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.