Indiana, Perry County, Derby
river mile 692
Pleasant. There are two comprehensive noticeboards, one about the history of the town, the other a history of transport on the Ohio River. Unlike many of these small town riverside parks it is named not for a local political leader, but for a company. It is Mulzer Crushed Stone, which established its first quarry near Derby in the early 1950’s. The company’s “history” page offers an informative and fascinating view not only of how a company grew, but also of the importance of the Ohio River for transport of the stone.
The town has an informative Facebook page, and a wonderful-looking new community center built since the research team visited. The community center can be rented for weddings, baby showers, and so on. The Derby Community Association held its Gun Raffle there in May 2017.
This is a park in the middle of a town, so camping is unlikely to be appreciated. The Community Center has the appropriate amenities, so adding a small campground for paddlers and bicyclists would create a destination point on a bike or water trail. A modern shantyboat had docked there for a few days in the days before the research team visited.
Next park: Rome, Wilkerson County Park
Field research September 2015
Ohio River Parks Project 