Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park
Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park in Springfield, Missouri is a large, beautiful park with a lot of green space. The park is over 113 acres and has a variety of outdoor activities and natural landscapes for people to explore. A park is a popular place for both locals and tourists. It is named after Revolutionary War hero Nathanael Greene and Springfield philanthropist Harold Close.
One of the best things about Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park is that there are many trails for walking and biking. The park has more than 6 miles of paved trails that are great for a slow walk or a fast bike ride. The paths wind through the park’s many features, such as a butterfly house, a lake, and several gardens, giving visitors a beautiful and peaceful place to walk.
The Springfield-Greene County Botanical Center is one of the most interesting parts of the park. The center has a native plant garden, a greenhouse, and a water garden, all of which are good places to learn. People can learn about the different kinds of plants that grow well in the Ozarks and enjoy the beauty of the park’s gardens. The Botanical Center also has events like plant sales and workshops all through the year, making it a great place for people who are interested in gardening or horticulture.
The Lake Drummond Trail is another thing that you must see at Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park. This trail goes all the way around the 15-acre lake in the park, giving visitors beautiful views of the water and the trees around it. There are many different kinds of fish in the lake, which makes it a great place for people who like to fish. People can also rent paddle boats or kayaks to explore the lake and its many coves and inlets.
Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park has a lot of fun things to do, and it also has several beautiful places to have a picnic. People can enjoy a meal with family or friends at one of the park’s many pavilions or picnic tables. Many of the picnic areas have grills, so it’s easy for people to make a tasty barbecue feast.
The Springfield-Greene County Park Board’s botanical gardens are one of the most interesting parts of the park. There are several themed areas in the gardens, such as a butterfly house, a demonstration garden for Master Gardeners, and a sensory garden. People like to go to the Butterfly House because it has many different kinds of live butterflies and moths. The sensory garden is also a highlight because it is designed to engage visitors’ senses of sight, smell, touch, and sound, making it a very immersive experience.
Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park has a lot of sports facilities that people can use if they want to do something more active. There are basketball courts, soccer fields, and tennis courts in the park, so it’s a great place for anyone who wants to get their heart rate up. There are also many playgrounds in the park, which are great for families with young children.
Last but not least, you can’t go to Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park without going to the Roston Native Butterfly House. This one-of-a-kind attraction is made so that people can get a close look at several kinds of live butterflies and moths. Several Missouri species live in the house, including the well-known Monarch butterfly. People can watch the butterflies come out of their cocoons and fly away, which is a magical thing to see.
Overall, Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park is a great place to go if you want to enjoy Springfield, Missouri’s natural beauty. With its many fun things to do, beautiful gardens, and beautiful lake, a park is a great place for a family trip or an adventure by yourself. So why not make a picnic, put on your walking shoes, and head to this beautiful park to see what it has to offer?