2012-13 GUIDE: PG. 55
PARKS
parks.dearborncounty.in.gov Aurora: Aurora City Park, Park Avenue, offers swimming pool, playground equipment, horseshoe pits, fishing and pavilion with kitchen facilities. Open shelters, civic center and round barn are open for rental during warm weather. Waterways Park, Moore and Manchester streets, offers open shelters and picnic areas, as well as tennis and basketball courts, playground equipment, fishing and a volleyball court. A boat launch and picnic area have been added. Largent Field, off U.S. 50 west, offers lighted ballpark, playground equipment and fishing. Mary Stratton Park, Fifth and Judiciary streets, offers picnic area and playground. Tony Lesko Park, Ind. 56 along the Aurora riverfront, offers open shelters overlooking the river, picnic tables and benches, playground equipment, a extended walkway ramp to the river and fishing. In 2011, it was getting upgrades and the addition of a Veterans’ Memorial. For rental or other information, call 926-2745.
Dearborn County
The Dearborn County Park Board, re-established in 1982, oversees development and maintenance of county-owned outdoor recreation areas. Parks in the area , both county-owned and mucicipal, undergo continued development to keep up with county population growth, as well as to comply with updated handicap-accessibility standards. Dearborn County: Guilford Covered Bridge Park, Ind. 1, York and Miller townships, offers picnic area, two basketball courts, fishing, and playground equipment. The historic covered bridge built in 1879, was restored in 1998. The playground equipment was uprgraded in the summer of 2011. Bright Meadows Park, State Line and Einsel roads, Harrison Township, offers four baseball fields with some fields interchangeable as soccer/football fields. Two shelter houses, walking trail, horseshoe pits, playground equipment and restrooms now are available. A basketball court was built in fall 2010. Gladys Russell Wildlife Habitat, White Plains Road, Manchester Township, is open. The 148-acre refuge features a 6-acre lake availble for fishing from the bank, the historic Bowman Barn, which is available for gatherings, bathrooms, and four miles of walking/bicycling paths. There are three parking lots along White Plains Road for public use. The western lot is most convenient to the trails for hiking. Additional parking is available adjacent to the Bowman Barn for gatherings and access to the lake. The eastern lot has been specifically designed to accommodate those with horse trailers that would like to ride the outer loop trails and also provides lake access. The board hopes to have an orienteering/geocaching challenge course in place soon. The park is growing in popularity with hikers enjoying the many trails. Rullman Wildlife Refuge, Turkey Point Road, Manchester Township offers a one acre lake for fishing as well
as 80 acres of woodland with trails for walking. A picnic shelter was added in fall 2010. County Farm Park, County Farm Road, Manchester Township, spans the Little Hogan Creek. It is still in the planning/transition phase and will offer more than 300 acres of wildlife and recreational areas. Many of the park shelters can be reserved via the parks’ website, parks.dearborncounty.in.gov, however those reserving the shelter or site should place notices at the park in the days before the event to let other park patrons know. For more park information, visit the Dearborn County Parks and Recreation Web site at parks.dearborncounty. in.gov, e-mail the board at parks@dearborncounty.in. gov or call the extenison office at 1-812-926-1189.
Dillsboro:
Dillsboro Community Park, Arlington Road, Clay Township, is a 12-acre park recently dedicated a .88-mile walking trail, and offers two shelter houses, three softball fields, a soccer/football field, play equipment, picnic area, picnic tables and restrooms. A walking path and other amenities have been added recently. Heritage Point Park, at Bank and North streets, features a clock, landscaping and a veterans’ memorial. It is the newest addition to Dillsboro.
Greendale:
Greendale Park, Nowlin Avenue and Park Street, offers picnic shelters, tennis courts, softball/baseball field, foot trails, cabin/meeting hall, basketball courts and swimming pool. Oakey Park, Oakey Avenue and Sheldon Street, offers picnicking, playground equipment, softball/baseball field and basketball court. Danny Miller Park, Sunset Drive and Dearborn Court, offers picnicking and playground equipment. Schnebelt Park, Nowlin Avenue and Arthur Street, offers a two-acre lake for canoeing and fishing, picnicking, playground equipment, foot trails and ice-skating. Cook Park, Ridge Avenue and Broadway Street, offers picnicking. Homestead Park, Dorman Avenue, offers
playground, basketball court and picnic area. Lorey Park, Ridge Avenue, offers playground equipment and picnic area. For rental or other information, call the Greendale Utilities Department at 537-2125.
Lawrenceburg:
Arch Street Park, Arch Street between Center and William streets, is dedicated to the memory of Evelyn Rudolph, who was the “park matron” for many years. Basketball courts, picnic area, shelter house, restrooms and playground equipment are available. Ludlow Hill Park, Ind. 48, a 67-acre park with a five acres of lake, offers three shelter houses, picnic areas, walking/jogging, two fishing lakes, football field, two tennis courts, and a new basketball court. Six new basketball goals and a flagpole have been installed. Lighting for the football field was added in 2010. George Street Park, George Street, has a basketball court and features a new family-size shelter and playground equipment. Restrooms also are available. Newtown Park, Main Street and Eads Parkway, U.S. 50, offers picnicking, walking, and an operational historic fountain. The park also is home to a Civil War cannon encased in a display enclosure. Todd-Creech Park, Tate Street, provides a swimming pool/wading pool, slide, restrooms/lockers, and concession stand. There is playground equipment and picnicking, as well as Little League, Babe Ruth and instructional baseball fields. A skatepark also is a highlight. Scoreboards and lighting have been installed. A community activities building is on the site. A new Little League field was added in 2011, and the much anticipated dog park opened in spring 2012. Lawrenceburg Fairgrounds, Eads Parkway, U.S. 50, offers shelters, barns, a community pavilion, and horse show ring. The fairgrounds also house Lawrenceburg Speedway motorcycle and auto tracks, and hosts the annual Dearborn County 4-H & Community Fair. Two new baseball diamonds and practice football/soccer fields as well as new backstops are available. For rental of Agner Hall or other information, call 537-7138. The ball fields were constructed by the Lawrenceburg Conservancy District.