Staff writer
City parks in Marion County offer many chances for exploration and fun for children of all ages.
At the Memorial Park in Hillsboro, new playground equipment installed last year joins cannons and veterans’ memorial statues that children and adults find interesting.
A log-cabin style scout house and open-air shelter offer options for picnics and gatherings of all kinds.
Marion City Historical Museum, at the gateway of Marion Central Park, offers visitors a chance to get acquainted with the past by exploring a Santa Fe Trail mystery box (items from pioneer travelers on the trail), and by looking through a children’s burial vault filled with treasures from the past 100 years.
In the Marion park statues, playground equipment, picnic tables, fountains, and walking paths present opportunities for family fun and enjoyment.
At the Peabody City Park, located at the west end of Second Street, playground equipment, picnic areas, a municipal swimming pool, and the Jr./Sr. High School football field provide lots of space and opportunity for fun.
The park is home to an annual Fourth of July celebration.
West Branch Park, located at the corner of Summit and Prospect streets in Goessel, contains a walking path, a sand volleyball court, an enclosed shelter house, an open shelter house, tennis court/basketball court, a skate park and public restrooms, as well as playground equipment.
A new concessions stand and bathroom facilities are under construction between two baseball diamonds, located on the north side of Goessel on Athletic Park Drive.
Many other smaller towns in Marion County also feature parks with added attractions just right for summer exploration.