“P”arks

Hawthorn Park is beautiful in the spring, summer and fall. It can even be peaceful in the winter, with new fallen snow. Photo by Diane Weidenbenner.

One benefit of living in Indiana is the abundance of natural parks and wetland refuges within a short driving distance from towns and cities. It’s not uncommon to drive 15-30 minutes or up to one hour to reach parks, rivers, lakes and other such beautiful natural settings to relieve stress and enjoy time away.

I live in Terre Haute and in a 15-30 minute drive from my house, I have access to Hawthorn Park, as an example, which is on 250-plus acres and includes a lake that spans more than 68 acres. It was established in 1980 and was named after the Hawthorn tree, a plethora of which are located on the property.

They have both primitive and modern campground sites. A friend of mine was moving from one house to the next and had a two-week span in-between. She and her husband camped out at Hawthorn Park during that time and both were still able to go to work each day, having spent restful nights at the park. They utilized the shower houses as well! Another friend used to walk her dog after work, finding the park a peaceful place to work out the day’s problems.

There are picnic shelters, playgrounds, restrooms, a boat launch, fishing docks an archery range and trails. It’s a birdwatcher’s paradise and a fisherman’s dream. It hosts the Kenneth E. Smith Memorial Labyrinth, which was finished in 2003, and based on the Chartres Labyrinth in France.

There are a number of such parks close-by. Fowler Park (complete with pioneer village and seasonal activities) and Prairie Creek Park (with baseball diamond, tennis court and basketball courts and s sugar house for maple syrup production) are just south of Terre Haute, on U.S. 41.

There are also quite a few National Parks that include waterfalls and challenging hiking trails, as well as orienteering venues. With so many activities and places to choose from, it’s not hard to stay entertained most of the year without traveling very far.

What areas are your peaceful respites, near your home? What do you find especially appealing to your area?