Nathaniel Greene Park
2400 S. Scenic [map & satellite photo]
Coordinates: 37.171469,-93.328310
Adventure Notes:
Nathaniel Greene Park keeps surprising me. Every time I go back I discover something completely different in this 59 acre park. On our latest visit, we discovered the play ground, picnic area, and the Master Gardener’s Demonstration Garden. The park has a lot of beautiful green space. Rolling hills, towering trees… but not a lot of play ground equipment.
Who cares about multiple swing sets? It has it’s very own "Jungle!" That’s what Jeremiah calls the Demonstration Garden. He led us through the jungle, contemplating which trail was safe to take, bravely blazing through what he truly believed was a lion infested forest. There were no wild animals to be found. One wild butterfly did attack Jeremiah though.
Another Adventure:
We took another trip to Nathaniel Greene and discovered monuments, a turf demonstration, and statues. I’ve added more photos below.
Other Notes: The women’s bathroom has a door on the stall but it’s still not nearly as nice as the one at Chesterfield.
Found in Nathaniel Greene Park:
Close Memorial Park
Gray-Campbell Farmstead
Japanese Stroll Gardens
More Info:
The Demonstration Garden
If you haven’t done it yet, you really need to talk a walk around the lake, too. It is beautiful. Just watch out for goose poop.
Comment by Judi — June 2, 2005 @ 10:31 am
The Close Park lake is beautiful. And there are nice little trails off past that. We spent way too much time in that little wooded area… looking for a geocache.
Close Park is near the top of my to-do list. Along with Sequiota. I don’t remember the names of my other favorite parks. I’ll get to them eventually.
Comment by Amy — June 2, 2005 @ 10:42 am
Hi,
Your pics of the butterfly are great. What do you charge to get the non-watermarked version?
Thanks!
Robin
Comment by Robin — January 25, 2006 @ 12:18 pm
Hi my niece is planning on getting married in May and is considering the Nathaniel Greene park or the close memorial park area. I am disabled and therefore unable to go look at the area so I was wondering if you think those place would be wheelchair accessible and how far they are from a pavillion that they could have the ceremony in just in case of rain, any information would be greatly appreciated thanks
Melissa
Comment by Melissa — April 22, 2008 @ 4:48 pm
South Creek Greenway Interesting Information – Hiking, Biking and so Much More – Use the Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park Trailhead at 2400 S. Scenic
Currently there are over 8 miles of trail on the South Creek Greenway right here in Springfield. This project will eventually connect from McDaniel Park Trailhead (at National & Sunset streets) to Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield. It currently links from McDaniel Park Trailhead to Nathanael Greene Park/Close Memorial Park, 2400 S. Scenic, which also has a great trailhead. There are 21 gardens in place to view including the Mizumoto Japanese Gardens, Butterfly Garden with Native Butterfly House, Master Gardeners Demonstration Garden, and the English Garden among other features and miles of trails. For more information on Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park visit http://www.friendsofthegarden.org
Also along the South Creek Greenway route is Horton Smith Golf Course, Carver Middle School and a variety of neighborhoods.
Ample parking is available at McDaniel Park Trailhead, at Nathanael Greene Park/Close Memorial Park Trailhead and at the Volunteer Nature Trail Trailhead (see below). A pedestrian overpass at Kansas Expressway allows trail users to safely cross this busy street. An underpass has been constructed at Campbell Street for safe crossing of this street as well.
The Volunteer Nature Trail is a one-mile wood-chipped portion of trail that links to South Creek Creek Greenway. It was built by volunteers and opened in June 1996. The trailhead is on FR168, just south of the James River Freeway, off FF Highway, near the Southwest Water Treatment Plant and the city’s Yard Waste Drop-off Site.
For for more information on Ozark Greenways visit: http://www.ozarkgreenways.org/trails.html By the way, how do you like the South Creek Greenway that runs through Close Memorial Park and why?
Comment by George Deatz — January 31, 2010 @ 2:11 pm