The not-too-large and not-too-small personality of Evansville suits the city well in recreation. There are lots of amenities to enjoy, as well as vast areas to experience nature. Here’s a look at some of the ways to enjoy outdoor and indoor recreational activities.
Pickleball and tennis
Whether you’re part of the nationwide pickleball craze or just starting out, you can enjoy the city’s year-old outdoor complex with 16 courts at Wesselman Park. The West Side’s Burdette Park (5301 Nurrenbern Road), owned by Vanderburgh County, has six outdoor pickleball courts available, and Scott Township Park (550 Radio Ave.) north of the city adds eight to the mix. Wesselman and Burdette parks also both provide tennis courts.
Swimming
The 2021 opening of Deaconess Aquatic Center (24 Don Mattingly Way) at Garvin Park brought Evansville a much-needed indoor swimming facility, with pools for both competitive and recreational swimmers.
During the hot summer months, individuals and families can cool off at Burdette Park’s aquatic center, one of the largest facilities of its kind in the Midwest. A great destination for kids, Burdette has an Olympic-size pool, family pool, and children’s pool, as well as waterslides, diving boards, concessions, and a spray park.
The City of Evansville has three outdoor neighborhood swimming pools available for use in June and July: Lorraine (2399 E. Adams Ave.), Mosby (1101 S. Barker Ave.), and Rochelle-Landers (701 Lincoln Ave). The city plans to install a new splash pad at Tepe Park (1212 S. Garvin St.) in summer 2025.
Skateboarding
Sunset Skatepark opened to much fanfare in December 2023, concluding a years-long crusade by skateboarding advocates. At 23,000 square feet, it’s Indiana’s largest concrete skatepark, with quarter pipes, bowls, rinks, multi-jump lines, ledges, and all the features a beginning or accomplished skater needs. Its location on East Riverside Drive boasts impressive views along Evansville’s riverfront. The venue is free and open to skaters of all ages and skill ranges.
Golf
For golfers, the City of Evansville offers three public courses. Fendrich (1900 E. Diamond Ave.) is a scenic place to play dating to 1950. Helfrich, (1550 Mesker Park Drive) on the city’s West Side, was built in 1923 and reopened in 2023 after an extensive restoration process.
Fendrich and Helfrich both feature 18 holes, while the third city-owned course, McDonald, (2905 E. Morgan Ave.), is a nine-hole course on the East Side.
The Farm (6901 Petersburg Road), an 18-hole course formerly known as Thunderbolt Pass and Hamilton’s, has been owned by the Evansville-Vanderburgh Airport Authority District and is under the new management of former pro golfer Dylan Meyer. Renovations are ongoing at the course, clubhouse, and other facilities.
“The Farm is going to be a place where all levels and ages are welcome to play in a relaxing environment,” Meyer said in a news release. “Our goal is to deliver a country club experience but at affordable prices for the general public.”
Ice Skating
City-owned Swonder Ice Arena (209 N. Boeke Road) next to Wesselman Park has year-round open skating times, as well as membership options. Swonder also is home to youth and adult hockey leagues, the Tri-State Sled Dogs sled hockey team, and the Greater Evansville Figure Skating Club.
Other Places to Walk, Bike, and Play
Sunset Skatepark hardly is the only attraction on the city’s riverfront. Next to the skatepark is Mickey’s Kingdom, an expansive, all-ages playground built by community volunteers and opened in 2018.
The riverfront is a popular place to walk or bike. The Pigeon Creek Greenway starts near the city’s new Sunrise Pump Station and water cascades; follow it past the skatepark and playground along the Ohio River shoreline. If you’re ambitious, take the path nearly seven miles to Garvin Park and hit the water at the Heidelbach canoe launch.
Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve, a surviving remnant of Southwestern Indiana’s original forests and an Indiana Nature Preserve, is a National Natural Landmark and provides residents an urban spot to explore nature. It’s notable as the largest urban tract of virgin old-growth forest in the U.S. The nature preserve also boasts a new treehouse and nature playscape.
Adjacent Wesselman Park includes picnic facilities, a shelter house, sand volleyball, walking and hiking trails, and a fully accessible playground dedicated in 2024.
On Evansville’s West Side, a scenic three-mile trail connects Burdette Park and the University of Southern Indiana campus.
Deaconess Sports Park and Goebel Soccer Complex (4300 Heckel Road) host travel youth sports tournaments throughout the year; walking and biking paths surround them, as well.
