Central Park
Located near the center of Jones County, Central Park houses the administrative offices of the Jones County Conservation Board. This 217 acre park includes a 25 acre lake with good populations of largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie, and catfish for those who enjoy fishing. Around five miles of hiking trails transverse the woodlands, restored prairie, and wetland habitat.
A new playground area, swimming beach, sand volleyball court, and horseshoe pits are all close to the enclosed pavilion which is a popular reunion location.
Central Park has modern, semi-modern, electric, primitive camping, and c
amping cabins available from April 15 – October 15. Primitive camping is available year round.
The Jones County Nature Center draws thousands of visitors each year. Public educational programs are given almost every Saturday during the summer months. The Nature Center is open from 1 - 5 PM on Saturdays and Sundays from Memorial Day thru Labor Day Weekend.
Central Park Map
Central Park Lake Habitat Map
Central Park Lake Depth
Central Park Basic Rules & Regulations
JCCB Area Rules & Regulations (Word Format)
JCCB Area Rules & Regulations (Brochure PDF Format)
Driving Directions
Commonly Asked Questions About Central Park:
Do you take reservations for camp sites? We do not take reservations for our campsites. Campers simply register upon arrival. Campers must place a tent or camper on the site at the time of registration.
When is Central Park Campground open? Water and electricity are turned on from April 15 thru October 15 - weather dependant. Primitive camping is available year round.
Is Central Park affected by river flooding? No
What are the park hours? Park hours are 4:30 AM – 10:30 PM. We do not close any gates. Quiet time begins at 9 PM and goes through 8 AM.
How do I register for a campsite? Once at our park you select any open campsite and set up your tent or wheeled camping unit depending on the type of site selected. Sites that include 2 or 3 utility services per site are required to have a wheeled camping unit set up on site. A tent or wheeled camping unit is permitted on all other sites. See the Central Park Map for site locations. You must register at the information kiosks located in the camping areas within 1 hour of set up. Complete the provided registration slip, enclose your payment, and deposit in the registration payment box. Place the other half of your registration slip in the post at your campsite.
How much do your campsites cost?
Camping Fees:
Fully Modern Sites: $16 per night (Includes sewage, water, and electrical hook-ups)
Semi-Modern Sites: $14 per night (Includes water and electricity)
Electrical Sites: $12 per night
Primitive Sites: $8 per night
When is the check-out time? 6:30 PM 
How long can you stay at one site? The maximum length of consecutive days at one site allowed is 14 days. Campers are then required to vacate that campsite for a minimum of 48 hours.
Does Central Park have a shower house? Yes, our main shower house has modern facilities for all campers and visitors to use. The park also has four primitive restroom facilities.
How many tents are allowed on each primitive campsite? One additional small tent is allowed with a wheeled camping unit site or primitive site at no extra cost. One additional tent may be placed on a registered primitive campsite for a fee of $4.
Are pets allowed in the park? Pets are allowed on a leash or chain not to exceed 6 feet, except where otherwise noted. Visitors are responsible for cleaning up after their animals and keeping noise to a minimum.
How do I rent a paddleboat? Paddleboats can be rented by contacting the modern area campground hosts from Thursday thru Sunday. Cost is $4 per half hour.
Are boat motors allowed on Central Park Lake? You can have a motor on your boat but are not allowed to use gas motors on the lake. Simply tilt your motor up. Trolling motors are allowed.
What kinds of fish are found in Central Park Lake? We have largemouth bass, bluegill, green sunfish, crappie, channel catfish, and grass carp.
Is alcohol allowed in the park? Yes, alcohol is allowed in the park. Kegs are not allowed. Please note that alcohol is prohibited from the beach area and nature center.
Do you have lifeguards at the beach area? No, we do not have lifeguards. Our beach area is “swim at your own risk”. Our beach is monitored weekly for bacteria during the summer season and bacteria counts are posted at the beach. Alcohol, glass bottles, foul language, and pets are not allowed on the beach. A complete set of beach rules is posted at the beach.
How do I reserve the shelter or cabins? Contact the Jones County Conservation Departments Administrative Office at (563)487-3541. Reservations for any particular year begin on the first of that year.
What are the Rules and Regulations? The JCCB Area Rules and Regulations Brochure contains the full listing of Jones County Conservation Board Area Rules and Regulations including those that pertain to camping. The Central Park Basic Rules and Regulations guide is a simplified version but does not include all rules and regualtions that pertain to camping situations.