Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library Earth Day Programs
4-6 p.m. April 19, Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library locations
Head to one of EVPL’s eight branches for a variety of environment-related programs. Make flowerpots inspired by The Lorax, listen to stories, assemble sustainability kits, and create your own reusable shopping totes.
University of Southern Indiana Student Veteran Association Earth Day Project
9 a.m. April 20, Lucas Place II, 414 Baker Ave.
Help revitalize Veterans Park for Lucas Place II, a housing facility for homeless veterans, by weeding flower beds and planting more bulbs.
Earth Day at Wesselman Woods
10 a.m.-2 p.m. April 20, Wesselman Woods Nature Center, 551 N. Boeke Road
What better place to get in touch with nature than Evansville’s urban forest? Join Wesselman Woods and more than 25 organizations for guided hikes, animal encounters, stories, and food vendors, including Bodine’s Newsstand, Nathan’s Famous Franchise Food Truck, and Sabor Colombia.
Earth Day Fun
10 a.m.-2 p.m. April 20, Harmonie State Park, 3451 Harmonie State Park Road, New Harmony, Indiana
Head to the Outdoor Education Pavilion for learning stations on upcycling and creating new things from discarded items. Admissions is $7 for Indiana vehicles and $9 for out-of-state vehicles.
Beyond Books — Earth Day Fun
4-5 p.m. April 23, Willard Public Library, 21 First Ave.
Learn to plant flowers, join a scavenger hunt for Earth Day-related words, play fun games, and more at this family-friendly event.
Don’t miss these other top nature spots for enjoying the outdoors:
Angel Mounds State Historic Site
8215 Pollack Ave.
Although the visitors’ center is closed for renovations, you can still explore 500 acres dedicated to hiking and biking trails plus an 18-hole disc golf course at this pre-contact Native American site.
Burdette Park
5301 Nurrenbern Road
Enjoy 180 acres of woods and hills open to the public year-round, along with miles of trails, including three miles of paved trails connecting the park to the University of Southern Indiana.
Evansville City Parks
Locations throughout Evansville
See the city through one of its 45 community, neighborhood, and pocket parks and special use areas.
Eagle Slough Natural Area
500 Waterworks Road
Visit these Sycamore Land Trust-managed wetlands and mature bottomland forests on a walking trail while observing birds who sit on observation decks and platforms — as many as 200 species make their home here.
Howell Wetlands
1400 S. Tekoppel Ave.
Spend some time at one of only five urban wetland parks in Indiana, set on 35 acres with plenty of wildlife and two miles of hiking trails.
Friedman Park
2700 Park Blvd., Newburgh, Indiana
You may know this green space from its several popular festivals and events, but don’t miss the park’s trails for biking and walking spread over 180 acres.
Hovey Lake Fish & Wildlife Area
8401 State Road 69 S., Mount Vernon, Indiana
Close to Twin Swamps, these 7,404 acres are nestled between the Ohio River and Wabash River floodplains and include a 1,400-acre oxbow lake, smaller sloughs and marshes, and bottomland forests.
Twin Swamps Nature Preserve
Raben Road, Mount Vernon, Indiana
A long winding loop trail passes through 597 acres of woods and two swamps featuring cypress and overcup oak. Read more about The Nature Conservancy’s management of Twin Swamps in the November/December 2023 issue of Evansville Living.
Bluegrass Fish & Wildlife Area
11699 New Harmony Road, Elberfeld, Indiana
Find biking, hiking, and wildlife watching over 2,532 state-owned acres, including 600 acres of water.
John James Audubon State Park
3100 U.S. Hwy. 41, Henderson, Kentucky
Named for naturalist John James Audubon, peruse his life through art and memorabilia, hike over more than six miles of trails, and explore secluded boardwalks at Audubon Wetlands on Wolf Hills Road.
