The City of Evansville has over 58 acres of park
and recreation open space. Five neighborhood parks and open
space, and the flagship Leonard Leota Park, comprise space available to people in the greater Evansville area.
In the heart of Leonard Leota Park is Lake Leota,
a 40-acre, stream-fed body of water for canoeing, (limited) motorized
boating (i.e. up to 7.5 HP), fishing, and ice-skating. Note: the lake is currently drained in preparation for dredging to restore it to a depth of about 10 feet. Over the past 50 or so years, silt and run-off from the stream feeding the lake has reduced its average depth to less than 2 feet. The lake bed is currently drying out. Plans are to dredge it in early 2009.
During summer
months, free Concerts on the Lake are sponsored by Union
Bank & Trust Company.
The annual Aunt Leota Fun Run,
held July 4 and sponsored by the Evansville
Soccer Club, starts and finishes here.
In addition to Lake Leota,
the Park also offers the following amenities:
- baseball and softball diamonds
- basketball
- sand volleyball
- tennis courts
- hiking areas
- picnic areas, including five shelter houses;
- playground areas in 4 locations
- skate park
- public outdoor swimming pool
For current parks-related information, contact the
Clerk at 608.882.2266.
In March 2007, Evansville's City Council approved a new 5-year plan for the parks, as written by the city's Park and Recreation Board. The plan contains the major projects projected for years 2007-2011, together with an estimate of their costs. The major projects will be the renovation of Lake Leota and completion of the new West Side Park off 6th St.
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Reserving Park Facilities
The park pavilions may be reserved for
family and/or business gatherings, on a first-come-first-serve
basis. Reservations may be made beginning January 1 of the
year in which the event will take place. A rental
fee of $25 (residents) or $50 (non-residents), plus a $100 security deposit is required. Immediate payment is required with any reservation request and must be paid to the City
Clerk’s office. Reservations must be made at least 72 hours in advance of the
event. To reserve a park pavilion, please contact the City
Clerk’s office at 608-882-2266.
The baseball and softball diamonds may
also be reserved for single or multi-day and seasonal
events. Prior Park Board approval, plus non refundable user
fees, are required before the commencement of the planned
activity. The press box/concession stand and scoreboard
are also available.
To use these amenities, prior Park Board approval
and a deposit of $100 are required before the commencement
of the planned activity. The deposit is refundable, pending
that the amenities are returned and/or remain in satisfactory
condition. Diamond and ancillary use of the amenities requires
reservation payments at least 72 hours in advance of the
planned event.
For additional information, please contact
the City Clerk’s office at 608-882-2266.
The Evansville Soccer Club reserves the soccer
fields on many dates. Please check their schedule before
attempting to reserve a soccer field. www.evansvillesoccer.org
Allen Creek (shown right) meanders
through scenic Leonard-Leota Park, Evansville's largest
municipal park. It hosts any number of recreational facilities,
including a swimming pool, softball diamonds, tennis and
basketball courts, playground equipment, picnic pavilions
and beautiful Lake Leota. Come for a day and pack a picnic
lunch, or reserve one of the pavilions for a larger party.
For information on park and pool hours, or to reserve a
picnic pavilion or one of our ball diamonds, call 608-882-2266. |
Allen Creek
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People come from surrounding
communities just to enjoy Lake Leota park and feed the ducks. |
During the winter, residents
sometimes clear snow off a section of Lake Leota for ice
skating, and the hill from the Upper Park is perfect
for sledding!
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Waterfowl at sunset on Lake
Leota.
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Other City Parks
Countryside Park, on Water Street.
Franklin Park, at the corner of Main and South Union Street.
Seminary Park, on South Fourth Street, near Church St.
Brzezinski Park, at the Corner of West Church and Crawford Streets.
Wind Prairie Park, off South Second Street, near its junction with Old Hwy 92.
A new 15 acre park is being developed on the city's far west side. It's expected to open for some uses in fall 2008.
Nearby Recreational Facilities outside the city of Evansville
Magnolia Bluff County Park is a few miles southwest of Evansville.
Gibbs Lake County Park is a few miles northeast of Evansville.
The Sugar River Trail. The closest access point is 11 miles from Evansville in Albany, WI
