Island Park, a tear drop shaped island which sat in the middle of the Saint John River, at the mouth of the Meduxnekeag River. With approximately 100 acres of space, Island Park was home to nearly every recreational facility before the permanent flooding of the island by the Mactaquac dam headpond. Road access was provided by a ramp leading off the halfway point of the Grafton Bridge, spanning from King Street to Grafton from 1884 to its demolition in 1970.
Along with other recreational facilities, a horse racetrack and a grand stand were also on the island. In 1967, despite major disappointment and even protest, the Island Park's facilities were relocated to the present Connell Park to make way for the raising of the Mactaquac headpond. The new park provided improved parking along with better and more modern facilities.
