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Howard Park - South Bend

4.1 (19 reviews)

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Dog friendly
Jen K.

Howard Park is a beautiful, modern area with so many options: there's multiple parks for different age groups, ice skating rink (in the winter), picnic benches, wobble chairs, mommy and me swings, restaurant, community center, etc. There's always people around: at 7am, there's people walking their dogs or doing yoga on the lawn. At 9pm, there's people leaving the restaurant or grabbing an ice cream across the street. There's always events going on here so there's always people! Go meet your neighbors:) This is a very family oriented and family friendly park! There's something for everyone!

Claire H.

I am so impressed with my hometown! This is not the Howard Park we grew up with. The park underwent a 18 million dollar renovation and is now a South Bend landmark. We went ice skating on a Friday night and had a ball! But be fairly wanted my friends - those small hills will get you going! There is a South Bend Chocolate Café that offers light snacks and beverages. It is a 'to go' café location with a counter area where you order. After you get your hot chocolate you can gather around one of the several fire pits. These aren't your average fire pits. These are next level fancy and actually keep you warm! During the non winter months the ice skating area converts to a play structure. It looks like there are many events that are regularly hosted on site. So fun! The Public House had just opened so I'll check them out (and add more photos!) next time I am up visiting my family. I highly recommend checking it out if you find yourself in the area!

Dalia F.

What a beautiful park! The playground for the kids had awesome climbing structures, slides and swings. There are beautiful walking paths along the river and benches to view the beautiful scenery. Parking was easy and plentiful. I would definitely recommend visiting Howard Park!

Warming area...interactive light brite to the back
Jason H.

Theres some.kinks to work out. The Zamboni took an hour...I have been involved with hockey for 45 years and spend literaly every weekend in a hockey arena...I have never seen a Zamboni go that slow. Paying to get in was slow as well...there were only 10 people ahead of us and it took awhile. It is beautiful and nice though. The design is amazing. The warming area...the playground....everything is really really nice. I got to skate over a bridge made of ice so thats off my bucket list. We had a great time, theres a wonderful view of the riverlights, The South Bend chocolate company hass a cafe and theres soon to be a full restaurant that operates year round attached to the warming area. South Bend Parks did a wonderful job!

Inside Lobby Outside Park and Skating Ribbon.

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Robert C Beutter Park

Robert C Beutter Park

4.7(9 reviews)
3.1 mi

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.

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Robert C Beutter Park
Robert C Beutter Park - Yep

Yep

Robert C Beutter Park - River Shards by Jan R Martin (2004)

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River Shards by Jan R Martin (2004)

Leeper Park - Relics

Leeper Park

4.0(2 reviews)
1.0 mi

Leeper Park always reminds me of Will. And kind of of Sheila, but mainly of Will. Will was sick…read more Esther and I visited him. Often. We got stuff from his apartment when he was in the hospital. This was long before Will moved to Philadelphia. This was long before Erin O. met Will. This was long before Erin O. told me about meeting Will, which wasn't long after Erin O. told me about meeting Aaron. I think Erin O. thought I was trying to set her up with Aaron, but I wasn't. Or maybe Aaron thought so. Aaron is Canadian and that's awesome. I was sort of trying to set Erin O. up with Will, but it didn't take, and that's fine. All of this was long before Erin O. married Jose. The park is spectacular. You can drive through it. You can feed ducks. It goes on and on, kind of like a September to remember, though not quite like a December to remember. Visit this park. Please. I will next time I visit South Bend with Esther, which could be in September. Or October. Hopefully, it will either be unseasonably warm or unseasonably cold. South Bend is best when the weather's not like it's supposed to be, either way. And when I lived in South Bend, I used to wonder whether Leeper park would have leepers if it had sand. You know, leepers, like in the Legend of Zelda? But those are leevers, and I made a mental fool of myself in my own mind for years.

Leeper is nice...the park os situated on either side of 31 on the south side of the bridge. There…read moreis a tennis complex on one side, where they offer an excellent and affordable childrens tennis program, as well as tennis for adults. It was recently remodeled and is in great shape. Near the tennis complex is a playground, a duck pond and some picnic tables. Across 31 there is park with a raceway island and a small beach. Its a nice place to take a walk and popular for salmon and steelhead fishing in the fall. Theres a garden and a log cabin replica on the east side of the park as well. The river in this location is fairly shallow wth rapids, my kids like to wade in the shallows when the water is low.

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Leeper Park
Leeper Park
Leeper Park - Dawn patrol

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Dawn patrol

Howard Park - South Bend - skatingrinks - Updated May 2026

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