When the university had to close down in March, the weather was still cold and unwelcoming for outdoor activities.

 

But spring has passed us and we are in summertime where we can experience the warm weather. After being stuck indoors for months, consider getting out and enjoying the weather at one of these eight nearby parks, while observing the necessary social distancing guidelines.

 

Minnetrista

This park is settled right in Muncie, and although its trails are not long, this park offers nature, wildlife, and the opportunity to learn more about both. It has open fields and shaded pathways, and there are many different activities available. While you can get outside and get active at this park, you can also learn a lot about Muncie and its history. According to Minnetrista’s website, indoor exhibits at Minnetrista will remain closed until October but the outdoor grounds are available for activities, walking, and events.

 

Prairie Creek Reservoir 

Located approximately five miles southeast of Muncie, Prairie Creek Reservoir is Muncie’s largest park and offers recreational activities on the reservoir and in the surrounding park. Some activities at Prairie Creek include fishing, boating, swimming, ATV riding and camping. They also have trails on the southeastern end of the reservoir for mountain vikings and hiking. Prairie Creek Reservoir and the surrounding parks are open and operating under normal hours. 

 

Summit Lake State Park

Near New Castle, Indiana, and 18 miles south of Muncie, Summit Lake State Park spans over 2,680 acres and includes a large lake. According to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) website, this park is known for camping and it has 120 electric campsites, bathhouses, and shelters. The lake can be used for recreational activities such as boating, fishing and swimming, and they offer paddleboard, canoe and rowboat rentals. There are about six miles of hiking trails ranging in difficulty from easy to moderate. Summit Lake is also home to Henry County’s only nature preserve called Zeigler Woods. All Indiana state parks, including Summit Lake, are open but operating under some restrictions.

 

Mounds State Park

Fifteen miles southwest of Muncie sits Mounds State Park in Anderson, Indiana. According to the DNR website, this park features earthworks built by prehistoric Indians known as the Adena-Hopewell people. It sits along the White River, and offers trails varying from easy to rugged and half mile to 2.5 miles. This park is great for hiking as well as learning about nature and these ancient mounds. While this state park is back to operating normally, the public swimming pool is closed for the entirety of the 2020 season. 

 

Cardinal Greenway

According to its website Cardinal Greenway stretches 62 miles from Marion to Richmond in Indiana and passes through downtown Muncie. This greenway is a great way to get a lot of mileage when getting active outdoors. It is perfect for biking, walking and running, and you can go for as many miles as you like in either direction. There are also no restrictions to this greenway and it is open dawn to dusk.

 

McVey Memorial Forest

McVey Memorial Forest, according to the Red-tail Land Conservancy's website, is a 249 acre forest located in Randolph County and is approximately 17 miles east of Muncie. This park offers around four miles of trails for hiking and traverses many different biomes, such as prairie, wetland and forest. This forest was designated as a nature park by Edna McVey in her will allowing future generations to enjoy it. It is also home to a 30-year restoration project. It is under no restrictions and is open from dawn to dusk.

 

Dutro-Ernst Woods

Located within the city limits of Muncie and just west of downtown, this park has over a mile of easily-accessible paths for walking. It is a part of the Red-tail Land Conservancy and includes a nature playground. It is open from dawn to dusk with no current restrictions.

 

White River Woods

Just nine miles southwest of Muncie sits the White River Woods, a property of the Red-tail Land Conservancy. This park has a .66 mile trail that winds through the forest near the White River. It has a wide arrangement of wildflowers in the spring and is open dawn to dusk with no restrictions.