Parks in Edwardsville

The City takes pride in providing beautiful, well-maintained parks offering a range of amenities. City parks are open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 

Our parks are wonderful places to visit, but did you know that you can host your next gathering or event in our parks? We have plenty of outdoor pavilions and sites for rent, and several indoor spots perfect for small, large, private, public, formal or casual events. Did you know? These sites include the historic Wildey Theatre in downtown Edwardsville! Facility Rentals

Edwardsville also is home to two City-owned museums that are great places to explore and learn. Visit their websites for more details: The Edwardsville Children's Museum & the 1820 Colonel Benjamin Stephenson House. 

Edwardsville Children's Museum photo for websiteCol. Benjamin Stephenson House photo for website

Parks Amenities Chart Parks at a glanceFind A ParkParks_2023 Opens in new window

Brent Leh Dog Park photo for website

BRENT LEH DOG PARK

This off-leash dog park was established near downtown Edwardsville in 2018. In 2019, it was named in memory of a community veterinarian, Brent Leh, who died in a motorcycle crash in 2018. The park has synthetic turf and fencing and includes a variety of agility equipment. There is a water station for dogs, but water access is shut off during the colder months. The park is open year-round from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. 

NOTICE: Park rules must be read and followed by all who utilize this facility. 
> Park Rules

LOCATION: Olive Street and West Schwarz Street

City Park photo for websiteCITY PARK

This park is centrally situated in Edwardsville on 2.09 acres downtown. Dotted with shade trees and benches, this beautiful park is also the site of the Edwardsville Public Library and the Cleaon Etzkorn bandstand. The bandstand serves as the focal point for year-round events, including Arts in the Park activities, the Edwardsville Route 66 Festival, Opera Edwardsville performances and concerts by Edwardsville’s Municipal Band, the Edwardsville Symphony and the summer Concerts in the Park series. City Park has restrooms, benches, the Madison County Centennial Monument and a scenic fountain, donated by Mr. and Mrs. Richard Bearden. 

LOCATION: 101 South Buchanan Street

City Plaza photo for websiteCITY PLAZA

This small park at the corner of St. Louis Street and Vandalia Street was dedicated in October of 2007. The location just off the downtown area is the site of a former office building. It features a beautiful fountain, benches, a flag and a statue of former Illinois Governor Ninian Edwards, the City's namesake, along with a lithograph detailing his policies and actions.

LOCATION: St. Louis Street and West Vandalia Street

Drda Woods photo for websiteDRDA WOODS

This 71-acre green space property is currently being reforested. The William C. Drda Woods preserve is adjacent to Bohm Woods State Nature Preserve. Preservation work is being led by parks staff, volunteers and the Heartlands Conservancy. Part of the terms of a grant from Illinois Clean Energy Foundation includes restoration of the forest, which was previously used as farmland. Plans call for public access to Drda Woods to be established off New Poag Road near the entrance to SIUE.

LOCATION: 5404 New Poag Road

Hoppe Park website photoHOPPE PARK 

This park stretches over 10 acres and is part of a complement of feature-packed sites (along with Winston Brown Recreation Complex and Watershed Nature Center) in that area of Edwardsville that offer plenty for nature lovers, athletes, families and more. Located on Tower Avenue, Hoppe Park is also the home of the Edwardsville Little League baseball program. 

Amenities include:

  • One major league-size baseball field (lighted)
  • One elementary-size baseball field (lighted)
  • One concession/restroom building
  • Two playground areas

LOCATION: 1500 Tower Avenue

Hotz Park photo for websiteHOTZ PARK

One of the smallest parks in the United States is located in Edwardsville at the intersection of St. Louis and Randle streets. Hotz Park, at just .02 acres, is home to a huge stone bearing a bronze plaque that commemorates the City's five resident governors. Those governors were: Edward Coles, Ninian Edwards, John Reynolds, Thomas Ford and Charles Deneen.

LOCATION: 300 Randle Street

Joe Glik Park photo for websiteJOE GLIK PARK

At more than 42 acres, this park was purchased through a donation from Joe Glik and two Illinois Department of Natural Resources grants. Located near Dunlap Lake on East Lake Drive, Joe Glik Park accommodates many community events and activities. Additional development is planned. Learn about the ongoing Prairie Project.

Amenities include:

  • 2,500 feet of walking, biking and skating trails
  • Two stocked fishing lakes with a concrete fishing deck
  • Two picnic pavilions (available for rental)
  • Barbecue grill
  • Large comfort station
  • Playground with ADA-compliant surfacing
  • Sand volleyball courts
  • Basketball court
  • Large grass areas for open play
  • Freedom Fountain
  • Off-leash fenced dog park with trees and shade

LOCATION: 710 East Lake Drive

Leclaire Field photo for websiteLECLAIRE FIELD 

This sports facility occupies 3.3 acres near Hale Avenue and Troy Road. A signature Little League baseball facility was created in a cooperative effort with the Edwardsville Glen Carbon Little League Association. The site includes an elementary-size baseball field with a sprinkler system, electronic scoreboard, field lighting system, concessions, restrooms, press box building, paved parking lot, street lighting, and grandstand seating. Nearby is the historic Leclaire Academy building, a more than century-old school building that delights as the site of the Edwardsville Children’s Museum.

LOCATION: 614 Troy Road


Leclaire Park photo for websiteLECLAIRE PARK

This park sprawls across 5.8 acres nestled within the historic Leclaire neighborhood. It is a favorite picnic and playground area and hosts events throughout the year. The beautiful setting draws visitors from Edwardsville and surrounding communities. A sidewalk encircles the park and the scenic 2-acre lake, which is great for fishing. Three of this park's facilities are available for rental.

Amenities include:

  • Three playground areas
  • Historic bandstand gazebo
  • Large picnic pavilion
  • Two small picnic shelters
  • Barbecue grills
  • Handicapped-accessible restroom facility
  • Two-acre fishing lake with a lighted waterfall fountain

LOCATION: 900 Hale Avenue

Leon Corlew Park and Splash Pad photo for websiteLEON CORLEW PARK AND SPLASH PAD 

This accessible splash pad and dry playground take up over 2 acres behind the City's Public Safety Building. Play features range from gentle bubblers on one end to a large dumping bucket on the other side. Nearby, there's a traditional dry playground area offering both a toddler structure and a bigger kid structure with two tall and winding slides, all on a no-slip safety turf surface that's accessible for children of varying abilities and ages. MORE DETAILS!

Splash Pad Hours & Season: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day. (The dry playground is open year-round.)

FREE admission (If you plan to bring a day care or camp group to the Splash Pad, please call the Parks & Recreation staff ahead of your visit at 618-692-7538. We require proof of insurance and $1 per child.)

Splash Pad parkingAmenities include:

  • Splash pad
  • Shade shelters
  • Playground
  • Three pavilions (two are available for rental)
  • Fitness trail
  • Restrooms (includes two family rooms)
  • Concessions (staffed from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.)
  • Barbecue grills

LOCATION: 337 South Main Street (Please park in marked visitor areas only.)

Lusk Park photo for websiteLUSK MEMORIAL PARK

This park is the site of the City's oldest cemetery, occupying a shady expanse of over 2.8 acres just blocks from downtown. It is considered to be a passive park, and includes benches and memorial plaques, and is bordered by wrought iron fencing at the main entrance. The remains of several of the original headstones are still visible near the entrance. In September 2024, a historical marker was dedicated to share the site's unique history as Edwardsville's oldest public burial grounds.

LOCATION: 535 Randle Street

Plummer Family Park photo for websitePLUMMER FAMILY PARK

This sports facility opened in 2020, and was expanded in 2024. The 83-acre complex offers an array of sports fields and amenities for all ages and abilities. The facility offers easy access to Interstate 55, downtown Edwardsville and other parts of the City. With 825 parking spots, it can accommodate team activities ranging from soccer and baseball/softball to pickleball, lacrosse, beach volleyball and more. 
> More Details

Amenities include:

  • Eight lighted synthetic turf 12U baseball/softball fields
  • Three lighted synthetic turf multipurpose fields
  • Three natural grass fields
  • Six NCAA- and AVP-regulation sand volleyball courts
  • 25 outdoor lighted pickleball courts (including a championship court)
  • Two outdoor batting cages
  • Three buildings offering concessions/restrooms; "tiki hut" concession stand near sand volleyball courts

LOCATION: 3501 Sports Park Drive

Richards Woods photo for websiteRICHARDS WOODS

This passive park encompasses a roughly 35-acre space on a natural, timbered area on the eastern side of town. It was acquired in 2021 as part of the City's effort to preserve select green space areas. The City worked with the nonprofit HeartLands Conservancy to develop a conservation management plan for Richards Woods and Drda Woods to incorporate some public access with best practices for removing invasive species and protecting native growth. 

LOCATION: Bordered by Marine Road (Route 143) and Schwarz Road on the east side of Edwardsville

Rotary Park photo for websiteROTARY PARK

A compact half-acre in size, this neighborhood park is located at the end of Hadley Avenue and Harrison Street. It is bordered on the north by a wooden fence.

Amenities include:

  • Playground
  • Picnic tables
  • Barbecue grills
  • Drinking fountain

LOCATION: Hadley Avenue and Harrison Street

R.P. Lumber Center photo for websiteR.P. LUMBER CENTER

This recreational complex in Edwardsville provides residents and visitors a year-round option for skating, hockey, exercise and more. Offering one of the only 175-meter special surface tracks in the area, The R.P. Lumber Center features a state-of-the-art ice rink, a teen center and meeting space. Day passes and memberships are available. The facility is adjacent to Edwardsville High School, Metro East Lutheran High School, Highway 157, Governors' Parkway and many trails in the community.
> More Details

LOCATION: 6289 Tiger Drive

Springer Woods Park photo for websiteSPRINGER WOODS

This park sits on 13.4 acres in a wooded nature area that winds through a quiet neighborhood in the central-north section of the City. This site primarily serves as a neighborhood park.

Amenities include:

  • Children’s playground
  • Exercise trail
  • Two small picnic table shelters
  • Barbecue grill

LOCATION: Frederick Street & Springer Woods Lane 

Terry Park photo for websiteTERRY PARK 

This 6.1-acre site is largely a natural wildlife area located along Terry Street and Grand Avenue. It includes walking paths, and is used mostly by neighborhood children walking to and from school and the nearby Watershed Nature Center.

LOCATION: Terry Street

Tower Park photo for websiteTOWER PARK

This 1-acre park is located on Gerber Road just south of Governors' Parkway is in the footprint of one of the City's water towers. It is used mostly as a neighborhood park.

Amenities include:

  • Basketball court
  • Picnic pavilion
  • Barbecue grill

LOCATION: 89 Bennington Place 

Vadalabene Park photo for websiteVADALABENE PARK

This sports facility occupies 4 acres and is home to the youth softball league. It is located on the City's northern edge near Home Avenue and Voge Street. More than 1,700 participants in the community use the facility during the summer.

Amenities include:

  • One basketball court
  • Two lighted softball fields
  • Children’s "tot lot" playground 
  • Picnic pavilion
  • Two concession/restroom buildings

LOCATION: 501 & 599 Voge Street 

Watershed Nature Center photo for websiteWATERSHED NATURE CENTER

At 40+ acres, this outdoor learning center showcases the science and beauty of nature. Located adjacent to Hoppe Park, the Watershed Nature Center is the site of the City's former sewage lagoon. With the help of volunteers, donations and LWCF grant funding from the state, it was transformed and reopened in 1995 as a breathtaking nature and education center that draws visitors from near and far. It includes 3,000 feet of paved trails, 800 feet of concrete walks elevated over wetlands, two observation towers, one observation blind, two lakes, prairies, upland forest, and a 1500-square-foot Interpretive Welcome Center.

The Watershed Nature Center exists as a public-private partnership: It is owned and maintained by the City, with programs and events offered by the Nature Preserve Foundation, a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) organization.

Did you know that the Watershed's welcome center building, treehouse, lookout, and outdoor amphitheater can be rented for events? 
> Facilities Rental Details

HOURS: Dawn to dusk every day
LOCATION: 1591 Tower Avenue

Image of the West End Service Station and its nameWEST END SERVICE STATION

Starting in 1927, the building at 620 St. Louis Street served as a fuel stop and service center for residents and travelers making their way along the iconic highway known as Route 66. In 1964, around the time that Route 66 was realigned, bypassing Edwardsville, the building was sold. For the next 55 years, it housed a series of dental practices. In 2022, the City of Edwardsville partnered with Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau to purchase and restore it as the West End Service Station. It reopened in June 2023 as a Route 66 interpretive center to take visitors on a nostalgic trip back in time through events, and historical exhibits. Great Rivers and Routes staff are on site to answer questions, provide details on area Route 66 attractions and show off souvenirs available for purchase at the station. 
> More Details

HOURS: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday
LOCATION: 620 St. Louis Street

Winston Brown Recreation Center photo for websiteWINSTON BROWN RECREATION COMPLEX

Previously known as Lower Hoppe Park, this 10.5-acre park was renamed in honor of the late Winston Brown, a longtime Park Board chairman, educator, coach and Edwardsville City Council member. It is located near a complement of City park facilities, including Hoppe Park and the Watershed Nature Center.

Amenities include:

  • Two lighted softball fields
  • Two lighted full-size basketball courts with spectator seating
  • Sand volleyball courts 
  • Children’s playground
  • Concession/restroom buildings
  • Two picnic pavilions

LOCATION: 1325 Schiller Avenue