Springfield Parks, Greenways, and Outdoor Spaces
4/29/16
Tonight we visited four parks/facilities in east central Springfield, all that we have been to previously.
#84. Glenwood Park 451 N. Cedarbrook
This 8 acre park is just north of Chestnut Expy in east Springfield and we have been here a few times years ago. There are tennis and basketball courts, a baseball field, and a playground. There is also a large water retention basin. We walked around for about 10 minutes and went 1/3 mile.
#85. Cooper Park 2300-2700 E. Pythian
This 127 acre park/sports complex is in east central Springfield and we have been to all the facilities here before. There are multiple outdoor baseball and soccer fields, and tennis courts. There is a 1 1/2 mile track and a playground and picnic tables/benches. The website mentions a physical fitness course that we didn't see but we didn't walk all around the track. This is the site of Cooper Tennis Complex with indoor tennis courts and the professional level outdoor tennis court. Lakes Country Soccer complex is across the street with more outdoor soccer fields and the Soccer Dome. We walked about 3/4 mile in 15 minutes.
4/30/16 update: We stopped back by today and walked the rest of the trail. There isn't anything here that I would describe as a "physical fitness course," just a walking/jogging path. I guess the "physical fitness" part comes when one dashes around the park looking for it!!
#86. Cooper Tennis Complex 2331 E Pythian
This is home of Mediacom Stadium where the Springfield Lasers professional tennis team plays. There are also multiple indoor and outdoor tennis courts. According to the website, memberships are available for the facility and there are lessons and adult and youth programs. We attended a Lasers match several years ago and there were several people playing tonight despite the drizzle and cool temperatures.
5/7/16 update: We went back today, went inside the facility and looked around for a few minutes at both the inside courts, the professional outdoor court, and the numerous other outdoor courts. We had been to a Laser match but had never been inside the building before.
#87. Killian Sports Complex 2151 E. Pythian
This complex hosts the park board's adult softball leagues and also has the stadium where the MSU Bears softball teams play. We have been here many times for Charlie's softball games and company picnics. The Springfield Softball Hall of Fame Museum is located here but it was closed.
Lakes Country Soccer 2334 E. Pythian and N. Cedarbrook
Lake Country Soccer operates under the umbrella of the Springfield/Greene County Parks and Recreation Department. The relationship is a public/private partnership with the parks department, meaning the land is owned by the parks department, but Lake Country Soccer leases the land from the parks department. We had been to the fields on Patterson before but didn't know there was a LCS east complex. There are four soccer fields on Cedarbrook Ave.north of Pythian and we drove over here and looked around briefly
Tonight we spent about an hour visiting four facilities in east central Springfield plus the Lakes Country soccer fields, all places we had been before. Now we have just 15 facilities left to visit.
Friday, April 29, 2016
Springfield Parks, Greenways, and Outdoor Spaces
4/27/16
Tonight I went to one park just around the corner from our house.
#83 Living Memorial Park 4405 S. Nature Center Way
This 10 acre park is in south Springfield and is a few blocks from the Springfield Nature Center. It is about a mile from our house and when we say "We're going to the park."', this is the park we mean. I find it a little ironic that we have been visiting parks for almost 6 weeks and have yet to "officially" make it to this park. I guess we were so busy going to other parks that we hadn't got around to it yet. This park has an amphitheater, a nearly 1/2 mile track, a picnic pavilion, playground, grills, and gardens. It doesn't appear that anyone has worked on the gardens yet this year but the perennials are blooming amongst the weeds. I went by myself tonight, but we have both been here many times, walked about 1/2 mile and spent about 15 minutes.
One more park checked off, 19 to go.
4/27/16
Tonight I went to one park just around the corner from our house.
#83 Living Memorial Park 4405 S. Nature Center Way
This 10 acre park is in south Springfield and is a few blocks from the Springfield Nature Center. It is about a mile from our house and when we say "We're going to the park."', this is the park we mean. I find it a little ironic that we have been visiting parks for almost 6 weeks and have yet to "officially" make it to this park. I guess we were so busy going to other parks that we hadn't got around to it yet. This park has an amphitheater, a nearly 1/2 mile track, a picnic pavilion, playground, grills, and gardens. It doesn't appear that anyone has worked on the gardens yet this year but the perennials are blooming amongst the weeds. I went by myself tonight, but we have both been here many times, walked about 1/2 mile and spent about 15 minutes.
One more park checked off, 19 to go.
Tuesday, April 26, 2016
Springfield Parks, Greenways, and Outdoor Spaces
4/26/16
Tonight we visited three parks, a community center, and walked on two trails in southwest Springfield.
#77. Chesterfield Family Center 2511 W. Republic Rd.
This community center and park are on Republic Rd. west of Kansas Expy. I had never been inside before but Charlie had. This facility has an indoor aquatic center with a 100 foot slide, a climbing wall, indoor track, exercise machines, gym and community rooms. We walked in and looked at the pool and gym.
#78. Chesterfield Park 2511 W. Republic Rd.
This 40 acre park has a 1/2 mile track, picnic pavilion, a playground and contains the Chesterfield Family Center. We had been here once before to run the track. We walked around the track and walked just under a mile inside and out spending about thirty minutes.
#79. Hartman Park 4001 S. Hemlock Ave
This 5 acre park is in southwest Springfield just north of Republic Rd. We did not know this small neighborhood park was here. The address is Hemlock Ave. but Hemlock just dead ends at the park and you can't really get into the park from Hemlock Ave. unless you walk through the edge of someone's yard. The park sign is at the corner of Maplewood St. and Aspen Ave. and there also access and the best place to park where El Castille St. dead ends on the north side of the park. There are basketball courts, benches, swings, and a small slide. We walked around for 5 or 6 minutes.
#80. Wilson's Creek Linear Trail/Wilson's Creek Greenway Trail
This paved trail begins at Rutledge-Wilson Farm Park and runs conjointly with South Creek Greenway Trail(#14.) in the segment we walked tonight. We parked at the trailhead at Rountree and Farm Rd. 168 and walked south all the way to Republic Rd. This was the first time we walked this portion of the trail. There is an interesting old cemetery with tombstones from the 1870s to the early 1900s along the trail. We walked back along the Volunteer Nature Trail which is connected to this trail and runs along Wilson's Creek. We spent about 45 minutes and walked 1 1/2 miles total.
#81. Volunteer Nature Trail Republic Rd. and FF
This 1 mile wood chip trail runs along Wilson's Creek and shares the trailhead with South Creek Trail/Wilson's Creek trail. We had never been on this trail before and it was a little hard to find. The Greenways map at the trailhead had the trail labeled but the trail is not labeled on the map on Ozarks Greenways website or listed separately in the trails section but is described under the South Creek Greenway listing. The trail is listed on the Springfield-Greene County Parks website but is not labeled on the parks map. It was a really nice walk along the creek with rushing water and lots of blooming plants.
#82. Wilson's Creek School-Park 4035 W. Weaver Rd.
We had never been here before and there does not seem to be a separate park, just the school grounds. There is a 1/4 mile track, soccer and baseball fields, basketball courts and playground equipment. We walked about 1/3 mile spending about 10 minutes.
We checked six more facilities off the list tonight leaving us an even 20 left to explore. Grouping the remaining parks geographically, it looks like we have five areas left. Tonight we spent about 2 hours and walked about 3 miles.
4/26/16
Tonight we visited three parks, a community center, and walked on two trails in southwest Springfield.
#77. Chesterfield Family Center 2511 W. Republic Rd.
This community center and park are on Republic Rd. west of Kansas Expy. I had never been inside before but Charlie had. This facility has an indoor aquatic center with a 100 foot slide, a climbing wall, indoor track, exercise machines, gym and community rooms. We walked in and looked at the pool and gym.
#78. Chesterfield Park 2511 W. Republic Rd.
This 40 acre park has a 1/2 mile track, picnic pavilion, a playground and contains the Chesterfield Family Center. We had been here once before to run the track. We walked around the track and walked just under a mile inside and out spending about thirty minutes.
#79. Hartman Park 4001 S. Hemlock Ave
This 5 acre park is in southwest Springfield just north of Republic Rd. We did not know this small neighborhood park was here. The address is Hemlock Ave. but Hemlock just dead ends at the park and you can't really get into the park from Hemlock Ave. unless you walk through the edge of someone's yard. The park sign is at the corner of Maplewood St. and Aspen Ave. and there also access and the best place to park where El Castille St. dead ends on the north side of the park. There are basketball courts, benches, swings, and a small slide. We walked around for 5 or 6 minutes.
#80. Wilson's Creek Linear Trail/Wilson's Creek Greenway Trail
This paved trail begins at Rutledge-Wilson Farm Park and runs conjointly with South Creek Greenway Trail(#14.) in the segment we walked tonight. We parked at the trailhead at Rountree and Farm Rd. 168 and walked south all the way to Republic Rd. This was the first time we walked this portion of the trail. There is an interesting old cemetery with tombstones from the 1870s to the early 1900s along the trail. We walked back along the Volunteer Nature Trail which is connected to this trail and runs along Wilson's Creek. We spent about 45 minutes and walked 1 1/2 miles total.
#81. Volunteer Nature Trail Republic Rd. and FF
This 1 mile wood chip trail runs along Wilson's Creek and shares the trailhead with South Creek Trail/Wilson's Creek trail. We had never been on this trail before and it was a little hard to find. The Greenways map at the trailhead had the trail labeled but the trail is not labeled on the map on Ozarks Greenways website or listed separately in the trails section but is described under the South Creek Greenway listing. The trail is listed on the Springfield-Greene County Parks website but is not labeled on the parks map. It was a really nice walk along the creek with rushing water and lots of blooming plants.
#82. Wilson's Creek School-Park 4035 W. Weaver Rd.
We had never been here before and there does not seem to be a separate park, just the school grounds. There is a 1/4 mile track, soccer and baseball fields, basketball courts and playground equipment. We walked about 1/3 mile spending about 10 minutes.
We checked six more facilities off the list tonight leaving us an even 20 left to explore. Grouping the remaining parks geographically, it looks like we have five areas left. Tonight we spent about 2 hours and walked about 3 miles.
Monday, April 25, 2016
Springfield Parks, Greenways, and Outdoor Spaces
4/25/16
Tonight we visited facilities in the Phelps Grove area then stopped at Gillenwater Tennis Complex on the way home.
#74 Phelps Grove Park 950 E Bennett St.
This historic 31 acre park is in center Springfield and features a track, several play structures, horseshoe courts, a rock picnic pavilion, gardens, the McGregor-McGee wading pool, and walled-in Fassnight Creek. This is the site of the Springfield Art Museum and there is a amphitheater near the museum. This is also the site of Perry Tennis Courts and a baseball field. There used to be several fitness stations along the perimeter of the park several years ago but there are just 4 remaining. We have been here several times. We walked around the park and over to the amphitheater then drove to the tennis courts. We spent about an hour and walked 1 1/3 miles.
#75 Xeriscape E. Linwood Circle
The garden is adjacent to the Perry Tennis Courts at Phelps Grove Park and we had never been here before. A xeriscape is landscaping and gardening that reduces or eliminates the need for supplemental water from irrigation and is maintained by local master gardeners. We walked through the gardens for about 10 minutes and walked about 2/10 mile. There were some very interesting and unusual plants in this garden.
#76 Gillenwater Tennis Complex and Park 3635 S. Jefferson Ave.
This facility is across from Kickapoo High school and we had never been here before. There were several tennis courts and a small playground and picnic tables. We walked around the complex for about 5 minutes.
Tonight we spent about an hour and a half and visited 3 facilities, leaving just 26 to visit.
4/25/16
Tonight we visited facilities in the Phelps Grove area then stopped at Gillenwater Tennis Complex on the way home.
#74 Phelps Grove Park 950 E Bennett St.
This historic 31 acre park is in center Springfield and features a track, several play structures, horseshoe courts, a rock picnic pavilion, gardens, the McGregor-McGee wading pool, and walled-in Fassnight Creek. This is the site of the Springfield Art Museum and there is a amphitheater near the museum. This is also the site of Perry Tennis Courts and a baseball field. There used to be several fitness stations along the perimeter of the park several years ago but there are just 4 remaining. We have been here several times. We walked around the park and over to the amphitheater then drove to the tennis courts. We spent about an hour and walked 1 1/3 miles.
#75 Xeriscape E. Linwood Circle
The garden is adjacent to the Perry Tennis Courts at Phelps Grove Park and we had never been here before. A xeriscape is landscaping and gardening that reduces or eliminates the need for supplemental water from irrigation and is maintained by local master gardeners. We walked through the gardens for about 10 minutes and walked about 2/10 mile. There were some very interesting and unusual plants in this garden.
#76 Gillenwater Tennis Complex and Park 3635 S. Jefferson Ave.
This facility is across from Kickapoo High school and we had never been here before. There were several tennis courts and a small playground and picnic tables. We walked around the complex for about 5 minutes.
Tonight we spent about an hour and a half and visited 3 facilities, leaving just 26 to visit.
Springfield Parks, Greenways, and Outdoor Spaces
4/24/16
We had Sunday School bike ride/picnic at Nathanael Greene Park this evening so we went a little early to walk around Close Memorial Park and Drummond Lake. After the picnic, we went to two nearby park facilities.
#67. Botanical Center 2400 S. Scenic Ave.
The Botanical Center is located in Close Memorial Park, adjoining Nathanael Greene Park and features a gift shop, library, classroom, and meeting rooms. We have been here several times before and walked in briefly today on our way to the gardens.
#68. Close Memorial Park 2400 S. Scenic Ave
This park has many different gardens, the Dr. Bill Roston Native Butterfly House, Lake Drummond, playgrounds and additional play pods along the trail around the lake, the Lions Club History Walk and access to the South Creek Greenway Trail. We have been here several times. We walked through many of the gardens and all around the lake. The Butterfly House doesn't open until the second weekend in May but we could see blooming plants and one butterfly flying around. There were lots of people out this afternoon. Included our walk through the Gray Campbell Farmstead and Nathanael Greene Park, we spent 1 3/4 hours and walked 2 1/2 miles.
#69. Gray Campbell Farmstead 2400 S. Scenic Ave.
This is located in Nathanael Greene Park and contains the oldest house in Springfield from 1856. The historic Liberty School from north of Springfield has been relocated here and there is also a log kitchen, a barn, a granary, a cemetery and there are frequently history demonstrations here. We have been here before but this is the first time we visited Liberty School.
#70. Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden 2100 S. Scenic Ave.
This 7.5 acre garden is the oldest attraction at the botanical gardens and features a koi lake, bridges, meditation garden, a tea house, and traditional Japanese garden landscaping. There is a separate (small) fee to enter the Stroll Garden and we didn't go inside today due to time constraints, just walked around outside and looked in but we have been here several times before.
#71. Nathanael Greene Park 2400 S. Scenic Ave.
This 113 acre park contains all the facilities previously mentioned in today's post plus additional gardens, playgrounds, two picnic pavilions and many picnic tables and grills. South Creek runs along the park and this is one of the best park facilities in Springfield.
#14(continued) South Creek Linear Park/South Creek Greenway Trail
We have been on this trail many times, frequently starting here from Nathanael Greene Park and walked the section from McDaniel Park to Campbell Ave. on 3/22/16. Tonight we rode bikes all the way to the west end of the trail then east back to the overpass over Kansas Ave. There are a couple signs just west of Kansas Expy. describing this as part of the Trail of Tears. We rode about 1 1/4 hour and traveled almost 8 miles.
#72. Horton Smith Golf Course 2409 S. Scenic Ave.
This 18 hole golf course was built in 1962 and has a driving range and a pro shop. We have never been here before since we don't golf. We walked down to the pro shop and looked out over the course. There were several golfers on the course.
#73. Edna Norris Park 2056 S. Moore Ave.
We didn't know this park was here and it was extremely hard to locate. We put the address in my phone and it took us to a location on Moore Ave. south of Horton Smith Golf Course but the park is actually north of the golf course. We finally found it on Google maps but there is no access from Moore Ave. Google indicated it was on S. Hilton Ave and that was were we finally found it. Hilton Ave. dead ends at the park and there is no sign and only street parking. It is 2 acres and has a 0.15 track and one tiny slide structure. We spent 5 minutes walking around the track. There was no one else here.
We visited 7 facilities tonight leaving just 29 left to visit. Including the picnic, we spent about 5 hours, visiting two places that were new to us.
4/24/16
We had Sunday School bike ride/picnic at Nathanael Greene Park this evening so we went a little early to walk around Close Memorial Park and Drummond Lake. After the picnic, we went to two nearby park facilities.
#67. Botanical Center 2400 S. Scenic Ave.
The Botanical Center is located in Close Memorial Park, adjoining Nathanael Greene Park and features a gift shop, library, classroom, and meeting rooms. We have been here several times before and walked in briefly today on our way to the gardens.
#68. Close Memorial Park 2400 S. Scenic Ave
This park has many different gardens, the Dr. Bill Roston Native Butterfly House, Lake Drummond, playgrounds and additional play pods along the trail around the lake, the Lions Club History Walk and access to the South Creek Greenway Trail. We have been here several times. We walked through many of the gardens and all around the lake. The Butterfly House doesn't open until the second weekend in May but we could see blooming plants and one butterfly flying around. There were lots of people out this afternoon. Included our walk through the Gray Campbell Farmstead and Nathanael Greene Park, we spent 1 3/4 hours and walked 2 1/2 miles.
#69. Gray Campbell Farmstead 2400 S. Scenic Ave.
This is located in Nathanael Greene Park and contains the oldest house in Springfield from 1856. The historic Liberty School from north of Springfield has been relocated here and there is also a log kitchen, a barn, a granary, a cemetery and there are frequently history demonstrations here. We have been here before but this is the first time we visited Liberty School.
#70. Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden 2100 S. Scenic Ave.
This 7.5 acre garden is the oldest attraction at the botanical gardens and features a koi lake, bridges, meditation garden, a tea house, and traditional Japanese garden landscaping. There is a separate (small) fee to enter the Stroll Garden and we didn't go inside today due to time constraints, just walked around outside and looked in but we have been here several times before.
#71. Nathanael Greene Park 2400 S. Scenic Ave.
This 113 acre park contains all the facilities previously mentioned in today's post plus additional gardens, playgrounds, two picnic pavilions and many picnic tables and grills. South Creek runs along the park and this is one of the best park facilities in Springfield.
#14(continued) South Creek Linear Park/South Creek Greenway Trail
We have been on this trail many times, frequently starting here from Nathanael Greene Park and walked the section from McDaniel Park to Campbell Ave. on 3/22/16. Tonight we rode bikes all the way to the west end of the trail then east back to the overpass over Kansas Ave. There are a couple signs just west of Kansas Expy. describing this as part of the Trail of Tears. We rode about 1 1/4 hour and traveled almost 8 miles.
#72. Horton Smith Golf Course 2409 S. Scenic Ave.
This 18 hole golf course was built in 1962 and has a driving range and a pro shop. We have never been here before since we don't golf. We walked down to the pro shop and looked out over the course. There were several golfers on the course.
#73. Edna Norris Park 2056 S. Moore Ave.
We didn't know this park was here and it was extremely hard to locate. We put the address in my phone and it took us to a location on Moore Ave. south of Horton Smith Golf Course but the park is actually north of the golf course. We finally found it on Google maps but there is no access from Moore Ave. Google indicated it was on S. Hilton Ave and that was were we finally found it. Hilton Ave. dead ends at the park and there is no sign and only street parking. It is 2 acres and has a 0.15 track and one tiny slide structure. We spent 5 minutes walking around the track. There was no one else here.
We visited 7 facilities tonight leaving just 29 left to visit. Including the picnic, we spent about 5 hours, visiting two places that were new to us.
Springfield Parks, Greenways, and Outdoor Spaces
4/23/16
Today, we started out to visit one park north of Springfield but kept going to "one more" since we were in the area and ended up visiting seven parks, four new to us, and walked another segment of a greenway trail.
#60 Lost Hill Park 4705 N. Farm Road 151
This 132 acre park is on a former farm site and is north of Springfield in Greene County. This was another park we didn't know was here and this was our first time to visit. There was previously a red barn near the parking lot that was the back drop for many photos but is now a pile of rubble. There is a concrete silo and another building. A segment of the South Dry Sac Greenway trail runs between here and Truman school. There is a paved path that runs along the water that has many geological features. We saw four small caves, all with signs stating they were closed to protect the bats. There were two natural arches, bluffs and pools in the waterway. We climbed up the bluff to one of the arches. The park trail ends at a gate warning that there is a live firing range beyond the gate but the paved trail continues off into the distance as far as we could see. There wasn't any evidence of anyone shooting, but of course we didn't venture beyond the gate. There is a small playground and porta-potties here. We spent just under an hour and walked about 1 1/4 miles.
#61 Truman School Park 3850 N. Vernon
This 19 acre park is north of Springfield and is adjacent to Truman School and is the east trailhead for a segment of the South Dry Sac Greenway trail. We had never been here before. There are soccer fields and a ball field, a gazebo pavilion and a small playground. There is a sign for the park and the only parking appears to be at the school. We walked around the park and down the greenway trail spending about 30 minutes and walking 6/10 mile.
#42(continued) South Dry Sac Linear Park/South Dry Sac Greenway Trail
This greenway trail is in three unconnected segments north of town and we had previously walked on the segment at Ritter Springs Park and the short segment at Valley Water Mill Park. Today we walked a short way on both ends of this segment.
#62 Dickerson Park Zoo 1400 W. Norton Rd.
This 70 acre zoo is in northwest Springfield, we have been here many times over the years and are members of Friends of the Zoo. This zoo has really evolved over the years we have been visiting it and has really nice habitats, a modern playground, a narrow gauge railroad, a café and gift shop. We were just going to stop by for a short time but ended up visiting almost all of the exhibits including visiting Henry the hippo who is leaving for the Cincinnati Zoo soon. The boardwalk is still closed but signage indicates it will rebuilt this year. We also walked around the park/playground outside the zoo gates. We spent about 1 1/2 hour and walked 1 1/4 miles.
#63 Ed. V. Williams School-Park 2205 W. Kearney
This school park is in northwest Springfield and is listed as five acres with a playground. This is the first time we have been here and this is the second school park we have visited that isn't obviously separate from the school grounds. There is a large mowed area behind the school grounds with soccer goals but the only playground is on the school grounds. There is a sign next to the school parking lot identifying this park. We walked around for about 10 minutes and walked less than 1/4 mile.
#64 Washington Park 1600 N. Summit
This 4 acre north side park was established in 1869 and we didn't know this park was here. There are tennis and basketball courts, a gazebo, picnic tables and grills, and a playground. We walked around for 10 minutes and went 1/4 mile.
#65 Silver Springs Park 1100 N. Hampton
This 13 acre park is near National Ave. and Division St. I had been here once several years ago for a JV cross country meet but Charlie had never been here. There is a zero entry pool with play structure, a playground, tennis, horseshoe and basketball courts, a pavilion, grills, and a baseball field. There is a walking track around the park and a walled in creek runs through the park. Historic Timmons Temple has been relocated here. We spent about 10 minutes and walked 1/3 miles.
#66 Smith Park 1536 E. Division
This park is 13.5 acres and is west of Glenstone Ave. on Division St. near Evangel University. We had been here a few times 40 years ago when Charlie played softball here. There is a ball field, tennis, basketball, and horseshoe courts, a playground and a picnic pavilion and grills. There is also a walled in creek running through this park as well. We walked 1/3 mile spending about 10 minutes.
We spent about 4 hours total today and visited seven parks and walked a new segment of the South Dry Sac Greenway. This leaves us just 36 parks facilities, about 2/3 done.
4/23/16
Today, we started out to visit one park north of Springfield but kept going to "one more" since we were in the area and ended up visiting seven parks, four new to us, and walked another segment of a greenway trail.
#60 Lost Hill Park 4705 N. Farm Road 151
This 132 acre park is on a former farm site and is north of Springfield in Greene County. This was another park we didn't know was here and this was our first time to visit. There was previously a red barn near the parking lot that was the back drop for many photos but is now a pile of rubble. There is a concrete silo and another building. A segment of the South Dry Sac Greenway trail runs between here and Truman school. There is a paved path that runs along the water that has many geological features. We saw four small caves, all with signs stating they were closed to protect the bats. There were two natural arches, bluffs and pools in the waterway. We climbed up the bluff to one of the arches. The park trail ends at a gate warning that there is a live firing range beyond the gate but the paved trail continues off into the distance as far as we could see. There wasn't any evidence of anyone shooting, but of course we didn't venture beyond the gate. There is a small playground and porta-potties here. We spent just under an hour and walked about 1 1/4 miles.
#61 Truman School Park 3850 N. Vernon
This 19 acre park is north of Springfield and is adjacent to Truman School and is the east trailhead for a segment of the South Dry Sac Greenway trail. We had never been here before. There are soccer fields and a ball field, a gazebo pavilion and a small playground. There is a sign for the park and the only parking appears to be at the school. We walked around the park and down the greenway trail spending about 30 minutes and walking 6/10 mile.
#42(continued) South Dry Sac Linear Park/South Dry Sac Greenway Trail
This greenway trail is in three unconnected segments north of town and we had previously walked on the segment at Ritter Springs Park and the short segment at Valley Water Mill Park. Today we walked a short way on both ends of this segment.
#62 Dickerson Park Zoo 1400 W. Norton Rd.
This 70 acre zoo is in northwest Springfield, we have been here many times over the years and are members of Friends of the Zoo. This zoo has really evolved over the years we have been visiting it and has really nice habitats, a modern playground, a narrow gauge railroad, a café and gift shop. We were just going to stop by for a short time but ended up visiting almost all of the exhibits including visiting Henry the hippo who is leaving for the Cincinnati Zoo soon. The boardwalk is still closed but signage indicates it will rebuilt this year. We also walked around the park/playground outside the zoo gates. We spent about 1 1/2 hour and walked 1 1/4 miles.
#63 Ed. V. Williams School-Park 2205 W. Kearney
This school park is in northwest Springfield and is listed as five acres with a playground. This is the first time we have been here and this is the second school park we have visited that isn't obviously separate from the school grounds. There is a large mowed area behind the school grounds with soccer goals but the only playground is on the school grounds. There is a sign next to the school parking lot identifying this park. We walked around for about 10 minutes and walked less than 1/4 mile.
#64 Washington Park 1600 N. Summit
This 4 acre north side park was established in 1869 and we didn't know this park was here. There are tennis and basketball courts, a gazebo, picnic tables and grills, and a playground. We walked around for 10 minutes and went 1/4 mile.
#65 Silver Springs Park 1100 N. Hampton
This 13 acre park is near National Ave. and Division St. I had been here once several years ago for a JV cross country meet but Charlie had never been here. There is a zero entry pool with play structure, a playground, tennis, horseshoe and basketball courts, a pavilion, grills, and a baseball field. There is a walking track around the park and a walled in creek runs through the park. Historic Timmons Temple has been relocated here. We spent about 10 minutes and walked 1/3 miles.
#66 Smith Park 1536 E. Division
This park is 13.5 acres and is west of Glenstone Ave. on Division St. near Evangel University. We had been here a few times 40 years ago when Charlie played softball here. There is a ball field, tennis, basketball, and horseshoe courts, a playground and a picnic pavilion and grills. There is also a walled in creek running through this park as well. We walked 1/3 mile spending about 10 minutes.
We spent about 4 hours total today and visited seven parks and walked a new segment of the South Dry Sac Greenway. This leaves us just 36 parks facilities, about 2/3 done.
Saturday, April 23, 2016
Springfield Parks, Greenways, and Outdoor Spaces
4/21/16
This morning I met a group of friends at Sequiota Park, a park I visited on 4/4/16, and walked on the Galloway Creek Greenway trail.
#44(continued) Galloway Linear Park/Galloway Creek Greenway Trail
We have been on this trail several times and today I walked from Sequiota Park north past Battlefield walking just under three miles. With the portion we walked on 4/4/16, I have now walked from Sequiota Park to Pershing Middle School since we started our parks journey.
4/21/16
This morning I met a group of friends at Sequiota Park, a park I visited on 4/4/16, and walked on the Galloway Creek Greenway trail.
#44(continued) Galloway Linear Park/Galloway Creek Greenway Trail
We have been on this trail several times and today I walked from Sequiota Park north past Battlefield walking just under three miles. With the portion we walked on 4/4/16, I have now walked from Sequiota Park to Pershing Middle School since we started our parks journey.
Monday, April 18, 2016
Springfield Parks, Greenways, and Outdoor Spaces
4/17/16
Tonight we stopped by two elementary school parks on the east side of Springfield. We had visited both schools before but this was the first time we had really walked around the grounds.
#58 Sequiota School-Park 3414 S. Mentor
Several of the Springfield Public Schools have a separate park adjacent to the school grounds and have a large concrete sign with the name of the park and school and stating there is a partnership between Springfield Public Schools and Springfield-Greene County Park Board but not all of the Springfield Public elementary/middle schools are listed as being a park facility. We have been to several of these school parks and Sequiota is the first one we have visited that is listed as a park facility that does not have a clearly separate park area. The park sign is right in front of the school and the green park area is shown on the parks facility map as being behind the school along Sulgrove Ave. which is essentially the school playground. The park is listed as being 8 acres. The only parking is off Mentor Ave. at the school but you can also enter the grounds from Sulgrove Ave. There is a Mo. Conservation Department sign indicating a natural area on the north side of the school. The playground has a track, soccer and ball fields, basketball courts and several play structures and swings. We have been to the school before but this was the first time we had walked around the grounds. We walked around the school and the playground spending about 20 minutes and walking 6/10 mile.
#59 Eugene Field Park 2120 Barataria
This 5 acre park is behind Eugene Field Elementary. There wasn't any sign identifying the park and I didn't see any access from Barataria St. We parked in the school parking lot on Luster Ave and walked through the school grounds back to the park. There is also access to the park from Cambridge but no specific parking. There were several play structures and swings on the park grounds and a track, soccer and ball fields, basketball courts and additional play structures on the adjacent school grounds. There is also extensive storm water control with a retention basin and ditches. Our youngest child went to school at Field so we have been here multiple times but I don't specifically remember walking back to the park before. We spent 20 minutes and walked 6/10 mile.
We spent about 45 minutes to visit the two east side school parks this evening which leaves us 43 facilities still to visit.
4/17/16
Tonight we stopped by two elementary school parks on the east side of Springfield. We had visited both schools before but this was the first time we had really walked around the grounds.
#58 Sequiota School-Park 3414 S. Mentor
Several of the Springfield Public Schools have a separate park adjacent to the school grounds and have a large concrete sign with the name of the park and school and stating there is a partnership between Springfield Public Schools and Springfield-Greene County Park Board but not all of the Springfield Public elementary/middle schools are listed as being a park facility. We have been to several of these school parks and Sequiota is the first one we have visited that is listed as a park facility that does not have a clearly separate park area. The park sign is right in front of the school and the green park area is shown on the parks facility map as being behind the school along Sulgrove Ave. which is essentially the school playground. The park is listed as being 8 acres. The only parking is off Mentor Ave. at the school but you can also enter the grounds from Sulgrove Ave. There is a Mo. Conservation Department sign indicating a natural area on the north side of the school. The playground has a track, soccer and ball fields, basketball courts and several play structures and swings. We have been to the school before but this was the first time we had walked around the grounds. We walked around the school and the playground spending about 20 minutes and walking 6/10 mile.
#59 Eugene Field Park 2120 Barataria
This 5 acre park is behind Eugene Field Elementary. There wasn't any sign identifying the park and I didn't see any access from Barataria St. We parked in the school parking lot on Luster Ave and walked through the school grounds back to the park. There is also access to the park from Cambridge but no specific parking. There were several play structures and swings on the park grounds and a track, soccer and ball fields, basketball courts and additional play structures on the adjacent school grounds. There is also extensive storm water control with a retention basin and ditches. Our youngest child went to school at Field so we have been here multiple times but I don't specifically remember walking back to the park before. We spent 20 minutes and walked 6/10 mile.
We spent about 45 minutes to visit the two east side school parks this evening which leaves us 43 facilities still to visit.
Tuesday, April 12, 2016
Springfield Parks, Greenways, and Outdoor Spaces
4/10/16
This evening we visited four parks, walked on two trails, and checked out the Springfield Skate Park and Spokes BMX Raceway. We had been to about half of these locations before.
#51 Fassnight Park S. Campbell and Meadowmere
This historic 28 acre park is on Campbell Ave. south of Grand St. There is fabulous historic rock work in the pool house/pavilion and walls/bridges.We have been here many times before for picnics, scout day camps, softball games, swimming and just exploring, but not for several years. . The creek has been improved since we were last here and there is now a greenway trail and handball courts. There is also the pool, playground, ball field, basketball courts, picnic tables and grills. We walked around the park, down the trail and toured the Skate Park spending 45 minutes and walking 1 1/3 miles.
#52 Fassnight Pool S.Campbell and Meadowmere
This is the city pool we always used when our children were young, primarily since our children were spread out in age, it worked well for both young and older children with the "really shallow " shallow end. It is not much different from when we were last here. It now has a tall tube slide and toddler slide and a couple of water play features next to the wading pool. It has not opened for the season obviously but we walked around the fence to look at it.
#53 Springfield Skate Park 945 W. Meadowmere St.
This skate park is west of Fassnight Park just north of JFK stadium. It has a 13,500 square foot two-story indoor facility and a 25,000 square foot outdoor facility for bicycles, skate boards, scooters and roller blades.. We have never been here before and one of the staff took us on a brief tour. They have open sessions and classes. and a small pro shop/concession stand. There is a charge for sessions and with the yearly membership the sessions are half price. There were several people using the facilities on bicycles, scooters, and skate boards. It seems like a very nice facility, the staff was very friendly and welcoming.
Fassnight Creek Greenway
This is a 1.2 mile trail that currently passes through Fassnight Park, and goes under Campbell, Bennett and Jefferson avenues, and connects by road to Phelps Grove Park. It will eventually be extended west to Jordan Creek and Wilson's Creek greenways. This trail was developed since the last time we were here so we have never officially been on this trail but have walked along the creek and in this area before. We walked the trail through Fassnight Park and down to the skate park and back.
#54 Loren Street Park 2155 W. Catalpa This 6.5 acre park is west of Kansas Expy. and is the home of Cruse Dog Park and the trailhead/parking for a 1 mile section of Jordan Creek Greenway. We have never been here before and we didn't see anything here other than the dog park. There is no parking on Catalpa St., the entrance to the parking area is off of Grand St, just west of Kansas Expy behind Walgreens. We walked south down the trail past the dog park and back spending 15 minutes and walking about 1/2 mile.
#55 Cruse Dog Park 2100 W. Catalpa
See the Loren Street Park entry above for location. I knew there was a dog park but didn't have any idea where it was. This is a six-acre, fenced facility for dogs to go off-leash to run, play, socialize and exercise and is open from sunrise to sunset. There is a 4 1/2-acre section for large dogs and a one and a half-acre section for small dogs. The park is for registered users only but there are day passes available. Annual Registration Fee: $25.00 per dog (maximum of 2 dogs per person)
Daily Pass available for $10 (per dog), limit of 2 dogs per owner + $10 deposit. Dog owners must provide a current Certificate of Vaccination for Rabies, rabies tag number
and pet medical records from a licensed veterinarian
documenting current vaccinations for PARVO, DISTEMPER and BORDETELLA. There were several dogs in the large dog area tonight and they all seemed to be having a great time, running and playing. There were no small dogs here tonight.
#27(continued from 4/2) Jordan Creek Greenway.
We walked on this trail in Jordan Valley Park on 4/2 and this is separate 1 mile segment that runs from Loren Street Park south to James Ewing Sports Complex. We walked past the dog park and across Catalpa for a short way tonight and also briefly walked on the trail at James Ewing. We had never been on this segment of the trail before.
#56 James Ewing Sports Complex and Park 1400 S Scenic
This 86 acre park is south of Bennett St between Kansas Expy and Scenic Ave. We have been here several times before for softball games. There are multiple ball fields, tennis courts, picnic tables, grills, a playground, a segment of Jordan Creek Greenway and the BMX raceway. We spent about 15 min and walked 1/2 mile.
Spokes BMX Raceway Scenic and Bennett
We have seen this facility before from a distance but walked over to the fence tonight. According to the website it opens at 6 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays April-October. There are both wooden and dirt ramps.
#57 Rountree Park 2975 W. Bennett
I had no idea this 2 acre park existed. It is just west of James Ewing Park on Bennett St. It is referred to as Historic Rountree Park on some websites and as Rountree Cemetery other places and it appears to be an old home site or church yard. There is a walled cemetery, old wooden fences, brick paths, and a foundation. There are a few headstones of Rountrees left in the cemetery. We spent just 5 or 6 minutes walking around.
We spent a couple hours exploring these facilities, some of them new to us. We now have just 45 parks/facilities left to visit.
4/10/16
This evening we visited four parks, walked on two trails, and checked out the Springfield Skate Park and Spokes BMX Raceway. We had been to about half of these locations before.
#51 Fassnight Park S. Campbell and Meadowmere
This historic 28 acre park is on Campbell Ave. south of Grand St. There is fabulous historic rock work in the pool house/pavilion and walls/bridges.We have been here many times before for picnics, scout day camps, softball games, swimming and just exploring, but not for several years. . The creek has been improved since we were last here and there is now a greenway trail and handball courts. There is also the pool, playground, ball field, basketball courts, picnic tables and grills. We walked around the park, down the trail and toured the Skate Park spending 45 minutes and walking 1 1/3 miles.
#52 Fassnight Pool S.Campbell and Meadowmere
This is the city pool we always used when our children were young, primarily since our children were spread out in age, it worked well for both young and older children with the "really shallow " shallow end. It is not much different from when we were last here. It now has a tall tube slide and toddler slide and a couple of water play features next to the wading pool. It has not opened for the season obviously but we walked around the fence to look at it.
#53 Springfield Skate Park 945 W. Meadowmere St.
This skate park is west of Fassnight Park just north of JFK stadium. It has a 13,500 square foot two-story indoor facility and a 25,000 square foot outdoor facility for bicycles, skate boards, scooters and roller blades.. We have never been here before and one of the staff took us on a brief tour. They have open sessions and classes. and a small pro shop/concession stand. There is a charge for sessions and with the yearly membership the sessions are half price. There were several people using the facilities on bicycles, scooters, and skate boards. It seems like a very nice facility, the staff was very friendly and welcoming.
Fassnight Creek Greenway
This is a 1.2 mile trail that currently passes through Fassnight Park, and goes under Campbell, Bennett and Jefferson avenues, and connects by road to Phelps Grove Park. It will eventually be extended west to Jordan Creek and Wilson's Creek greenways. This trail was developed since the last time we were here so we have never officially been on this trail but have walked along the creek and in this area before. We walked the trail through Fassnight Park and down to the skate park and back.
#54 Loren Street Park 2155 W. Catalpa This 6.5 acre park is west of Kansas Expy. and is the home of Cruse Dog Park and the trailhead/parking for a 1 mile section of Jordan Creek Greenway. We have never been here before and we didn't see anything here other than the dog park. There is no parking on Catalpa St., the entrance to the parking area is off of Grand St, just west of Kansas Expy behind Walgreens. We walked south down the trail past the dog park and back spending 15 minutes and walking about 1/2 mile.
#55 Cruse Dog Park 2100 W. Catalpa
See the Loren Street Park entry above for location. I knew there was a dog park but didn't have any idea where it was. This is a six-acre, fenced facility for dogs to go off-leash to run, play, socialize and exercise and is open from sunrise to sunset. There is a 4 1/2-acre section for large dogs and a one and a half-acre section for small dogs. The park is for registered users only but there are day passes available. Annual Registration Fee: $25.00 per dog (maximum of 2 dogs per person)
Daily Pass available for $10 (per dog), limit of 2 dogs per owner + $10 deposit. Dog owners must provide a current Certificate of Vaccination for Rabies, rabies tag number
and pet medical records from a licensed veterinarian
documenting current vaccinations for PARVO, DISTEMPER and BORDETELLA. There were several dogs in the large dog area tonight and they all seemed to be having a great time, running and playing. There were no small dogs here tonight.
#27(continued from 4/2) Jordan Creek Greenway.
We walked on this trail in Jordan Valley Park on 4/2 and this is separate 1 mile segment that runs from Loren Street Park south to James Ewing Sports Complex. We walked past the dog park and across Catalpa for a short way tonight and also briefly walked on the trail at James Ewing. We had never been on this segment of the trail before.
#56 James Ewing Sports Complex and Park 1400 S Scenic
This 86 acre park is south of Bennett St between Kansas Expy and Scenic Ave. We have been here several times before for softball games. There are multiple ball fields, tennis courts, picnic tables, grills, a playground, a segment of Jordan Creek Greenway and the BMX raceway. We spent about 15 min and walked 1/2 mile.
Spokes BMX Raceway Scenic and Bennett
We have seen this facility before from a distance but walked over to the fence tonight. According to the website it opens at 6 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays April-October. There are both wooden and dirt ramps.
#57 Rountree Park 2975 W. Bennett
I had no idea this 2 acre park existed. It is just west of James Ewing Park on Bennett St. It is referred to as Historic Rountree Park on some websites and as Rountree Cemetery other places and it appears to be an old home site or church yard. There is a walled cemetery, old wooden fences, brick paths, and a foundation. There are a few headstones of Rountrees left in the cemetery. We spent just 5 or 6 minutes walking around.
We spent a couple hours exploring these facilities, some of them new to us. We now have just 45 parks/facilities left to visit.
Monday, April 11, 2016
Springfield Parks, Greenways, and Outdoor Spaces
4/9/16
Today we explored the Rivercut area and visited the Missouri Institute of Natural Science at River Bluff Cave. We marked four more facilities off the list and walked a couple of trails. We had never been to any of these places before. All of these facilities are just southwest of Springfield near the intersection of Farms Rds 141 and 190.
#47 River Bluff Cave House/Missouri Institute of Natural Science 2327 W. Farm Road 190
River Bluff Cave House is the name on the list of Springfield-Greene County Park facilities and the Missouri Institute of Natural Science has the same address so I'm not sure if these two facilities are the same. There is another, smaller building at the site which had a couple of chunks of rock and excavating tools outside so that could be the River Bluff Cave House possibly. The MoNatSci technically closed an hour before we got there but the volunteers were rearranging things with the doors open and invited us in. The cave was discovered in 2001 and is not open to the public and is the oldest Ice Age cave in North America. There were multiple cases of rocks/minerals/fossils, and some large fossils on display. The volunteers were very nice and informative. The hours are 8:30-4:30 Mon-Fri and 10-2 Sat. There was a nature trail on the grounds that led up to the top of the bluff. There were steps down to some huge boulders along Farm Rd. 141, benches, and several trees had identity markers. There was also a clearing with a couple of fire pits(for day camps?) Just below the museum was a trailhead for the Ward Branch Greenway. Including the time in the museum and walking both trails, we spent about 45 minutes and walked 1 1/4 miles.
#11(continued from 3/21)Ward Branch Linear Park/Ward Branch Greenway
We walked one section of this trail on 3/21 and this is a different, unconnected section. We have never been on this section before. This 2 mile section runs from Missouri Institute of Natural Science/Rivercut Park to Wanda Gray Elementary School. We walked about 1/2 mile along the creek which was very pretty with running water, tiny fish, and sycamore trees. This section was much more visually appealing than the section near Cox Hospital.
#48 Rivercut Park 2320 W. Farm Road 190
This park has no sign and its only listed amenity is a natural area. The best we could tell(from the GPS address), this is a green space along Farm Rd. 190 between where Ward Branch Creek joins the James River and Rivercut golf course. We parked at the golf course and walked down to the bridge. The area is not very exciting, just grass and a tree line, but the river is pretty. At the entrance to the Rivercut Community there is a really pretty waterfall. Manmade, I'm sure, but it just as pretty as many of the natural ones we've hiked to. Including the walk around the golf course area, we spent just under an hour and walked 1 1/2 miles.
#49 Rivercut Golf Course 2850 W. Farm Rd 190
The grounds at the entrance were very nice and there were signs indicating the course had been named outstanding municipal golf course. We walked up to the clubhouse and looked out over the course. There is a driving range and a pro shop.
#50 Connie Morris Golf Learning Center 2846 W. Farm Rd. 190
This is right next Rivercut Golf Course and is home to the Rick Grayson Golf School with clinics and lessons. There is a children's play structure shaped like a golf bag and called The Clubhouse here.
Davis House Archery Range 5780 S. Farm Rd. 141
This facility is right around the corner from the Missouri Institute of Natural Science but there was a chain across the drive so we couldn't see anything. The description states there are indoor and outdoor archery programs and that archery is one of the four Community Olympic Development Programs in the Springfield-Greene County Park system. The hours are listed as 2-7 Mon-Fri.
Rex P. Krieder Park
This park is labeled on the Springfield-Greene County Park facility map right next to Rivercut and is listed as a future park without any address in the Jan-April 2016 Park Bench. Since I don't know exactly where it is, I don't know if we "visited" it but we walked around in the area described. I found a reference to the park being dedicated in 2007 and it was listed in proposed planned budget for 2011-2016 for development as a trailhead, linear park and additional amenities but is still listed as a future park.
So we spent a couple of hours exploring this new-to-us area and are now just one facility short of being halfway through the list of 102 park facilities.
4/9/16
Today we explored the Rivercut area and visited the Missouri Institute of Natural Science at River Bluff Cave. We marked four more facilities off the list and walked a couple of trails. We had never been to any of these places before. All of these facilities are just southwest of Springfield near the intersection of Farms Rds 141 and 190.
#47 River Bluff Cave House/Missouri Institute of Natural Science 2327 W. Farm Road 190
River Bluff Cave House is the name on the list of Springfield-Greene County Park facilities and the Missouri Institute of Natural Science has the same address so I'm not sure if these two facilities are the same. There is another, smaller building at the site which had a couple of chunks of rock and excavating tools outside so that could be the River Bluff Cave House possibly. The MoNatSci technically closed an hour before we got there but the volunteers were rearranging things with the doors open and invited us in. The cave was discovered in 2001 and is not open to the public and is the oldest Ice Age cave in North America. There were multiple cases of rocks/minerals/fossils, and some large fossils on display. The volunteers were very nice and informative. The hours are 8:30-4:30 Mon-Fri and 10-2 Sat. There was a nature trail on the grounds that led up to the top of the bluff. There were steps down to some huge boulders along Farm Rd. 141, benches, and several trees had identity markers. There was also a clearing with a couple of fire pits(for day camps?) Just below the museum was a trailhead for the Ward Branch Greenway. Including the time in the museum and walking both trails, we spent about 45 minutes and walked 1 1/4 miles.
#11(continued from 3/21)Ward Branch Linear Park/Ward Branch Greenway
We walked one section of this trail on 3/21 and this is a different, unconnected section. We have never been on this section before. This 2 mile section runs from Missouri Institute of Natural Science/Rivercut Park to Wanda Gray Elementary School. We walked about 1/2 mile along the creek which was very pretty with running water, tiny fish, and sycamore trees. This section was much more visually appealing than the section near Cox Hospital.
#48 Rivercut Park 2320 W. Farm Road 190
This park has no sign and its only listed amenity is a natural area. The best we could tell(from the GPS address), this is a green space along Farm Rd. 190 between where Ward Branch Creek joins the James River and Rivercut golf course. We parked at the golf course and walked down to the bridge. The area is not very exciting, just grass and a tree line, but the river is pretty. At the entrance to the Rivercut Community there is a really pretty waterfall. Manmade, I'm sure, but it just as pretty as many of the natural ones we've hiked to. Including the walk around the golf course area, we spent just under an hour and walked 1 1/2 miles.
#49 Rivercut Golf Course 2850 W. Farm Rd 190
The grounds at the entrance were very nice and there were signs indicating the course had been named outstanding municipal golf course. We walked up to the clubhouse and looked out over the course. There is a driving range and a pro shop.
#50 Connie Morris Golf Learning Center 2846 W. Farm Rd. 190
This is right next Rivercut Golf Course and is home to the Rick Grayson Golf School with clinics and lessons. There is a children's play structure shaped like a golf bag and called The Clubhouse here.
Davis House Archery Range 5780 S. Farm Rd. 141
This facility is right around the corner from the Missouri Institute of Natural Science but there was a chain across the drive so we couldn't see anything. The description states there are indoor and outdoor archery programs and that archery is one of the four Community Olympic Development Programs in the Springfield-Greene County Park system. The hours are listed as 2-7 Mon-Fri.
Rex P. Krieder Park
This park is labeled on the Springfield-Greene County Park facility map right next to Rivercut and is listed as a future park without any address in the Jan-April 2016 Park Bench. Since I don't know exactly where it is, I don't know if we "visited" it but we walked around in the area described. I found a reference to the park being dedicated in 2007 and it was listed in proposed planned budget for 2011-2016 for development as a trailhead, linear park and additional amenities but is still listed as a future park.
So we spent a couple of hours exploring this new-to-us area and are now just one facility short of being halfway through the list of 102 park facilities.
Tuesday, April 5, 2016
Springfield Parks, Greenways, and Outdoor Spaces
4/5/16
Today we visited one tiny Springfield-Greene County park and walked around Springfield National Cemetery/Hazelwood Cemetery.
#46. Kirkwood Park 2201 E. Seminole
This three acre park is south of Glenstone Ave. on Seminole St. We have been here once before. There is no sign but I think there used to be one and there are couple of gravel areas to park. There is a baseball/softball area, a small picnic pavilion and a playground with several play structures. There is a tiny fenced area with a keep-out sign-a sink-hole, maybe? right next to the playground and grass ditch through the middle of the park making the area rather rough. We just spent a few minutes walking through the park and there was no one else here.
Springfield National Cemetery 1702 E. Seminole/Hazelwood Cemetery 1642 E. Seminole
We had never been here before but have driven by many times. The National Cemetery has headstones dating from the Civil War. Many of the men who died at the Battle of Wilson's Creek are buried here. There is a Confederate area with a monument and information on a sign stated most of the Confederate soldiers are unknown soldiers. We saw several unknown soldier headstones in both areas. There many other monuments/memorials throughout the cemetery honoring different wars/battles. Hazelwood Cemetery has graves of both historic and modern persons. I recognized the names of many of Springfield's early settlers. It was interesting looking at the many styles of headstones. I noticed a small, separately fenced area west of the National Cemetery that we did not walk over to. I looked on Hazelwood Cemetery's website when we got home and discovered that it was the Temple Israel Cemetery. The National Cemetery is 22 acres, Hazelwood Cemetery is 60 acres and Temple Israel Cemetery is 2 acres. We spent just under an hour and walked 1 1/2 miles.
We marked just one park off the list tonight but explored another interesting outdoor space. I actually could have spent hours exploring the cemeteries but my walking companions weren't as interested!!
4/5/16
Today we visited one tiny Springfield-Greene County park and walked around Springfield National Cemetery/Hazelwood Cemetery.
#46. Kirkwood Park 2201 E. Seminole
This three acre park is south of Glenstone Ave. on Seminole St. We have been here once before. There is no sign but I think there used to be one and there are couple of gravel areas to park. There is a baseball/softball area, a small picnic pavilion and a playground with several play structures. There is a tiny fenced area with a keep-out sign-a sink-hole, maybe? right next to the playground and grass ditch through the middle of the park making the area rather rough. We just spent a few minutes walking through the park and there was no one else here.
Springfield National Cemetery 1702 E. Seminole/Hazelwood Cemetery 1642 E. Seminole
We had never been here before but have driven by many times. The National Cemetery has headstones dating from the Civil War. Many of the men who died at the Battle of Wilson's Creek are buried here. There is a Confederate area with a monument and information on a sign stated most of the Confederate soldiers are unknown soldiers. We saw several unknown soldier headstones in both areas. There many other monuments/memorials throughout the cemetery honoring different wars/battles. Hazelwood Cemetery has graves of both historic and modern persons. I recognized the names of many of Springfield's early settlers. It was interesting looking at the many styles of headstones. I noticed a small, separately fenced area west of the National Cemetery that we did not walk over to. I looked on Hazelwood Cemetery's website when we got home and discovered that it was the Temple Israel Cemetery. The National Cemetery is 22 acres, Hazelwood Cemetery is 60 acres and Temple Israel Cemetery is 2 acres. We spent just under an hour and walked 1 1/2 miles.
We marked just one park off the list tonight but explored another interesting outdoor space. I actually could have spent hours exploring the cemeteries but my walking companions weren't as interested!!
Monday, April 4, 2016
Springfield Parks, Greenways, and Outdoor Spaces
4/4/16
Today I visited parks twice, this afternoon with my mother and this evening with Charlie. Both were places we had visited before.
#43. Sequiota Park 3500 S. Lone Pine
This historic 28 acre park is on Lone Pine Ave. south of Battlefield Rd. and features a lake and a cave. The cave was a former show cave with guided boat tours and at one time the park was a state park and fish hatchery. The cave is open for public boat tours a few times a year based on when the bats are there. We have never been in the cave. The tours were canceled a couple of weeks ago on the weekend we were planning to go due to early migration of the gray bats. This park is close to our house and is our second most frequently visited Springfield-Greene County Park. This park is also parking and access for the Galloway Creek Greenway Trail. Mom and I walked around the lake spending 25 minutes and walked 6/10 mile. There were a lot of people here today and lots of waterfowl on the lake.
#44. Galloway Linear Park/Galloway Creek Greenway Pershing Middle School south to James River
We have been on this 5.5 mile trail in southeast Springfield many times and have covered all 5.5 miles but this is the section we visit the least. It has also been a while since we've been on this part of the trail but have recently been on the section south of Sequiota Park. We started at Battlefield Rd. and walked north just past Southern Hills Blvd then back. We started a little late so there were just a few other people on the trail. We spent 45 minutes and walked 1 3/4 miles.
#45 Lone Pine Park South of Lone Pine Ave. and north of Battlefield Rd.--This is the description on the website but the park is more accurately east of south Lone Pine Ave.
This 51 acre park is the green space along the Galloway Creek Greenway trail, mostly on the west side. We have walked through here before, as I commented above, but I never knew this was actually a park so this may be a new designation. I didn't see any signs identifying it and the parking is the same as for the trail. This is primarily natural but there were a few areas mowed. This is on the list of 102 Springfield-Greene County Parks facilities on the website and is labeled on map online but not labeled on the map in the current Park Bench or listed on the facilities list in the publication.
We are steadily making our way through the list of park facilities and are getting close to half finished with 57 facilities left to visit.
4/4/16
Today I visited parks twice, this afternoon with my mother and this evening with Charlie. Both were places we had visited before.
#43. Sequiota Park 3500 S. Lone Pine
This historic 28 acre park is on Lone Pine Ave. south of Battlefield Rd. and features a lake and a cave. The cave was a former show cave with guided boat tours and at one time the park was a state park and fish hatchery. The cave is open for public boat tours a few times a year based on when the bats are there. We have never been in the cave. The tours were canceled a couple of weeks ago on the weekend we were planning to go due to early migration of the gray bats. This park is close to our house and is our second most frequently visited Springfield-Greene County Park. This park is also parking and access for the Galloway Creek Greenway Trail. Mom and I walked around the lake spending 25 minutes and walked 6/10 mile. There were a lot of people here today and lots of waterfowl on the lake.
#44. Galloway Linear Park/Galloway Creek Greenway Pershing Middle School south to James River
We have been on this 5.5 mile trail in southeast Springfield many times and have covered all 5.5 miles but this is the section we visit the least. It has also been a while since we've been on this part of the trail but have recently been on the section south of Sequiota Park. We started at Battlefield Rd. and walked north just past Southern Hills Blvd then back. We started a little late so there were just a few other people on the trail. We spent 45 minutes and walked 1 3/4 miles.
#45 Lone Pine Park South of Lone Pine Ave. and north of Battlefield Rd.--This is the description on the website but the park is more accurately east of south Lone Pine Ave.
This 51 acre park is the green space along the Galloway Creek Greenway trail, mostly on the west side. We have walked through here before, as I commented above, but I never knew this was actually a park so this may be a new designation. I didn't see any signs identifying it and the parking is the same as for the trail. This is primarily natural but there were a few areas mowed. This is on the list of 102 Springfield-Greene County Parks facilities on the website and is labeled on map online but not labeled on the map in the current Park Bench or listed on the facilities list in the publication.
We are steadily making our way through the list of park facilities and are getting close to half finished with 57 facilities left to visit.
Springfield Parks, Greenways, and Outdoor Spaces
4/3/16
We took our daughter and her dalmatian out on this great afternoon to explore two parks and two trails on the north and west sides of Springfield but only two of them are on the list of 102 Springfield-Greene County Park facilities. All four were new to us.
#41. Ritter Springs Park 3683 W. Farm Rd. 92
This large, 246 acre park is north of Springfield off Highway 13. We knew this park was here and always planned to visit but never made it out here before today. It was just beautiful today and there were many other people here. One description I read online called this "Springfield's hidden jewel" and that is an accurate description. There is a playground, archery range, a pavilion, trails, and a lake. The lake was the best feature. We sat at a table by the lake and walked out on a little dock. We saw one small cave but did not go in because there was a sign warning not to enter because of risk of endangering the bats. The Little Sac River and Spring Branch Creek run along the edge of this park. The South Dry Sac trail links this park with the Sac River Mountain Bike Park and the David C. Murray Park/Trailhead. We walked around the park and on the South Dry Sac Trail. We walked 3 miles and spent just under 2 hours here.
#42. South Dry Sac Linear Park/South Dry Sac Greenway Ritter Springs Park/Truman School
According to the Ozark Greenways website, this trail is in three segments with plans, of course, to eventually connect. I had not heard of this trail and thought this was our first time to walk on it, but I saw on the map that there is a 1/4 mile segment of this trail at Valley Water Mill Park and we did walk down to the river on this trail when we were there on 3/26. This segment is completely paved. This afternoon we started at Ritter Springs and walked east almost to Highway 13 then back and then drove over to David C. Murray Park to the east trailhead of this segment and walked out and back west to where we stopped earlier.
David C. Murray Park 4800 N. Farm Rd. 141
This new park is not on the list of 102 Springfield-Greene County Parks facilities that I printed from the website but is shown on the map and listed as a future park site on the facilities side of the map on the website. Its address is given on the facilities list in the current(Jan-April 2016) Park Bench publication. It is primarily the east trailhead for the Dry Sac River trail. There is a large cleared area and dozens of small trees have been planted here. There is only a small sign at the entrance to the parking lot identifying this park and trailhead. We walked 9/10 miles in 30 minutes.
Trail of Tears Golden Ave. and Republic Rd.
This was the first time we had been on this natural trail in west Springfield. This is the description on the Ozarks Greenways website: The National Historic Trail of Tears route runs through Springfield and a portion of the route near Republic Road and Golden Avenue has been preserved with a greenway trail. This trail section is currently under development and planned to extend north, including a future trailhead parking area. There is no parking here, we parked on Riverside St. and walked across Golden Ave to the trailhead. There is a plaque at the trailhead with the Trail of Tears history in Springfield. We spent about 15 minutes and walked about 1/2 mile and there was not anyone else around.
We spent a little under five hours and visited all places that were new to us. I was able to bring my "To Visit" list down to 60 and explored the Trail of Tears.
4/3/16
We took our daughter and her dalmatian out on this great afternoon to explore two parks and two trails on the north and west sides of Springfield but only two of them are on the list of 102 Springfield-Greene County Park facilities. All four were new to us.
#41. Ritter Springs Park 3683 W. Farm Rd. 92
This large, 246 acre park is north of Springfield off Highway 13. We knew this park was here and always planned to visit but never made it out here before today. It was just beautiful today and there were many other people here. One description I read online called this "Springfield's hidden jewel" and that is an accurate description. There is a playground, archery range, a pavilion, trails, and a lake. The lake was the best feature. We sat at a table by the lake and walked out on a little dock. We saw one small cave but did not go in because there was a sign warning not to enter because of risk of endangering the bats. The Little Sac River and Spring Branch Creek run along the edge of this park. The South Dry Sac trail links this park with the Sac River Mountain Bike Park and the David C. Murray Park/Trailhead. We walked around the park and on the South Dry Sac Trail. We walked 3 miles and spent just under 2 hours here.
#42. South Dry Sac Linear Park/South Dry Sac Greenway Ritter Springs Park/Truman School
According to the Ozark Greenways website, this trail is in three segments with plans, of course, to eventually connect. I had not heard of this trail and thought this was our first time to walk on it, but I saw on the map that there is a 1/4 mile segment of this trail at Valley Water Mill Park and we did walk down to the river on this trail when we were there on 3/26. This segment is completely paved. This afternoon we started at Ritter Springs and walked east almost to Highway 13 then back and then drove over to David C. Murray Park to the east trailhead of this segment and walked out and back west to where we stopped earlier.
David C. Murray Park 4800 N. Farm Rd. 141
This new park is not on the list of 102 Springfield-Greene County Parks facilities that I printed from the website but is shown on the map and listed as a future park site on the facilities side of the map on the website. Its address is given on the facilities list in the current(Jan-April 2016) Park Bench publication. It is primarily the east trailhead for the Dry Sac River trail. There is a large cleared area and dozens of small trees have been planted here. There is only a small sign at the entrance to the parking lot identifying this park and trailhead. We walked 9/10 miles in 30 minutes.
Trail of Tears Golden Ave. and Republic Rd.
This was the first time we had been on this natural trail in west Springfield. This is the description on the Ozarks Greenways website: The National Historic Trail of Tears route runs through Springfield and a portion of the route near Republic Road and Golden Avenue has been preserved with a greenway trail. This trail section is currently under development and planned to extend north, including a future trailhead parking area. There is no parking here, we parked on Riverside St. and walked across Golden Ave to the trailhead. There is a plaque at the trailhead with the Trail of Tears history in Springfield. We spent about 15 minutes and walked about 1/2 mile and there was not anyone else around.
We spent a little under five hours and visited all places that were new to us. I was able to bring my "To Visit" list down to 60 and explored the Trail of Tears.
Sunday, April 3, 2016
Springfield Parks, Greenways, and Outdoor Spaces
4/2/16
We had a long day today and ended up visiting 15 Springfield-Greene County Park facilities today on the north and west sides of Springfield. We only started out planning to go to Jordan Valley Park and Doling Park but ended up stopping at seven more parks while driving home from Doling Park.
#26. Jordan Valley Park 635 E. Trafficway
This downtown park is on 12 acres and has lots to offer. This is the site of the Mediacom Ice Park, the Creamery Arts Center and a one mile section of the Jordan Creek Trail. There are picnic tables, a large kinetic robot structure, a Springfield Wagon play structure, an amphitheater and a series of fountains that kids can play in seasonally. The amphitheater hosts events and can be rented for weddings, etc. We were actually here early for the Big Party 5K/Half Marathon. I ran the 5K and two of my daughters ran in the Half Marathon relay. After the race, we walked around the park and down the trail walking around 1/2 mile and spending about 20 minutes. We have been here many times before for various events including Shakespeare in the Park, concerts, multiple 5Ks and just bringing the grandkids here to play in the fountains.
#27. Jordan Creek Linear Park James Ewing to Jordan Valley Park
This trail, also referred to as Jordan Creek Greenway, is currently in two one mile sections and is connected to The Link walking/biking trail(see the blog of 3/22). One section is here at Jordan Valley Park and there is another section between Cruse Dog Park and Ewing Park. According to the Ozarks Greenway website, the trail will eventually extend west through future West Meadows Park, where it will then connect to Wilson's Creek Greenway and on to South Creek Greenway too! We walked down the Jordan Valley Park section this morning. We have walked this trail before and many of the 5Ks starting at Jordan Valley Park follow this trail.
#28. Mediacom Ice Park 635 E. Trafficway
We were in the ice park this morning just to keep warm! We have been here before and previously went on a tour of the facilities but have never skated here. According to the website, there is open ice skating, figure skating, and hockey teams with lessons and leagues available for all ages. The Ice Park is home to the MSU Hockey Bears, the Springfield Express Junior-A Hockey Team , the Springfield Youth Hockey Association, and the Jordan Valley Figure Skating Club. The Ice Park is available for birthday parties, group functions or special events. There is also a pro shop.
#29. Doling Park 301 E. Talmage
This historic 56 acre park in north Springfield formerly was the site of a roller skating rink, an amusement park, dance hall and water rides. Our primary reason for going here today was for the tour of Giboney Cave but we walked around the lake, on the trail in the Merrell Cooper Conservation area, and around the playground/picnic area. We had been here before but not for several years. The lake improvements were not completed the last time we were here. This park has trails, a playground, tennis, basketball, bocce and horseshoe courts, the cave, a museum, a family center with indoor pool, a senior center, and a picnic pavilion with multiple other picnic tables and grills. We walked around for about 45 minutes and covered 1.2 miles.
Giboney Cave Doling Park
This is a former show cave which had boat tours at one time. It is open for public tours a few times a year and there are weekday school field trips available. There was a walking tour and a tunnel(crawling) tour available and we took the walking tour. The guides gave the history of the cave and the park and pointed out the cave's features. There were several interesting formations and a waterfall and the cave is home to tri-color bats. This was the first time we had been in the cave.
#30. Doling Museum. 301 E. Talmage
We have never been in the museum but it was closed today. It is open on Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday afternoons and features the park's 130-year history with memorabilia from the amusement park. The façade from the roller skating rink is one side of the courtyard which is available for event rental. We walked around and looked into the courtyard but will have to come back and tour the museum another time.
#31. Doling Family Center 301 E. Talmage
We had never been inside the center before. We walked in and went and looked at the room with the cardio equipment. This center has a gym, indoor track, the weight/cardio room, aerobics room and an indoor aquatics center with a zero entry pool with interactive features, a lap pool and a whirlpool. There are memberships and day passes available.
#32. Northview Center 301 E. Talmage
This was closed today but we have been in here a few times for special events, not to participate in the senior activities but I do see that we are both old enough to qualify!! This is open 8:30-4:30 Mon-Fri for senior activities but is available for special event rental and also has the Accessible Recreation programs for persons 18+ with disabilities.
#33 Tom Watkins Park 2100 W. High
We had never been here to this 20 acre northwest park before located near Kearney Street and Kansas Expy. There is a disc golf course, a ball field, tennis and basketball courts, large playground, pavilion and picnic tables and grills and the Tom Watkins Center. There are three parking areas and restrooms in the center. We spent about 20 minutes and walked about 1/2 mile.
#34. Tom Watkins Center 2100 W. High
This was not open today and we had never been here. According to the website, Tom Watkins Center is available for rental for celebrations, family gatherings, meetings, and reunions. The facility has tables and chairs to accommodate 30 - 40 people comfortably and has a small kitchen. The website also states that the center is home to several Outdoor Initiatives programs but there were none listed for here in the Jan-April ParkBench.
#35, Lafayette Park site of Reed School-Park 202 S. Atlantic
We didn't know this park was here. It is right across from Reed Middle School and the sign states it was established in 1869 and is between Booneville Ave. and Robberson Ave. on Atlantic St. This six acre north side park has some unique playground equipment, and an unusual gazebo-shaped pavilion. There is a newer brick walled walkway down the center and tennis courts, a 1/4 mile track, a long jump pit and a soccer/football field. The Woodland Heights Community Center is located here but was not open today. The bottom five feet of the utility poles in the neighborhood have colorful designs painted on them. We spent about 20 minutes and walked under 1/2 mile.
#36. Grant Beach Park 833 W. Cahoun St.
This is an older north side park on 15 acres near Broadway on Calhoun and I really thought Charlie had played softball here 40 years ago but nothing looked familiar so I am going to say we have never been here. There is a really neat rock picnic pavilion, a pool with slides and a wading pool, a ball field, basketball and tennis courts, a large playground with some unique equipment, and The Railroad Historical Museum. Including the time spent in the museum, we spent over an hour and walked over 1/2 mile.
The Railroad Historical Museum Grant Beach Park
This museum is currently totally contained inside the railroad cars but there are plans to build a depot museum next to the train. We had never been here before and it is open May-October on Saturdays from 2-4 so it wasn't officially open today but when we walked over, two of the volunteers were standing in the doorway(we later discovered they were waiting for a birthday party that was late) and invited us in and gave us a tour. There were a lot of interesting displays including a working ticker tape machine and a scale model Frisco locomotive constructed at the Springfield Missouri Frisco shops for display in the 1904 Worlds' Fair in St. Louis that still worked. My favorite was the Chicago commuter car that seats that could switch direction depending on which way the train was traveling. It is staffed by volunteers and is available for private tours and birthday parties.
#37. Nichols Park 1900 W. Nichols
Charlie actually DID play softball here 40 years ago and the ball field is still here but we have not been back since. This park is on Nichols St. just off Kansas Expy. There are also tennis and basketball courts, a soccer field, a play ground, a pavilion, picnic tables with grills. We walked around for about 10 minutes and walked 1/4 mile.
#38. L.A. Wise Park site of Bisset School-Park 3100 W. Nichols
This six acre park is next to Bisset Elementary School on Nichols St. and Hillcrest Ave. We didn't know this park was here. There is a soccer field , a 1/4 mile track and a playground with slide/play structures. There is also the school playground next to it. There is no parking on Nichols. We spent about 15 minutes and walked 1/3 mile.
#39. Westport Park 3100 W. Mt Vernon
This 16 acre park is next to Westport School on Mt. Vernon St. west of Golden Ave. Charlie also played softball here but it has been completely remodeled since we were here 30+ years ago and doesn't look the same at all. There are two playground areas, a zero entry pool with interactive features, tennis courts, football/soccer field , a track, a pavilion and picnic tables. We spent about ten minutes and walked 1/4 mile.
#40. Zagonyi Park. Mt. Vernon and Park
This 10 acre park is just west of Kansas Expy. and north of Sunshine and this is another park we didn't know was here. There is plaque here stating this is the site of a Civil War charge led by Major Charles Zagonyi. There is a playground, baseball fields, tennis and horseshoe courts, and picnic tables and grills. We walked around for about 10 minutes and walked under 1/4 mile.
We ended up visiting 15 facilities at 9 different locations plus toured Giboney Cave and The Railroad Historical Museum. After we left Doling, we spent about another 2 1/2 hours visiting 7 parks, several that we had never been to before leaving 62 Springfield-Greene County Park facilities to explore. There were lots of people out in the parks this afternoon.
4/2/16
We had a long day today and ended up visiting 15 Springfield-Greene County Park facilities today on the north and west sides of Springfield. We only started out planning to go to Jordan Valley Park and Doling Park but ended up stopping at seven more parks while driving home from Doling Park.
#26. Jordan Valley Park 635 E. Trafficway
This downtown park is on 12 acres and has lots to offer. This is the site of the Mediacom Ice Park, the Creamery Arts Center and a one mile section of the Jordan Creek Trail. There are picnic tables, a large kinetic robot structure, a Springfield Wagon play structure, an amphitheater and a series of fountains that kids can play in seasonally. The amphitheater hosts events and can be rented for weddings, etc. We were actually here early for the Big Party 5K/Half Marathon. I ran the 5K and two of my daughters ran in the Half Marathon relay. After the race, we walked around the park and down the trail walking around 1/2 mile and spending about 20 minutes. We have been here many times before for various events including Shakespeare in the Park, concerts, multiple 5Ks and just bringing the grandkids here to play in the fountains.
#27. Jordan Creek Linear Park James Ewing to Jordan Valley Park
This trail, also referred to as Jordan Creek Greenway, is currently in two one mile sections and is connected to The Link walking/biking trail(see the blog of 3/22). One section is here at Jordan Valley Park and there is another section between Cruse Dog Park and Ewing Park. According to the Ozarks Greenway website, the trail will eventually extend west through future West Meadows Park, where it will then connect to Wilson's Creek Greenway and on to South Creek Greenway too! We walked down the Jordan Valley Park section this morning. We have walked this trail before and many of the 5Ks starting at Jordan Valley Park follow this trail.
#28. Mediacom Ice Park 635 E. Trafficway
We were in the ice park this morning just to keep warm! We have been here before and previously went on a tour of the facilities but have never skated here. According to the website, there is open ice skating, figure skating, and hockey teams with lessons and leagues available for all ages. The Ice Park is home to the MSU Hockey Bears, the Springfield Express Junior-A Hockey Team , the Springfield Youth Hockey Association, and the Jordan Valley Figure Skating Club. The Ice Park is available for birthday parties, group functions or special events. There is also a pro shop.
#29. Doling Park 301 E. Talmage
This historic 56 acre park in north Springfield formerly was the site of a roller skating rink, an amusement park, dance hall and water rides. Our primary reason for going here today was for the tour of Giboney Cave but we walked around the lake, on the trail in the Merrell Cooper Conservation area, and around the playground/picnic area. We had been here before but not for several years. The lake improvements were not completed the last time we were here. This park has trails, a playground, tennis, basketball, bocce and horseshoe courts, the cave, a museum, a family center with indoor pool, a senior center, and a picnic pavilion with multiple other picnic tables and grills. We walked around for about 45 minutes and covered 1.2 miles.
Giboney Cave Doling Park
This is a former show cave which had boat tours at one time. It is open for public tours a few times a year and there are weekday school field trips available. There was a walking tour and a tunnel(crawling) tour available and we took the walking tour. The guides gave the history of the cave and the park and pointed out the cave's features. There were several interesting formations and a waterfall and the cave is home to tri-color bats. This was the first time we had been in the cave.
#30. Doling Museum. 301 E. Talmage
We have never been in the museum but it was closed today. It is open on Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday afternoons and features the park's 130-year history with memorabilia from the amusement park. The façade from the roller skating rink is one side of the courtyard which is available for event rental. We walked around and looked into the courtyard but will have to come back and tour the museum another time.
#31. Doling Family Center 301 E. Talmage
We had never been inside the center before. We walked in and went and looked at the room with the cardio equipment. This center has a gym, indoor track, the weight/cardio room, aerobics room and an indoor aquatics center with a zero entry pool with interactive features, a lap pool and a whirlpool. There are memberships and day passes available.
#32. Northview Center 301 E. Talmage
This was closed today but we have been in here a few times for special events, not to participate in the senior activities but I do see that we are both old enough to qualify!! This is open 8:30-4:30 Mon-Fri for senior activities but is available for special event rental and also has the Accessible Recreation programs for persons 18+ with disabilities.
#33 Tom Watkins Park 2100 W. High
We had never been here to this 20 acre northwest park before located near Kearney Street and Kansas Expy. There is a disc golf course, a ball field, tennis and basketball courts, large playground, pavilion and picnic tables and grills and the Tom Watkins Center. There are three parking areas and restrooms in the center. We spent about 20 minutes and walked about 1/2 mile.
#34. Tom Watkins Center 2100 W. High
This was not open today and we had never been here. According to the website, Tom Watkins Center is available for rental for celebrations, family gatherings, meetings, and reunions. The facility has tables and chairs to accommodate 30 - 40 people comfortably and has a small kitchen. The website also states that the center is home to several Outdoor Initiatives programs but there were none listed for here in the Jan-April ParkBench.
#35, Lafayette Park site of Reed School-Park 202 S. Atlantic
We didn't know this park was here. It is right across from Reed Middle School and the sign states it was established in 1869 and is between Booneville Ave. and Robberson Ave. on Atlantic St. This six acre north side park has some unique playground equipment, and an unusual gazebo-shaped pavilion. There is a newer brick walled walkway down the center and tennis courts, a 1/4 mile track, a long jump pit and a soccer/football field. The Woodland Heights Community Center is located here but was not open today. The bottom five feet of the utility poles in the neighborhood have colorful designs painted on them. We spent about 20 minutes and walked under 1/2 mile.
#36. Grant Beach Park 833 W. Cahoun St.
This is an older north side park on 15 acres near Broadway on Calhoun and I really thought Charlie had played softball here 40 years ago but nothing looked familiar so I am going to say we have never been here. There is a really neat rock picnic pavilion, a pool with slides and a wading pool, a ball field, basketball and tennis courts, a large playground with some unique equipment, and The Railroad Historical Museum. Including the time spent in the museum, we spent over an hour and walked over 1/2 mile.
The Railroad Historical Museum Grant Beach Park
This museum is currently totally contained inside the railroad cars but there are plans to build a depot museum next to the train. We had never been here before and it is open May-October on Saturdays from 2-4 so it wasn't officially open today but when we walked over, two of the volunteers were standing in the doorway(we later discovered they were waiting for a birthday party that was late) and invited us in and gave us a tour. There were a lot of interesting displays including a working ticker tape machine and a scale model Frisco locomotive constructed at the Springfield Missouri Frisco shops for display in the 1904 Worlds' Fair in St. Louis that still worked. My favorite was the Chicago commuter car that seats that could switch direction depending on which way the train was traveling. It is staffed by volunteers and is available for private tours and birthday parties.
#37. Nichols Park 1900 W. Nichols
Charlie actually DID play softball here 40 years ago and the ball field is still here but we have not been back since. This park is on Nichols St. just off Kansas Expy. There are also tennis and basketball courts, a soccer field, a play ground, a pavilion, picnic tables with grills. We walked around for about 10 minutes and walked 1/4 mile.
#38. L.A. Wise Park site of Bisset School-Park 3100 W. Nichols
This six acre park is next to Bisset Elementary School on Nichols St. and Hillcrest Ave. We didn't know this park was here. There is a soccer field , a 1/4 mile track and a playground with slide/play structures. There is also the school playground next to it. There is no parking on Nichols. We spent about 15 minutes and walked 1/3 mile.
#39. Westport Park 3100 W. Mt Vernon
This 16 acre park is next to Westport School on Mt. Vernon St. west of Golden Ave. Charlie also played softball here but it has been completely remodeled since we were here 30+ years ago and doesn't look the same at all. There are two playground areas, a zero entry pool with interactive features, tennis courts, football/soccer field , a track, a pavilion and picnic tables. We spent about ten minutes and walked 1/4 mile.
#40. Zagonyi Park. Mt. Vernon and Park
This 10 acre park is just west of Kansas Expy. and north of Sunshine and this is another park we didn't know was here. There is plaque here stating this is the site of a Civil War charge led by Major Charles Zagonyi. There is a playground, baseball fields, tennis and horseshoe courts, and picnic tables and grills. We walked around for about 10 minutes and walked under 1/4 mile.
We ended up visiting 15 facilities at 9 different locations plus toured Giboney Cave and The Railroad Historical Museum. After we left Doling, we spent about another 2 1/2 hours visiting 7 parks, several that we had never been to before leaving 62 Springfield-Greene County Park facilities to explore. There were lots of people out in the parks this afternoon.
Saturday, April 2, 2016
Springfield Parks, Greenways, and Outdoor Spaces
4/1/16
We visited three neighborhood parks tonight in south Springfield, two that we had never been to before.
#23. Cowden Park 2927 S. Kimbrough Ave.
This park is at Kimbrough Ave. and Battlefield St. adjoining Cowden Elementary School. There is quite a bit of open space in this park along with swings and a couple of slide/play structures. There is a 1/4 mile track, basketball courts, a ball diamond and additional play equipment on the school grounds. There were a couple of other groups here this evening. We walked around the park and around the track spending about 15 minutes and walking just under 1/2 mile. We had been here before several years ago when one of the kids had soccer practice here.
#24. Champion Park 2561 S. Grant Ave.
We never knew this park existed. It is a neighborhood park at Grant Ave. and Sunset Dr. a block away from the South Creek Greenway Trail. There is no parking lot but there is access from Grant Ave. and Downing St. We parked on Edgewood St.and walked a short distance into the park. This park is deceptively large and has a 1/2 mile track with a couple of really elaborate slide/play structures. We walked around the track spending 15 minutes and walking just over 1/2 mile. We were the only ones here on this cool evening.
#25. Sanford Park Battlefield and Franklin
This is another large neighborhood park just off south Battlefield St. that we had also never heard of or visited. There is a small parking area on Franklin Ave. and no other access to the park. There is a nearly 1/2 mile track and four slide structures, swings and a jungle gym. There is also extensive storm water drainage here with several paved run-offs and a couple of water retention basins. We walked around the track and we were the only ones here. We walked about 1/2 mile spending just over 10 minutes.
We spent just under an hour tonight including drive time and walked about 1 1/2 miles and explored 3 Springfield-Greene County Parks. 25 down, 77 to go!
4/1/16
We visited three neighborhood parks tonight in south Springfield, two that we had never been to before.
#23. Cowden Park 2927 S. Kimbrough Ave.
This park is at Kimbrough Ave. and Battlefield St. adjoining Cowden Elementary School. There is quite a bit of open space in this park along with swings and a couple of slide/play structures. There is a 1/4 mile track, basketball courts, a ball diamond and additional play equipment on the school grounds. There were a couple of other groups here this evening. We walked around the park and around the track spending about 15 minutes and walking just under 1/2 mile. We had been here before several years ago when one of the kids had soccer practice here.
#24. Champion Park 2561 S. Grant Ave.
We never knew this park existed. It is a neighborhood park at Grant Ave. and Sunset Dr. a block away from the South Creek Greenway Trail. There is no parking lot but there is access from Grant Ave. and Downing St. We parked on Edgewood St.and walked a short distance into the park. This park is deceptively large and has a 1/2 mile track with a couple of really elaborate slide/play structures. We walked around the track spending 15 minutes and walking just over 1/2 mile. We were the only ones here on this cool evening.
#25. Sanford Park Battlefield and Franklin
This is another large neighborhood park just off south Battlefield St. that we had also never heard of or visited. There is a small parking area on Franklin Ave. and no other access to the park. There is a nearly 1/2 mile track and four slide structures, swings and a jungle gym. There is also extensive storm water drainage here with several paved run-offs and a couple of water retention basins. We walked around the track and we were the only ones here. We walked about 1/2 mile spending just over 10 minutes.
We spent just under an hour tonight including drive time and walked about 1 1/2 miles and explored 3 Springfield-Greene County Parks. 25 down, 77 to go!
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