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Sports & Recreation

Visitors enjoy endless recreation opportunities in greater South Bend. Paddle the East Race Waterway, the first artificial whitewater course in North America or fishing on the St. Joseph River. Potato Creek State Park, Indiana’s second largest state park, is only 20 minutes southwest of downtown South Bend. Hiking, biking, nature trails, canoeing, inner tubing and cross-country skiing opportunities are found at the community’s four county parks and 90 city parks. From baseballs, soft balls, golf balls, tennis balls, soccer balls, volley balls, footballs and bowling balls – you’ll find four seasons of sporting fun in South Bend/Mishawaka!

Parks/Outdoor Recreation
Indoor Recreation
Golf Courses
Sports

 

Parks/Outdoor Recreation

 

Belleville Softball Complex
4802 Meadow Lane
South Bend, IN 46619
574.299.4765
Web site:  www.sbpark.org/sports/Asa.html
Features lighted field in grass with red turf and bleacher seating, P.A. system, dugouts and concessions.  Open May through October for league play.

 

Richard Clay Bodine State Fish Hatchery
13200 East Jefferson Boulevard
Mishawaka, IN 46545
574.255.4199
574.257.8477 – Fishing Hotline
Web site: www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild
The Bodine State Fish Hatchery is a trout and salmon hatchery built specifically for the St. Joseph River Interstate Cooperative Salmonid Management Program.  Fish from the hatchery are used to stock the St. Joseph River and other Lake Michigan tributaries.  The current stocking assignment for the St. Joseph River calls for annual planting of 241,000 Skamania strain steelhead trout and 180,000 Chinook salmon.

 

Coveleski Stadium
501 West South Street
South Bend, IN46601
574.235.9988
Web site: www.silverhawks.com
Home to the South Bend Silver Hawks.  Features a grass field, lighted electronic scoreboard, box, bleacher and grass seating and a P.A. system.  Locker room, dugouts, concessions, picnic area and banquet facility.

 

East Race Waterway
121 North Niles Avenue
South Bend, IN 46617
(574) 233-6121
Web site: www.sbpark.org
Located in the heart of downtown South Bend on the east side of the St. Joseph River at the South Bend dam, the East Race Waterway is a one-of-a-kind recreational facility.  As the first artificial white water course in North America and only one of six in the world, its rapids rival those of the Colorado River and can generate waves up to six feet or higher.  It is approximately 2,000 feet long with a total fall of about 12 feet depending on the flow of the river.  The water level can be controlled via three headgates and the placement of obstacles that create whitewater turbulence from novice to professional levels. The banks of the East Race offer more than five miles of paved and lighted walking/running paths along the scenic St. Joseph River.  The East Race opens in June and closes in mid-August.

 

Ella Morris and Muessel-Ellison Botanical Conservatories and Potawatomi Greenhouse
2015 Mishawaka Avenue
South Bend, IN 46615
574.235.9442
Web site:  www.sbpark.org
The lush jungle feel of the Morris Conservatory with its large rubber trees, bamboo and citrus trees and the relaxing sound of the small waterfall surrounded by bougainvillea, bird of paradise and many other exotic plants found in the Muessel-Ellsion Conservatory invites visitors to explore nature’s beauty.  The Potawatomi Greenhouse features eight growing houses that grow the flowers and plants for three seasonal flower shows and supply the conservatories and South Bend parks.

 

Military Honor Park
4477 Progress Drive
(Main entrance of the South Bend Regional Airport)
South Bend, IN 46628
574.232.4300
Outdoor mlitary park and indoor museum.  Displays include airplanes, tanks, weaponry, uniforms, small artifacts, research library and gift shop.

 

Mishawaka City Parks
1122 Lincolnway West
Mishawaka, IN 46544
574.258.1664
Web site www.mishawakacity.com
The city of Mishawaka offers a variety of parks in its system to experience and enjoy.

George Wilson Park
58909 Clover Road
Mishawaka, IN 46544
574.258.1664
Web site: www.mishawakacity.com
This 18 hole par 66 disc golf course is rated the third best disc golf course in the United States and was the site for the 1996 World Disc Golf Championships.


 

Potato Creek State Park
25601 State Road 4
P.O. 908
North Liberty, IN  46554
574.656.8186
www.in.gov/dnr/parklake
Camping, cabins, fishing, boat rental, boat launch, beach, paved bike trail, hiking trails, mountain bike trail, bridle trails, horseman’s campground, nature center, interpretive naturalist programs, picnicking, shelters, recreation buildings, x-c ski trails, tubing hill, ice fishing.  This 3,800 acre park abounds with diverse habitats and wildlife and has been designated as an Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society and Birdlife International.

 

Shiojiri Niwa Gardens
1000 East Mishawaka Avenue
Mishawaka, IN 46545
574.258.1664
Web site:  www.mishawakacity.com/parksandrecreations.asp
A Japanese strolling garden located in Merrifield Park that symbolizes the Sister-City relationship between Mishawaka and Shiojiri City, Nagano Prefecture, Japan.  It contains more than 20 different varieties of large plant material, over 200 large boulders, a donated statue and a teahouse pavilion.

 

St. Joseph County Parks
574.277.4828
Web site: www.sjcparks.org
Picnic shelters, hiking trails, playgrounds, canoe rentals, x-c ski rentals/trails, interpretive programs. Bendix Woods County Park, Spicer Lake Nature Preserve, Ferrettie-Baugo Creek County Park, St. Patrick's County Park, Place Trail Marsh Natural Area.

Bendix Woods County Park
32132 State Road 2
New Carlisle, IN 46552
574.654.3155
Web site: www.sjcparks.org/bendix.html
195 acres. Picnic shelters, hiking trails, interpretive programs, nature preserve, new playground. Hayrides in the fall. Maple syrup programs/Sugar Camp Days Festival in Spring. Studebaker Clubhouse & Nature Center. Home of world-famous Studebaker pine trees.

Ferrettie-Baugo Creek County Park
57057 Ash Road
Osceola, IN 46561
574.674.9765
Web site: www.sjcparks.org/baugo.html
210 acres. Picnic shelters, 18-hole disc golf course, hiking trails, interpretive programs, swimming, fishing, canoeing, playground, innertubing, snow shoeing. Baubaugo Living History Festival in May.

Place Trail Marsh Natural Area
Place Trail and Quinn Road
North Liberty, Indiana
Web site: www.sjcparks.org/ptrail.html
362 acres of restored Grand Kankakee Marsh land. Birding and hiking. Limited seasonal waterfowl hunting.

Spicer Lake Nature Preserve
50840 County Line Road
New Carlisle, IN 46552
574.654.0361
Web site: www.sjcparks.org/spicer.html
320 acres of state-dedicated nature preserve. Hiking trails, boardwalk trail through wetlands, birding, interpretive programs, nature center. Offers unique local opportunity for nature/habitat study.

St. Patrick’s County Park
50651 Laurel Road
South Bend, IN 46637
574.277.4828
Web site: www.sjcparks.org/stpats.html
290+ acres. Picnic shelters, hiking trails, interpretive programs, canoeing, fishing, playground, innertubing and cross country skiing. Overnight rentals at Manion Cabin. Concerts and festivals at Robert J. Fischgrund Center for Performing Arts amphitheater. Boat launch access to the St. Joseph River.

 

 

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