I received an email that I wasn't sure what to think of. I had not heard anything about the release of 4,000 new virtual reward caches. I went straight to the expert and he confirmed this was true.
I felt so honored that this opportunity was offered to me! That's when the thinking began. I knew the Quad Cities needed to receive it's first and possibly last virtual.
It has to be a great spot. Now where to place it? Iowa? Illinois? Where does my heart belong? 
What do I love about the Quad Cities that deserves to be recognized? A park of course! But which park?
My favorite park..... Vander Veer!
Vander Veer changes year round, it is amazing! It is one of the Quad Cities greatest asset.
I encourage cachers to bring their entire family for this virtual.
The park is fairly flat so all family members can navigate throughout.
To complete the virtual may only take minutes but plan for longer, you may get lost in this parks beauty. Take some family photos, enjoy a stroll, feed the ducks, read a book, smell the flowers, and as you should know by now, have a picnic.
We are so lucky to have a park like this one in our area.
During the summer Vander Veer has fun family events such as music in the park and movie night.
I have included some interesting park history and then the required logging requirements.
Vander Veer Park History: On March 5, 1885, the city of Davenport purchased for $13.000 a little over 33 acres of the old Scott County Fairgrounds for use as a city park. Olaf Benson, a Chicago landscape engineer, designed a naturalistic concept in the style of New York City’s famous Central Park, so Davenport’s newest recreational area was named Central Park.
During the next seven years, roadways, walking paths and lagoons were built. The popular venue was renamed in honor of Park Commissioner A.W. Vander Veer in 1911 after his death at age 62.
According to a story published in 2006, Vander Veer was a Davenport businessman and philanthropist on topics ranging from social work to recreation.
Abraham Wilson Vander Veer,was born in Fairview, Ill., on Oct. 30, 1848. The family moved in the early 1870s to Davenport, where his father practiced law and later farmed. They settled in a home at the southwest corner of Perry Street and Kirkwood Boulevard, where he continued to live after his parents died.
He attended Davenport public schools and landed his first job at John Hoyt music store. In 1892, he organized Tri-City Construction Co. with George. T. Baker. Serving as chairman of the city’s parks commission, he originated the popular Sunday afternoon concerts at Central and Fejervary parks and planned many other improvements.
He never married and died of a blood clot on Aug. 18, 1911, leaving no immediate survivors. His funeral, conducted Aug. 21 at his home, drew mourners from all walks of life. After his death, a campaign was mounted to name the park after him.
Since its establishment in 1885, gardens and floral displays have been a tradition at this beautiful 33 acre park, inviting visitors to stroll from the Conservatory to the Stone Fountain. The park grounds are home to an extensive collection of gardens and trees, including many planted during the early 1890's.
The outside perimeter walkway is busy day and night providing a .9 mile lap for fitness enthusiasts.
Vander Veer is open year round and has changing gardens.
Hours: Sun up until ½ hour prior to sunset.
The Lagoon and Playground -The children's playground and lagoon are favorite summer spots. The lagoon is stocked by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, with catch-and-release fishing. Vending machines provide corn for park visitors to feed the ducks.
Waypoint 1 – N 41 32.701 W 90 34.588
The Children's Sculpture Garden, established 1999, is a colorful yet peaceful setting for Amber, Adam, and Cole: Grammy's Flower Children by Ted McElhiney. There is also a giant Praying Mantis nearby, a sculpture donated by Dick Southwick.
Waypoint 2 – N 41 32.545 W 90 34.534
The Old World Gardens and Fountain, ca 1900, is a display of carpet beds of the style popular in many European countries, including 19th century Germany are represented at the fountain. The stone fountain is the second fountain built in the park. The first was an iron Victorian fountain that was later removed. The stone fountain dates back to the 1930s and has been renovated in recent years. The fountain runs from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. May through October. The water shoots up at varying heights and colored lights change the color of the water making for some beautiful nights in Vander Veer Park.
Waypoint 3 – N 41 32.718 W 90 34.364
1997 saw the installation of Majestic Hope, a statue of a crane carved from a tree stump by local artist Thom Gleich. Unfortunately, this well-known wooden landmark has since fallen victim to the weather, this statue has been remade by the same artist.
Requirements to log this cache: Take and post a picture of you and/or GPS at any one or all of the posted coordinates with the structures visible in the background.
All spoiler photos will be deleted along with your log, sorry.
Post the required picture with your log or it may be deleted.
Email me the answer the following 4 questions:If your answers are incorrect your log will be deleted. Don't make me be the bully of the bunch, claim the cache as intended. Please note there are only 3 waypoints but 4 questions.
At Waypoint 1- What is the year on the plaque?
At Waypoint 2 – On what date in July, 2004 was the restored fountain brought back to life.
Just to know that you were actually there what is the business name between Downing Architects and Ryan & associates?
At Waypoint 3 – What is the year on this plaque?
* As a side note due to the fact there is no logbook and you cannot prove who completed a virtual cache first there is no need to claim a FTF.
Virtual Reward - 2017/2018
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between August 24, 2017 and August 24, 2018. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards on the Geocaching Blog.