The island in Flat River south of Main Street was donated to the city by J. C. Train and used as Island Park from the 1880's until the 1920s as a popular summer gathering place for lodge, club, family, and church picnics, Sunday evening revival or community services, town band performances, political speeches, evangelists, and Fourth of July picnic celebrations. Each spring after flooding subsided, wooden footbridges were built to connect the island to the mainland on the east and west sides, and the lower three islands were at first also connected to the upper one, increasing the park's capacity threefold by 1894. The grounds were maintained by scything tall grass, raking and burning autumn leaves, and reinforcing a wooden platform in the middle of the island, while planks set on wooden horses served as tables. In 1899 the Grand Rapids, Belding and Saginaw Railroad Company built the trestle across the north end of Island Park and furnished two footbridges along its side. Lowell homecomings in 1907 and 1908 included picnics on the island, St. Mary's Parish published the Island City Cook Book in 1912, and the 1926 Home-coming Jubilee included a picnic dinner there. After 1926 no use of Island Park is mentioned, the islands were taken over by poison ivy, and later efforts in 1971 and 1980 tried to reestablish the park. Island Park also inspired the names of local organizations such as the Island City Rebekah Chapter No. 282 of the I.O.O.F., which used it for summertime picnics and meetings.