|
Parks and Trails
Looking for a place to hike, bike, or camp in Kansas? Recration Finder is now online. This online resource allows users to search a database of more than 450 trails, 3,500 parks, and 12,500 recreation facilities across the state. Users can search for parks and facilities by name, location, park type, or facilities available.
Recreation Finder
Recreation Finder is a collaborative effort of the Kansas Recreation and Park Association, the Sunflower Foundation, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, the Kansas Geological Survey's Data Access Support Center, Kansas State University’s Department of Horticulture Forestry and Recreation Resources, and hundreds of park and recreation professionals and other city and school district staff members statewide.
Check out this cool video of Ottawa in the 1960's
Must have real player
http://www.seattlechannel.org/videos/video.asp?ID=4170
Forest Park
Located on the northwest side of Ottawa on Locust Street and originally designed in 1864, Forest Park is the cool spot to be during the summer, offering swimming in the newly renovated City Pool, baseball fields, tennis courts, picnic shelters, play equipment, concessions served at the pool and baseball fields, and lots of shade throughout.
City Park
Located on 5th and Main St. this park is two whole city blocks and offers plenty of room for picnicking and playing. Explore the Dietrich Cabin, built in 1857, as it depicts life as it was back in the olden days. The Carnegie Cultural Center was built in 1903, originally as the Carnegie Library. Enjoy concerts in the summertime at the gazebo on the south end of the park.
Prairie Spirit Trail
This 33-mile long converted railroad is the longest rail trail in Kansas. From Ottawa to Welda, runners, walkers, bikers will take in the wildlife, prairie, rolling hills and farms. Catch the trailhead in Ottawa at the Old Depot Museum. The trail follows Walnut street south for 5 blocks, then begins as the actual trail behind the old Ottawa Middle School. As portions of the trail become completed, the trail will eventually span more than 50 miles, from Ottawa to Iola.
Kanza Park
The Prairie Spirit Trail runs right next to this park, providing relaxing park scenery for participants. The park may be accessed off 11th Street, one block west from Main Street. This is a great walking park, with a paved trail around it, used by walkers, bikers and runners alike. There is plenty of shade, with benches for resting along the way. Adjacent to the parking lot, there is a work out section of the park, with about a dozen different stations for exercising. If disc golf is your game, you will enjoy the new 18-hole disc golf course recently established here.
Freedom Park
The newly named small neighborhood park on Poplar Street between 2nd and 3rd Streets is near the Don Woodward Community Center. Playground equipment and a shelter highlight this park.
Haley Park
This park is located at the corner of Main and 2nd Streets. It is home to a gazebo like shelter and the mayor's Christmas Tree. It serves as the focal point for many downtown events such as a summer concert series.
Heritage Park
Located on the northeast side of town, Heritage Park is among the cities most recent additions. It lies along Powhattan Street near Birch Street on land acquired by the city in the 1990's, and developed as a neighborhood park. This park boasts a 1/2 mile walking track and a playground structure.
Skate Park
Ottawa's only skate park is located on the east side of town on 3rd Street. It sits on the east side of the Ottawa Recreation Commission and Don Woodward Community Center parking lot. Constructed on a pair of unused tennis courts, this park provides many people the chance to show off their biking and skateboarding skills on a series of ramps and jumps.
Fishing
The abundance of lakes nearby offers many fishing opportunities. Clinton Lake is to the north, Pomona lake to the west, Hillsdale Lake to the east, all within a 30 mile drive from Ottawa. The lakes, built by the Army Corps of Engineers also offer camping, swimming and boating.
| 
