Pretty park for families with a ton of facilities, but not so good for taking pictures.read more

Join the river in meandering through the variety of experiences at Central Park! Whether arriving…read moreon foot, bike, or auto, spend a while enjoying this newly renovated downtown Mishawaka gem. Stroll through taking in the sculpture scenery on your way to the giant riverside trees. Marvel at the mini stone house overlooking the stone waterway. Sidestep the suspicious waterfowl and ducklings, dancing around their "sidewalk decorations". Plenty of running paths will keep you busy for at least a 5K. Varying scenery will keep the boredom at bay. Play a little tennis or basketball on the park's outdoor courts. Parking is easy onsite, and more street parking all around the 13 acres. Those who live near downtown can head over with a quick stroll; the rest of us will find easy access like I will on my return visit.

This park is gorgeous (even though there was a lot of construction going on along the south side of…read morethe park.) What makes this park on the low side of the river so stunning is the series of irregular shaped terrace steps that the millrace of the St Joe River flows over to head downstream. All along the park there are tiny waterfalls while appearing nearly flat. The area along the river has paved walkways and is landscaped with trees and a small hill. On the east end of the park is a large sculpture by Jan Martin (2004) called River Shards that makes for a cool accent to the plaza where you can relax and enjoy the sight and sound. This is a must see if you appreciate a marriage between art and nature. Review #3089

Family friends are important…read more There's family, of course, and no matter how much you may hate your family, they're ultimately all you've got. OK, that's kind of an overstatement, but as you grow older, you'll probably eventually either regret drifting apart from family members or wonder what kept you apart in the first place. If you're lucky, like I am, you'll recognize early just how important family is. There are friends. Good ones are like great books in that they're extremely rare and no matter how long it is between visits, you'll always feel comfortable, like you're right where you belong. Other friends are more situational. They serve a specific purpose at a specific time, and when that purpose is spent, you must decide whether to stay in touch or to allow time and circumstances to separate you. Family friends are different. They're not family, but you can't get rid of them like you can past-their-expiration-date friends. Yes, you can ignore them, but unlike family and friends, they don't usually hold grudges. They're connected to you, but they're not related to you. They were there before, and they'll be there in the future. If you don't invite them to your kids' weddings, they won't hold it against you. They'll still let you stay over when you're in town for an interview or some other such ridiculousness, and you'll stay up too late talking. Beutter Park is like a family friend. It doesn't feel as comfortable and magical and raw as childhood, but it sticks in your mind, not like regret, but like something or someone you miss and know or at least hope you'll visit again one day. Soon? Maybe. Family friends brought me and my dad here. It was warm and sunny but not humid. In other words, the weather was perfect, and that's so unlike Michiana in the summer. We strolled past sculptures and talked about first cars. I had heard many of the stories before, but that didn't bother me. I can stand repetition among family friends; I don't know why.

This is the classic Japanese-style garden. It was a gift from Mishawaka's sister city, Shiojiri,…read moreand unlike anything else in the city. Upon entering the park, one will notice how this garden sends off quite a different "vibe" than western-style gardens do. Typical of Japanese design, it was thought out quite a bit, and there is a reason behind every little detail within. Every changing month seems to bring its own charm to the park. An excellent park to go to for feeling closer to both God and nature. This has got to be the loveliest acre of land in Mishawaka.

This park celebrates the sister city status of Mishawaka and Shiojiri, a city in Nagano, Japan…read more Niwa is Japanese for garden and this park takes on many of the characteristics of a Japanese Garden. Some of those characteristics include: Water - renewal and calm Stone - longevity and forces of nature Yukimi-gata Lantern (a snow lantern) Bridges The park has all these but the water/pond which would ideally contain fish /koi. Of course, the weather here would necessitate wintering of the fish elsewhere, so it is probably a cost management issue. The park is well kept and is filled with plants, small trees, and gardens. There is also a bronze sculpture to the right of the entrance that commemorates the relationship between the two cities. Review #3099

Large neighborhood park with lots of use in the summer evenings…read more Nice newer play equipment including some accessible equipment. Street parking only. Nice gazebo & picnic tables for parties, cookout, etc. Small outbuilding with bathrooms (didn't check them out on our visit). Lots of younger kids playing basketball on our visit. Lots of room to roam. Not a fenced park but the traffic on nearby streets was very minimal and quiet.

My favorite park in the whole area, simply because the playground they have for the kids is HUGE,…read moreand they have padded area surrounding it. It's also right by the river, which is a nice view while taking a walk.

Merrifield Park is a unique park in the area. Not only does it offer a public swimming facility…read more(for a fee), it also has public ice skating (you have to enter through the park's admin building to gain access.) The rest (north side) of the park has several shelters, a large elevated playground with towers and slides, and a public access ramp to the river. The grounds were in great condition other than it could use a bit of watering on some of the lawn areas. Lots of parking and open space for running around or organized games that need space. I also noticed a lot of trees that had been carved into wooden sculptures left in place around the shelters. All have been coated with a rust colored treatment to preserve the images. Most feature some type of animal though one has a female image with the word Princess carved at the base. It's a nice park if you have a specific interest in swimming or skating, or just strolling along the river. Review #3101

This was the first park I visited in the area and I am glad to say it allowed my visit to get off…read moreto a good start. This small park is located on the west end of a large number of riverside parks in Mishawaka. There is a small parking lot on the east side of the park. From the lot, you can pass through an arbor towards the gazebo in a round central area. The pathways are either paved or brick. Be aware that some of the brick is uneven and could use some attention, but I had no trouble walking comfortably across the few misaligned bricks. The park is very colorful with an assortment of flowers, shrubs and trees that take on many hues. Other than some fallen leaves/petals, the park was kept in pretty clean condition. One additional point of interest is the "Educators" statue near the roadside by local art instructor Harold Tuck Langland (2000). Review #3085

What a pretty garden, a small park packed with a quiet place to visit. Lots of benches and wide…read moresidewalks. Close to the river walk and a nice surprise when you cross the bridge.

What an absolutely stunning spot for an evening walk! My wife and I visited around sunset, and it…read morefelt like something out of a painting. The path was clean, peaceful, and perfectly maintained--ideal for a romantic stroll or just soaking in nature's beauty. The sunset views were magical. The colors in the sky reflected off the water (or landscape) so beautifully, it felt like time slowed down. We held hands, laughed, and just enjoyed being in the moment together. Benches were thoughtfully placed for relaxing and taking it all in, and the whole area felt incredibly safe and welcoming. Whether you're out for some quiet reflection or a sweet date night stroll like we were, this place delivers. Highly recommend it for couples, photographers, or anyone looking to unwind and enjoy nature's evening show. A perfect 5-star experience!

The Mishawaka Riverwalk is officially known as the "River St. Joseph of the Miamis Trail."…read more I'll call it the Mishawaka Riverwalk. It's a circular system of both pedestrian and bike trails that runs along both banks of the St. Joseph River in Mishawaka. There are pedestrian bridges that connect the Riverwalk at various points including Central Park, Kamm Island, and Riverfront Park. There's also a footbridge that connects Beutter Park with Battell Park. The Riverwalk has quarter-mile markers and a designated 5k path (which I have used). The Riverwalk has signage, landscaping, and a surprising amount of lighting to enhance the experience and safety. Of course, the river itself is the real feature. The trail is primarily used for walking and experiencing nature. It's for the most part friendly to wheelchairs and the bridge crossings are also wheelchair friendly. For the most part, one gets the feeling of safety on the trail. The lighting helps to enhance that safety during evenings. In decent weather, you may also experience an outdoor concert going on. While the trail is for the most part wheelchair friendly, there are places where you can detour to get closer to water that involve steps. This is less of an issue the closer you get to central Mishawaka. Mishawaka has long been one of my favorite unsung cities in Indiana. It's a beautiful area and the St. Joseph River is really well developed here. The times I've come to Mishawaka for outreach events I've been treated well and just loved the experience. While I find the journey from South Bend confusing at times, Mishawaka seems to have taken more care in making sure things are clearly marked in terms of trails. If you're ever in Northern Indiana, I definitely recommend a day trip to Mishawaka and spending time on the Riverwalk. Unlike some other Riverwalk features across the country, this is much more about nature than it is commercialization. That said, Mishawaka also offers lots to visit and great dining options.

This is a nice park. The playground is big, and there are a number of fun things to play on/with,…read moreincluding slides (multiple), bridges, a rock wall, tunnels and more. It's all very colorful and fun. There's also a splash pad with multiple water features, and it's located in a nice shady spot with benches all around. Shade! Around a splash pad! This seems to be a rare thing nowadays, but yes, there is shade here. As a parent, that's probably what I like this park: There is always somewhere shady to sit or stand. This park also had a gigantic roofed overhand area with benches for big parties. When we visited, there was a church party going on. There is also a little rain garden on the outer edge of the park, which was a welcome sight. I love when parks make the effort to incorporate native plants into their park spaces. It doesn't go unnoticed, and it's greatly appreciated! Potawatomi Park is directly outside of Potawatomi Zoo. The two share a parking lot, so it might be a drag to find parking on busy days.

Went to a picnic in this park. Big grounds and lots of room for multiple groups to have picnics…read more Also right next to the zoo in case you want another activity to do. Bathrooms are kind of far away depending on where you are at the park.

Its a place to park your car and walk, or eat lunch at a picnic table. This park is neither scenic…read morenor beautiful but irs located in a place that is mostly office buildings. I have been here at times when I felt like I was the only person not meeting someone else for a tryst.

While Golden Gate Park might have the greatest free children's playground in the world…read more(https://www.yelp.com/biz/golden-gate-park-childrens-playground-san-francisco?osq=Koret+Childrens+Quarter), recently renovated Howard Park in South Bend, Indiana, comes in a photo-finish close second. And if I'm being honest, Howard Park makes much more interesting use of its physical geography than Golden Gate Park does with that single playground, so the nod may go to Mayor Pete's hometown. It gives me so much hope that architects and landscape architects and engineers are still willing to build public areas that are both functional and physically attractive. The playground part of the park incorporates so many wonderful and unusual elements. Just when you think you can't be surprised again, you get surprised again. All of my nieces and nephews are older now, but I wish this place had existed in 2014 so that I could have brought their young selves to explore it in its entirety. So that's the playground. Like twelve stars out of five. The rest of the park is well maintained and laid out nicely. There are areas to picnic or just lounge and enjoy the weather in the summer. I know, I know, South Bend has bad weather for much of the year. But you know what? You could do a lot worse than coming to the nearby farmers market to pick something up for a late-breakfast/early-lunch picnic at Howard Park before a Notre Dame football game on a crisp autumn Saturday. Thanks, South Bend politicians and city employees, one-and-all. (I'd thank Mayor Pete, but I don't know whether he played any part in this project, and I'm still a little annoyed with him for having moved to Michigan--once you're elected mayor of somewhere, I feel like you should live there the rest of your life if you can.) Who says the Midwest can't have nice things?

Great park with plenty of space, the 4th of July event does get very busy with many kids so make…read moresure to get there early and bring some blankets or chairs to hang out!