Opelika's Board of Parks and Recreation hired W.J. "Bill" Calhoun as its first director in 1951, and his top priority was to develop a wooded area behind Northside School. Two adjacent parcels of land donated by I.J. Scott, Sr. and Winston Smith T, Sr. formed Municipal Park, which opened in 1955. Its first attraction was a miniature train called the Rocky Brook Rocket, a 1:16 replica of the diesel trains of the era, financed with help from local civic groups and named for the creek that flowed through the park, with rides costing fifteen cents. On March 31, 1956, Monkey Village opened there with eight spider monkeys in a habitat that included concrete block quarters, trees, flying rings, and a trapeze. The monkeys entertained park visitors for almost 25 years before being relocated to the Montgomery Zoo in July 1980. The creation of Municipal "Monkey" Park was a turning point for Opelika's recreational program.