Close
Memorial Park
2400 S. Scenic [map
& satellite photo]
Coordinates: 37.169183,-93.329029
Adventure Notes:
I’ve already spent three posts telling you about the wonderful things
Nathaniel Greene Park offers. Here’s another. When you turn off
Scenic at the park sign, take a right and you’ll discover Close Memorial
Park along with it’s beautiful garden and lake.
We came to a fenced garden which the kids begged to enter. I was
apprehensive. The gate was closed but not locked. There wasn’t a
sign saying not to go in, so we walked into the possibly forbidden garden.
The kids enjoyed climbing the hill, admiring the plants, and exploring the
trails. When we came out the other side I noticed this sign, "VISITORS
WELCOME. The fence is for the geese."
Past the fenced garden you’ll find Lake Drummond. A trail circles
the lake. A complete walking circuit around the lake is .70 miles.
Of
course our adventure included the usual antagonists. Geese.
They’re everywhere. Signs ask that you not feed them. [I'm
guessing that if no one feeds them then maybe they'll start eating small
children... but maybe not.]
Actually the park board is sending mixed messages… First they say not
to feed geese and ducks because there are too many. But then they put
up another sign saying not to chase them off with remote controlled boats.
Garden Info:
The Rose Garden
The Hosta Garden
The Butterfly Garden
Found near Close Memorial Park:
Nathaniel Greene Park
Gray-Campbell Farmstead
Japanese Stroll Gardens
Have you ever seen so many hostas in your life?????
Comment by Judi — August 5, 2005 @ 8:07 am
Have you ever seen so many different kinds of hostas in your whole life?????
Comment by Judi — August 5, 2005 @ 8:07 am
I have got to get out there more often and let my kids go “parking” too. I just hate the heat. you would think growing up in a desert it wouldn’t bother me. Wrong. It does. maybe we should be brave and go together. Email me!
Comment by Hillery — August 6, 2005 @ 5:03 pm
I love LOVE the sign pictures! “Please refrain from chasing the ducks” So fun.
Comment by Jami — August 8, 2005 @ 8:01 am
Do you happen to know how busy this park is usually?
Comment by Sam — July 30, 2006 @ 9:29 pm
Close Memorial Park is one of “Springfield’s hidden jewels” I found it on a bike ride along the Greenways Southcreek Trail. I liked it so much I joined the Friends of the Garden support group for the park. Thanks for you comments.
Comment by George Deatz — May 21, 2007 @ 8:57 pm
Today the sun is out and it is a lovely fall day at Close Memorial Park. The Ornamental Grass Garden is beautiful in it’s fall colors.
A lot has happened at Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Gardens and Park since my last entry May 21, 2007. I am the current president of Friends of the Garden the support group for Close Memorial Park.
We currently have twenty-one gardens in place throughout the parks plus the Bill Roston Butterfly House. If you haven’t visited the parks in person for awhile visit our web site http://www.friendsofthegarden.org or our interactive news blog for additional current garden information. http://friendsofthegarden.org/pblog/index.php
The new Botanical Center building is currently under construction and should be complete by the fall of 2010.
Come out and enjoy Springfield’s “hidden jewel”, all four seasons have true beauty to offer.
George Deatz
President 2009-2010
Frinds of the Garden
Comment by George Deatz — November 19, 2009 @ 12:30 pm
Some of you have already seen this note by but I think it still needs to be posted on Christmas. As 2009 comes to a close, thank you for your assistance to Friends of the Garden this past year. Our members’ efforts have resulted in generous membership growth plus completion of many successful projects. Those include the beginning of construction for the new Botanical Center building, expanded and improved gardens, construction of the Bill Roston Butterfly House, two successful festivals — Bluegrass & Blossoms and The Butterfly Festival, great community publicity, and record attendance at Close Memorial Park. For more information visit http://www.friendsofthegarden.org
Wishing you a very Special Christmas followed by a great start to the New Year, 2010!
Comment by George Deatz — December 25, 2009 @ 12:23 pm
The New Year is here and the Winter 2009/2010 Friends of the Garden Newsletter that was recently published can be viewed here with great color photos, if you haven’t seen it yet>> friendsofthegarden.org/winternewsletter.pdf Even though it’s January the trails and gardens at Close Memorial Park are open for walking from sunrise to sunset. Come out and enjoy the winter season including wildlife and the winter colors of the Ornamental Grass Garden.
Comment by George Deatz — January 2, 2010 @ 4:33 pm
I am with the Friends of the Garden http://www.friendsofthegarden.org volunteers who raised funds for the Botanical Center and help create and maintain the gardens. This photo gallery reveals the park’s beauty under a cover of snow. View the January 4, 2010 winter photograph gallery using this link:
ozarksgardens.com/pl/MdmQE/u/u/0/close-park-winter...
Close Memorial Park in Springfield, Missouri, is known with adjoining Nathanael Greene Park as Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park. Located at 2400 S. Scenic Ave. in Springfield, both parks form the site of a new Botanical Center now under construction. You’ll find much more on this website about the Botanical Center http://www.ozarksgardens.com Happily, more and more people are discovering this beautiful park complex and its 21 botanical gardens.
Comment by George Deatz — January 12, 2010 @ 8:41 pm