With 65 parks, 21 recreational areas, and more than a combined 2,500 acres of land, people wanting to get outdoors in Evansville can enjoy more than just a walk in the park.
Summer months and warm weather aren’t the only incentives to get out of the house and to your local park. Events throughout the season give families and community members the chance to fully take advantage of park perks.
Energize Evansville, a program on the third Saturday of the month at various parks and areas throughout Evansville, encourages physical activity with local fitness experts leading group exercise. Those wanting to cool off with a dip in the pool can take advantage of Splash Into Summer Cookouts at Garvin (June 9), Lorraine (June 16), Helfrich (July 6), Rochelle (July 14), and Mosby (July 21) pools during the summer. With each admission, guests receive a free hot dog, drink, bag of chips, and a cookie.
Festivals like Evansville Streets Alive on June 3 and ParksFest on Sept. 8 also will give community members a chance to enjoy activities and entertainment in Garvin Park.
“We have something for everyone,” says Lisa Wube, the program service director for the department of parks and recreation. “Playgrounds, fields, shelters, sport facilities, walking paths, public pools, and more. We give everyone a reason to get outside.”
Even more spaces and options will be available for community members in the coming year with work starting in April on the new Mickey’s Kingdom to replace the Kids Kingdom playground off Waterworks Road and the 2.5-mile extension of the Pigeon Creek Greenway called the Hi-Rail.
“By the community utilizing our parks amenities on a continual basis, we are able to build relationships,” says Wube. “That’s the real connection between health and wellness and the role parks and recreation plays in sustaining Evansville.”
For more information about Evansville’s parks, call 812-435-6141 or visit evansvillegov.org.
