Very nice nature park. Loop trail is easy walking. Great place to take the kids or the dog for a…read morewalk. Several access points for fishing along the trail and near the bridge.

Just north of Crawfordsville on US-231 is a nature park with a wooded hike and lots of bench/tables…read morealong the path. The majority of the trail parallels the river, including the bend for the last third of the trail. Near the entrance are several board displays including a map and information about the wildlife in the area. The trail starts on the left of the parking lot and loops around a small pond to cover the majority of the park to the right. Most of the paths are dirt, though parts are sandy (near the bend) and rocky. Decent footing for walking, but not so good for jogging since there can be muddy stretches and uneven surfaces. Near the bend, the trail opens up to a "beach" area across from an old power plant. The river has a small dam that creates a murmuring that is relaxing. Fishing is allowed, but there are signs posted that the fish may not be healthy for eating. Sadly, after the rounding of the bend where the trail passes under US-231, a "camp" for homeless blocked the path. I didn't see anyone there, but felt uncomfortable going beyond that point. On the trail back, I found a bypass along the front of the park where the tall grasses had been cut straight to the parking lot. Overall, the park was a decent hike, but could use some attention. I kept running into cobwebs through the wooded area, so I wonder how much use the trail gets. Also, the trail got hard to follow beyond the bend. I wasn't sure if I was to continue along the river or if there was some woodland path that was obscured from view. Note: Access to the park is only available from the north bound lanes of US-231 near the Elston Park Softball Complex. Review #966

Highland Park is a huge community park in Kokomo with lots of green space, recreational spaces and…read morea historic covered bridge. What I like best about the park are the mature trees that provide lots of shade. Some of the trees are over 400 years old. There is a huge colorful playground with climbing structures, swings and slides. The base is a mix of mulch and soft matting. Benches line the area for parents to sit and watch kids . (The equipment could use a good cleaning from the trees.) There are two ball diamonds with bleachers within the park. A beautiful stream that meanders through the park attracts fisherman. Tree-covered picnic areas are scattered along the creek. The Vermont Covered Bridge spans the creek and is open to pedestrian traffic. There are restroom facilities near the playground. There are several parking areas throughout the park and you can drive along the creek. Highland Park is a great place to bring the family.

This is a large park in Kokomo that truly has something for everyone. We were originally drawn here…read moreby the largest sycamore tree stump that is on display and the largest steer that is not alive, but a stuffed version is on display. There is parking right next to these attractions and easy access for those who need it. They were both behind glass so the glare made it hard to see both, but they were amusing. Right next to the display was a playground suitable for all ages. The slide is a bit high, and it seemed old, but in good condition. There are also covered picnic tables in the area. Down the ways a bit in the park is a red covered bridge that was fun to walk through and take some photos with. Lastly, there is a large pavilion stage area what was having an orchestra concert, free to attend, and the audience was partially shaded with some picnic tables in the back as well.

Unless you are a skilled hiker, I recommend going to this beautiful nature preserve when the…read moreweather has been dry. There is about 90 feet of elevation change on the 0.8 mile loop that can be a bit slippery if you pick a time when mud/rain can be a problem. I only explored the north end trail during my visit. After parking in a shaded lot, I went into the park where I had a choice of left or right. The right side has a steeper descent than the left. Fortunately, there is a hand rail for stability. I figured it easier to go down the steep side than up, so I stayed on the right hand path. There is a fairly level area before you reach the "stairs". The stairs are mostly natural, so they aren't evenly spaced. Just keep focused and you should be alright. Once the trail reaches the bottom of the gorge, there are places where elevated paths keep your feet from trekking through the mud. Depending upon how much rain has fallen, you may get some mud, but my feet stayed dry the entire loop. At the base, there are deep ravines where the trees catch the sunlight and light up in brilliant yellow greens. The rocks are layered and take on a rusty color that can make for some great photos. The highlight of the loop is finding the "arch" through the ridge of rock. It was just a bit taller than my head (I would say most folks won't need to duck going through.) After that, you will start working your way back. Although I traveled the same distance up, it was gradual and not nearly as challenging as climbing steps. I didn't see much wildlife there, but there were squirrels and butterflies that showed themselves. I like a short hike that features a destination and great scenes along the way. If you like that too, then seek out this park. Review #2840

Great trail among beautiful landforms. It's a nice hike that makes for a good day trip along with…read moreWilliamsport Falls, Attica, and the courthouse murals on Covington.

We needed an overnight while traveling through Illinois and this was right off the highway. Lovely…read morepark with level camping sites and 50 amp electric. Our spot looked over the river and was very relaxing after a long drive. We did not explore other areas , but for our purpose this was great and on

Lots of excellent facilities and services at this park. I felt like the upkeep and cleanliness was…read moreexcellent, better than one would expect. The ranger at the campground check in was extremely helpful and friendly! The campground facilities were very clean and had recent remodeling such as new sink, counter, and floor resurfacing.

This is a great park! It has plenty of room and something for just about everybody! Some of the…read morefeatures are: - swimming pool and splash park - skate park - 2 playgrounds - baseball diamonds - horseshoe pits - 18 hole disc golf course Not only does it have the fun stuff, but it also has shelters, restrooms, and a memorial to the local infantry that fought in the War with Spain. The grounds are split by a flowing creek with several bridges for easy crossing. And the north end of the park is filled with mature trees that offer lots of shade for visitors. Review #965

I go here with my friends to hang out its like the after school hang out for most kids it's so…read morebeautiful there it is breathtaking I love going there to talk hang and take the kids I babysit

This is an amazing park tucked away in a small suburb of Lafayette. It sits right in front of the…read morezoo and spans 40 acres. It is relatively well maintained and clean. There is tons of parking available, spread out between a couple of lots and some street parking. The park has lots of shelters with picnic tables under them and a grill just outside of them. I would say there are at least 18 of them that are available to be rented. The park also has a couple of shuffle boards that you can play and a loose picnic tables scattered on the grounds. The park is home to an amazing playground that has just about everything you would want in a playground. It's only negative is that it is on a bed of wood chips. The area is pretty large and divided into different areas for recommended age groups. There is a wide mix of equipment here including traditional and toddler swings, a saucer swing, sit-n-spins, slides, expression swings, and a teen area with a jungle gym that has a suspended pebble bridge and monkey rings. There is a huge jungle gym that sits a top a hill in the area that has a bunch of slides and some monkey bars. The equipment seems to be in pretty good repair and looks great, even though it is a bit older. You will find a share a book kiosk and a glider swing in the area as well. The park features a train depot that sits right across from the zoo entrance and it has an operational train that goes around the park. It was not running while I was there because it was out of season. I really liked the park's man-made lagoon that winds through it. It very picturesque and calming. It adds a nice touch to the park. They have a little pier on the lake where they do paddle boat rentals, in season. You will see little amphitheater at the park. It seems relatively new and is very nice. it has seating and a scenic little plaza area with picnic tables that over look the park's lagoon. There is also a trail, the Columbian Trail, that weaves in and around Columbian Park. It is well paved and has a very scenic view. What sets this park apart though is its veterans area. They have a large area, the Memorial Plaza, located along the water dedicated to memorials to veterans. They have the United Spanish War Memorial, Gold Star Family Memorial, Medal of Honor Memorial, Purple Heart Memorial, and the Vietnam Memorial. There is also a bunch of flag waving from flags poles over there and a Howitzer gun on display. You will also see the Tippecanoe County Veterans Memorial, which is the oldest memorial in the park, dating back to 1949. I did not see a bathroom facility dedicated to the park, but I was able to use the one attached to the Zoo's entrance. It was very nice and well maintained. Also located on the water is the Rush Pavilion which serves as a clubhouse that can be rented for special events. It can hold up to 50 people and includes access to a full service kitchen. The wrap around porch can hold an additional 100 people. This is a destination park that you can easily spend a half of day without even going to the zoo or amphitheater. It has everything that I look for in a park and more. It is very picturesque and I really enjoyed my time there. I also like, that they included salutes to veterans in their planning. I highly recommend checking this place out. It checks off all the boxes and will not disappoint.

Im actually sad this park is not closer to home for me. We enjoyed walking around the lake. They…read morehave paddle boats, an amphitheater, lots of picnic shelters and grills, and a small train. Plus playground equipment, a beautiful banquet hall, and a small zoo. My favorite part was the swinging benches. I'd be there all the time if I lived by this park.

This park was a great place to get out and go for a walk. The sidewalk is oversized with plenty of…read moreroom for people to pass or go on opposing directions. On our walk we headed up a long winding sidewalk for a mile. We still hadn't reached the end before turning around and heading back. There were so many adorable dogs on the visit. We also saw several birds and squirrels. Plenty of parking and areas to get out. There is also a children play area and places to picnic. Recommended

My childhood park from 40 years ago... When visiting as an…read moreadult, I still see it as a wonderful park, well maintained etc., and definitely worth spending time at. The only downsides are, and this is comparing it to the 1980s..., is that there are many more people here, PAVED trails (not a fan), and the signs say that we can no longer explore off the trails... kind of a let down, but I understand.

After visiting and reviewing over 400 parks, it can become easy to get bored with seeing parks…read moreseemingly cutout of the same mold, just in different locations. So when I find one that greatly exceeds my expectations, I get a renewed interest to keep searching. The small town of Mulberry (about 1250 people) is northwest of Frankfort in Clinton County (instead of heading west to Lafayette, head east on SR38). I've been to a lot of small towns and they either don't have a park, or they have something dated, underfunded, or both. Not so! At least not in Mulberry. The park has a huge playground, lots of mature trees for shade, a baseball park, basketball court, and shaded shelter. There is even a permanent restroom facility on site! The playground is loaded with pieces and includes giant swings, the standard play, climb, slide assembly, spinning and other climbing pieces, and a play "train" for kids to pretend. Remember when kids had to use their imaginations? Anyway, I really thought it looked like a fun place to be. And the landscaping was well maintained too! A number of lilies were growing near the entrance to the play area and the rest of the garden was in good order too. Parking is a little weird since there isn't a designated lot other than some signs for handicapped parking reserves. I guess you are supposed to pull in nose to stone (the road that wanders through the park is lined with large rocks keeping the vehicles off the grass.) If you are in the area with kids, this is a really good place to make a rest stop to burn of some energy! Review #1067

This is another great rail trail in Indiana that straddles Sugar Creek. Finding the trail is…read moretricky, winding pass farmland, through a golf course and around some tight curves. There is plenty of parking and a porta potty at the entrance we used. There was no phone connectivity, so I could not check in. This is wilderness! This was my third visit to the trail. There is short hike up a hill to access the trail. The tree lined trail is nicely paved with occasional benches and pet clean up stations. There are lots of wildflowers along the path and some picturesque views including and old train bridge across Sugar Creek. There were lots of birds chirping so a good place for bird watching. On the weekend, there are many people out walking, running, riding bikes and more. Rock hunters look for fossils under the bridge. The trail itself is accessible and navigable in a wheel chair but I don't know how a wheelchair could climb the hill to get on the trail. Perhaps there is another area with easier access. The trail closes at dusk.

This is a 4 and a half mile trail of wilderness on the outskirts of Crawfordsville. It's…read morewell-maintained and peaceful, great for walking, jogging, or biking. It's mostly paved with a short gravel section. Although it is technically part of the trail I would skip the section by Crawfordsville High School and start by Donnelly's, its more nature-y. I don't think there's any water fountains so definitely bring a water bottle. It's rural and seems very safe, I've never heard of any crime on it, but I would still recommend normal safety precautions because it is very isolated.