and as a youth Jorgen would often visit the gardens.

Jorgen designed his garden using elements from the design at Kongens Have. The centerpiece of the garden was a fountain powered by a natural spring. Four white marble statues decorated the fountain. A vagrant who stopped to beg for food reportedly noticed the marble and offered to carve the figures. Three of the statues are currently housed at the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers museum in Provo, while the location of the fourth is unknown.

In addition to the fountain, the park also contained a reflecting pool, a covered dance floor, a steam-heated greenhouse, vine-covered arbors, and a 12-seater carousel swing. Excursionist came from all over the valley and Salt Lake to picnic in the popular park. Nielsen’s Grove remained a tourist destination until 1910 when drainage from the benches above turned it into a swamp. The area was later abandoned and used as wheat fields during WWI.

In 1995 Orem city purchased the property where Nielson’s Grove had been located, hoping to recreate the historical park. Headed by the Orem City Historic Preservation Committee, many people did research and worked to return the park to its former glory.  Only a short distance away from the busy freeway, the $2.8 Million Nielsen’s Grove now stands as a 22-acre haven from the world. Quiet couples walk arm-in-arm across the grass. Children play energetically on the six-seater carousel swings, while ducks meander happily on the natural pond. “This is not the kind of park for soccer, but it’s very popular for picnics with families and for youth activities and ward activities,” Orem City Manager Jim Reams said. “It’s a flower park. Go in April; the city has 24,000 tulip bulbs planted.”    BYU Daily Universe