Has there ever been a better day to get outside? After all the rain we’ve had lately, the sun is shining, the temperature is going to be in the 70’s this afternoon, and the sky is a gorgeous deep blue!  It’s a great day to explore one of Springfield’s awesome parks.

Springfield has an abundance of parks waiting for you to explore. Closest to campus, check out Jordan Valley Park just north of Kentwood Hall.  It has winding sidewalks, gently sloping grass, little hills, and a fun fountain with shows on the hour.  Just south of campus, check out Phelps Grove park’s 31 acres with a lovely 7/10 mile walking trail and lots of beautiful old trees.

If you want to get farther away from campus, consider one of the larger parks. You can enjoy 113 acres of park, trees, walking trails, a botanical garden, a butterfly garden, a Japanese stroll garden, and historical buildings at Nathaniel Greene/Close Memorial Park less than 5 miles from campus on South Scenic off of West Sunshine.   Or, check out 153 acres of nature at the Lake Springfield park in southeast Springfield.  Enjoy a one-mile walk around a different lake at Valley Water Mill Park in Northeast Springfield, and check out the nearby Valley Water Mill Equestrian Center.  Visit the 207 acre Rutledge-Wilson Farm Park west of the West Bypass: walk around the farm pond and along the fields on this park’s 1-mile loop.  Stop in to pet the farm animals or the barn cats.   If you enjoy animals of a more exotic nature, visit Dickerson Park and the Dickerson Park Zoo in northwest Springfield.

This is just a quick snapshot of a few of Springfield’s many parks.  To see them all, check out the Springfield Greene County Park Board website Park Board.