Burdette Park/University of Southern Indiana Pedestrian, Bicycle, and Nature Trail

Designated a National Recreation Trail in 2008, this trail will link Burdette Park in Evansville with the University of Southern Indiana.

From Vanderburgh County Commissioners

	On the Burdette Park-USI National Recreation Trail

The Burdette Park-USI Pedestrian, Bicycle and Nature Trail, six tenths of a mile in length, serves as a vital piece of a future two mile trail that will connect Burdette Park and the University of Southern Indiana. This first trail stage, beginning at scenic Burdette Park, is a key connection to an area of river bottom-land with 37 miles of paved roads currently signed for bicycle use and very popular with cyclists. This trail is part of the American Discovery Trail that passes through Indiana as part of the "Crossroad of America."

The American Discovery Trail (ADT) offers a diverse, interesting, and challenging route for hikers, bikers, and other trail users as they cross Indiana on the southern route of the American Discovery Trail. Some of the points of interest on the ADT include Hoosier National Forest, Lincoln State Park, Fall of the Ohio State Park, Scales Lake County Park, Wyandotte Caves, Angel Mounds State Historic Site, the Pigeon Creek Greenway, and Hovey Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area. Burdette Park, with its many camp sites and recreation facilities, offers a unique wayside for travelers on the ADT.

The Burdette Park-USI trail in Evansville, Indiana

Burdette Park, a designated destination point on the southern route of the trail just north of the Ohio River through the Southern Hills Region, is a 134 acre county-owned park that serves as a regional recreational facility attracting approximately 200,000 visitors per year. A wide variety of recreational opportunities are offered at the park, including miniature golf, batting cages, tennis, basketball courts, volleyball courts, softball fields, picnic areas, shelter houses, rental chalets.

Camping opportunities include areas for RV camping, and primitive camping (for tents). A BMS track is also located within the park. Another very popular activity in the park is water recreation at the Burdette Park Aquatic Center. The pool, including several water slides, attracts visitors from the entire region.

The recently complete Discovery Lodge is also very popular and provides an opportunity to host large gatherings, business meetings, award banquets, weddings, etc. in a new spacious facility that features nature displays, large open spaces and elaborate fireplaces. At the other end of the trail Burdette Park sponsors a day camp program and other events and programs that benefit from the use of the trail. Many who camp at the park bring their bicycles and utilize the trail. Bicycle clubs meet at the park for their outings, and individual cyclists use the park trailhead frequently.

For more information:

Burdette Park
530 Nurrenbein Road, Evansville, Indiana 47712
(812) 435-5602
www.burdettepark.org

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Audubon Center at the Francis Beidler Forest (photo: Mark Musselman)

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