Need for parking lot turns into 30-acre park

By Pastor Lynn Melchoir

BATTLE LAKE, Minn. -- The “thwap” of a pickle ball echoes in the air. Chimes made from old metal oxygen tanks ring out into the clear sunshine as children’s laughter drifts into the parking lot. Just a typical day at God’s Acres, a free public park in the heart of Otter Tail County.

As Zion Lutheran Church of Amor grew, so did their need for a parking lot. The farmer next door would only sell a ¼ parcel to the church, much more than they needed. So, at first the extra land was farmed, then put into Conservation Reserve Program and finally left sitting.

In 2007, Chuck Erickson, a longtime Amor resident and church member, said, “We can’t let the land just sit there; we need to do something with it.” The park idea won out, and God’s Acres was born.

The park started with a mile long walking trail, children’s play area and picnic tables. Each year, two or more activities are added to the park. This year, Amor’s Ark play structure and a musical area for younger children were added.

The park is funded completely through donations and grants and is not part of the church budget. Volunteers provide all the labor, including mowing the grass, tree care and maintenance which takes about five to eight people more than three hours a week. Additional volunteers help with new attractions, special projects, storm damage, administration and the like. Each year more than 20 volunteers joyfully take on loving their neighbors by laboring on God’s Acres. It is their gift to the larger community.

The favorite areas of the park are the natural play area, meditation area (complete with a prayer garden, labyrinth and veterans’ tribute) and the pickle ball courts. Since 2008, more than activities have been added. For those who enjoy sports, God’s Acres also has a ball field, soccer field, basketball court, volleyball court, horseshoes, drone park, and disc golf course. History buffs enjoy Shellman Cabin, the original Amor settler’s cabin, and the veteran’s tribute. Children enjoy the mud kitchen (complete with running water), gas station (complete with wooden car), checker and chess games, musical instruments, Ga-Ga Ball, challenge course, tetherball set and the playground equipment. For gardening enthusiasts an orchard, wildflower plot, community gardens, butterfly and pollinator gardens have been added. The picnic and children’s play area offers both electricity and water.

The whole county is in on it.

Over 16 years, God’s Acres has hosted worship services, concerts, weddings, graduation parties and even photo shoots. Families and grandparents are repeat visitors but so are area schools, group homes, and garden clubs. Even other church groups find their way to this little slice of God’s cathedral.

First Lutheran Church of Battle Lake brought 15 students from their First Lutheran Camp to spend an afternoon playing.

Remi, age 7, thought it was “the coolest place ever” to visit. The local camp students particularly enjoyed the gas station (including the wooden car) and new Amor’s Ark.

First Lutheran Faith Formation Director Missi Abfalter thinks God’s Acres, “Is a unique park, not like any other park. It is more imaginative than others.”

God Acres is free to all visitors, although donation boxes welcome visitors to help out with new attractions and maintenance.

The park is open year-round, from dawn to dusk, but most of the attractions (including restrooms!) are available May through October.

Winter months find cross-country skiers and snowshoers enjoying the beautiful pine trees, oak savanna, and orchards.

God’s Acres is adjacent to Zion Lutheran Church of Amor. God’s Acres and Zion share the parking lot that started the journey to becoming a premier Otter Tail public park. The address is 36051 CO Hwy 74, Battle Lake.

Pastor Lynn Melchior is the pastor at First Lutheran Church in Battle Lake, Minn., and lives in Ottertail, Minn., only miles from God’s Acres. She has put on countless miles walking the park trails. Pastor Lynn also serves as a member of the Synod Storytelling Mission Team.