Parks Make Evansville Stronger: Celebrating the Places and People that Bring Our Community Together

July is National Park and Recreation Month, a time to celebrate the parks, trails, playgrounds, pools, and green spaces that make Evansville a great place to live, work, and raise a family, along with the dedicated professionals who work every day to maintain and improve them.

Every day, Evansville's parks are filled with kids on playgrounds, families at the pool, neighbors on walking trails, golfers enjoying the courses, and friends gathering for community events. These moments are made possible through dedicated public servants and continued investment in the spaces that bring our community together.

Earlier this year, Mayor Stephanie Terry highlighted a more than $10 million investment in Evansville's parks during her State of the City address. Since then, additional projects have moved forward, bringing the City's total park investments currently under contract or otherwise committed to more than $13.3 million.

Major projects include:

• CK Newsome Center ($2 million renovation): The center is undergoing significant upgrades, including new sports flooring, basketball goals, improved lighting, and fresh paint in the gymnasium; technology upgrades, lighting, and paint in the recreation room; reconstructed restrooms to improve safety and accessibility; and ceiling improvements in the lobby.
• Igleheart Splash Pad: A new neighborhood splash pad is bringing aquatic recreation back to an area that had lost this amenity.
• Wesselman Playground Restrooms: Construction of new accessible restrooms fulfills a longstanding community commitment, with a larger main restroom replacement also planned.
• Tepe Park Splash Pad: Expanding opportunities for families to cool off and enjoy neighborhood parks.
• Garvin Park Activity Zone: Creating new spaces for recreation and community gathering.
• Helfrich and Fendrich Golf Course Irrigation Improvements: Modernizing irrigation systems to improve course conditions and long-term sustainability, with a second phase now moving forward.
• CenterPoint Energy Square (4th & Main): Continued investment in downtown public gathering space.
• Swonder Ice Arena HVAC Replacement: A new rooftop unit will extend the life of the facility for athletes, families, and visitors.

From neighborhood parks like Stevenson and Howell Mini Park to destination facilities like Wesselmans, these investments strengthen public health, neighborhood pride, and quality of life across Evansville. Evansville continues to prioritize safe, welcoming parks for everyone.

Six dedicated park patrol officers now provide coverage across all city parks, with two officers on duty during each eight-hour shift from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. Their presence has made a measurable difference at Rochelle Pool. During the first four days of June, officers responded to four calls for service. Over the following 30 days, dispatches remained at four total calls, with one of those involving a traffic accident rather than park activity. Increased security and officer presence have helped improve safety at the facility. New lighting has recently been installed at Goosetown Park and will soon be installed at Vann Pollack, Fulton, and Tepe parks.

The City is also making accessibility a priority in park renovations. Next month, Caldwell Park will become more ADA accessible with new pour-in-place playground surfacing and an accessible pathway connecting key amenities. The JD Sheth Foundation also partnered with the City to improve neighborhood sidewalks leading to the park. The Next Level Trail was constructed with concrete to maximize accessibility for users of all abilities.

Evansville's parks are about creating opportunities for residents to connect, stay active, and make lasting memories. Each summer, hundreds of families participate in affordable swim programs, while events like the City Swim Meet provide accessible recreation for swimmers of all ages. The City also invested in its aquatics workforce by increasing starting lifeguard pay to $15.50 per hour, helping achieve 100% lifeguard retention for the 2026 summer season and ensuring pools remained safe throughout the summer.

Take time to enjoy everything Evansville's park system has to offer. Walk a trail, visit a playground, spend an afternoon at the pool, play a round of golf, or attend a community event. Thanks to the dedication of the Parks & Recreation team and continued investment in public spaces, Evansville's parks will continue serving residents for generations to come.

Learn more about Evansville Parks and Recreation.