Author Marty Rubin once said, “Parks and playgrounds are the soul of a city,” and here at the Tourism Bureau we could not agree more.
Knox County has a multitude of parks; there are seven in Vincennes alone.
Fox Ridge Nature Park is a ninety-five-acre property located on the northern side of Vincennes. The former golf course was purchased in 2015 by the State of Indiana’s Bicentennial Nature Trust grant project as a part of federal efforts for land and water conservation. The focus of the Fox Ridge Nature Park is to create a public space for passive recreation, which provides visitors with numerous bicycling, hiking and walking trails in addition to a large pond for fishing. Four Lakes Park—located on the east side of Vincennes—also has stocked pond for fishing, a splash pad where younger kids can play, and a newly renovated shelter house.
Though it is smaller in size, Gregg Park has a lot to offer. Boasting numerous trees, a walking path, three playgrounds—including an ADA play area—six pickle ball courts, eight clay horseshoe pits, an enclosed shelter house as well as two outdoor shelter houses; all of which help to make Gregg Park one of the most popular parks in the county. Gregg Park also hosts numerous picnic tables that can be enjoyed by all park visitors, and is home to one of Vincennes’ six Little Free Libraries. The park is also home to a large community pool—Rainbow Beach—that recently underwent a $3.4 million renovation; which created three large pools as well as a splash pad for kids.
If you are wanting to further immerse yourself in nature, you should check out Ouabache Trails Park in Vincennes. Ouabache Trails Park has numerous trails for outdoor walking, hiking and biking, in addition to playground equipment, a sand volleyball court, and a baseball diamond. Ouabache Trails is also home to the Knox County Parks and Recreation Department’s “Second Sunday Nature Exploration Walks;” which provide participants with an opportunity to enjoy being out in nature and to learn and share with others, while focusing on a different topic each session.
If hitting the trails at Fox Ridge Nature Park, Ouabache Trails, or the walking path at Gregg Park isn’t your style, try working out using the fitness equipment at Lester Square Memorial Park near downtown Vincennes! Lester Square also has both basketball and sand volleyball courts, a small baseball diamond, playground equipment, as well as a skate park. It’s central location and proximity to downtown Vincennes makes it a great stop on any travelers or local person’s itinerary for a quick picnic or a place to relax and unwind after a long day.
Despite being one of the smaller parks in the county, Chicago Park –– located on the north side of Vincennes—has a baseball diamond, newly installed sidewalks, a playground apparatus, a shelter house, along with access to the Tecumseh Walking Trail that connects Chicago Park to Gregg Park.
Connecting downtown Vincennes to the northern part of the city via the newly installed River Walk, Kimmel Park is a fantastic place to visit for those who are seeking views of the Lincoln Memorial Bridge and the downtown Vincennes skyline. Kimmel Park is also recognized locally on the National Register of Historic Places Program due to its association with the Works Progress Administration (WPA) as well as for the limestone architecture features located throughout the park.
If you have any more information or inquiries about the parks located within Knox County, please contact our office at (812)886-0400, or visit our website at https://visitvincennes.org.
