My timing was off when I visited this park. I was hoping to check out the Civil War Monument but…read moreit has been temporarily removed for restoration and been replaced by a Veteran's Plaza that will be rededicated on Memorial Day 2020. I hope the white bronze soldier will be returned to the center of the monument then. But even without the monument, this is a really beautiful park. The main feature here is the stonework that was part of the Works Progress Administration back in 1936-7. The park rests on high ground on the north side of the river, so a series of descending pools framed with colorful stones takes the water from street level down next to the river. There is a small waterwheel, a waterfall, and lots of cascades and pools to enjoy. There is a stairway framing the descent so that you can get a close look at the detail. The is also a lot of shade provided by the mature trees and a relatively new plaza on the east end with a pergola and benches. On the west end are the sports/playground features and an amphitheater with lawn in front. This is a beautiful park that offers a couple points to view the river. Review #3088

One of the Famous Pokemon catching spots.Saw lot of people catching Pokémon walking all around the…read morepark. Pretty good place to spend time in summer.Perfect for photoshoots as the park is on river walk system.Lots of Greenery with beautiful flowers and some statues. Terraced Rock Garden is the main attraction.Picnic Tables,splash pad,Basket ball court,Grills makes this place more fun to hang out. You can go fishing in the river . Free Ample Parking Spaces and Amphitheater to host concerts.River walk connects both sides of the river. Unwind yourself here if you are around here.

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

This is a nice little nature park with parking and bicycle parking. You can walk the nature trails…read moredown to the creek or take the paved bicycle trail to the Indiana State Line. About 3 miles. This trail goes right by South Firemans Park as well.

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!

Mishawaka's parks are nice. They are the only places in the city outside of the original central…read morebusiness area that are pedestrian and bicycle friendly. The city itself has no sidewalks anywhere in the commercial hotel areas, which makes traveling by foot and bike dangerous to one's health!

My nieces + nephews and I decided to go on a hike on Saturday. Well, when we got there, they…read morechanged their minds and wanted to go home and get cozy. Not happening. So I took them out into the woods kicking and screaming ;) Auntie of the year! We compromised and made it a shorter hike but I enjoyed it! The trail we went on stayed mostly on the river and just slightly into the woods. Next time we'll go all in! The trails are well maintained and entry is only $4.

Reserved a shelter for our 30 year high school reunion. Best decision ever. There were plenty of…read moretables for us to feel comfortable. Group of about 50 people. We were close to a playground in Berta Shelter and restrooms were directly behind us. Restrooms were clean. Very pleased!

I rode the trail from Shipshewana to Middlebury recently. There is plenty of parking near the…read moretrailhead, and the trail is in great condition. The scenery includes shady stretches with a dense tree canopy and purple flowers and many open views of farms. It is heavily used by the Amish and you'll see horses pulling plows and buggies all along the way. The town of Middlebury has a quilt mural. Just before town, you can visit the Krider "World's Fair " Garden. You can ride uphill alongside the main road to get to Essenhaus where there are shops and a beautiful covered bridge, or stay on the Pumpkinville trail and turn onto the Ridge Run Trail. I look forward to riding the other segments of the Pumpkinville trail in the future.

The highlight of this pleasant, accessible sculpture park is the masterful and haunting, 27 foot…read moresculpture, titled Griffon, by American modern master David Hayes. The photo -- with the backdrop of a parking lot -- fails to do justice to this magnificent work -- one of Hayes' very best, or the setting, which Hayes -- who "created graceful sculptures abstracted from organic forms" -- would likely have appreciated. Hayes's early sculptures were accepted at shows at New York's Museum of Modern Art and the Guggenheim Museum's inaugural exhibition. His work appears in 100 institutional collections, including additional pieces in the ND Sculpture Park and the courtyard of the Snite Museum on Notre Dame's campus. Since his passing in 2013, interest in his work has remained strong, with many, often overlapping museum exhibitions featuring his work each year.

What was once a landfill for about 100 years has been reclaimed in phases and turned into this…read morewonderful sculpture park! In the latest phase (2017), a pond was added in the middle of the eight acre park and numerous trees and native wild grasses were planted. I wish I had known about this before because the website includes a map with information about the pieces as well as video interviews with some of the artists. I pulled up along the Walsh Family Hall of Architecture and entered from the northwest corner of the park. Note that the map starts numbering on the far west side and works around clockwise so that the first piece I encountered was #2. But to keep things simple, I will go with the numbering system of the map so that everything is tied out. 1. Tale Teller VI by Jaume Plensa is a stainless steel and stone piece created in 2014. The steel is cut into random letters/characters and shaped to create the image of a seated figure on a stone. 2. Little Seed by Peter Randall-Page is made from granite (2007). The bumpy almost egg-shaped seed is gray in tone and the bumps are uniform and placed in an orderly fashion. 3. Many Glacier by Deborah Butterfield was one I missed. 4. Fern Temple IV was created by Rev Austin Collins in 2012 from painted steel that appears to be a bright yellow green. The column rises with fern-like leaves extended from the core. 5. Two Lines Oblique by George Rickey is one I really wish I had seen. Rickey was a kinetic artist and I love watching the wind move stainless steel. 6. Griffon is a mammoth painted steel sculpture on the northeast corner of the park. Created by David Hayes, my first thought was of the Picasso in Chicago in size and form. 2-D plates are cut and placed together to create this giant mythological creature. 7. Hanging Screen Sculpture #18 also by David Hayes, is a much smaller work, but also done in the black painted steel. This one is suspended from a tree limb, so look carefully or you will miss it. 8. Single Winged Figure on Plinth by Stephen De Staebler (2010) is a tall, slender interpretation of the human form anchored to a heavy base (plinth). 9. Maquette for Wing Generator by Richard Hunt (1982) is made from Cor-ten steel and has been allowed to rust, giving it a reddish brown patina on this abstract form. 10. Life of Christ: Cycle of Life by Philip Rickey was crafted in Minnesota and then installed in 2017 at the park. Rickey, whose father created #5, was honored to be asked to create the most expansive installation of the park. Starting with a trail on the east side, Rickey has places stone columns that wind up the hill and around to the center of the park where they form a bit of plaza that could be used for performances. The stones are places so that a visitor might use their imagination to envision Christ's journey. 11. Tracery by Deborah Butterfield is a horse that appears to be made from branches. I saw it but didn't see a path to it while there and did not get a good photo. 12. Red Throne by David Nash (1991) is a columnar bronze that seems to have layers. The finish of the piece looks like red stone. I really enjoyed wandering through the naturalized park. There are signs asking visitors to have patience as the new park's plantings grow to fully realize the designer's plans. Review #3103

Cute park. Nice walking area and playground. The large pond by the park with the fountain is so…read moredisgusting though it's layered with moss and bacteria that even the ducks can't go in. If that was treated, it would be a 5 star.

Petting zoo is closed. Restrooms were locked on a weekday at 1pm. Geese are every where, so there…read moreis poop everywhere. Play scape is a cool barn design. Doesn't overcome the poop ev er y where!