Hornets Nest Park
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
Hornets Nest Park is a vast outdoor facility offering an exceptionally wide range of activities suitable for various age groups, often less crowded than comparable parks on weekdays. Its unique value lies in the sheer diversity and scale of its amenities, from multiple playgrounds and a BMX track to extensive sports fields, disc golf, and peaceful walking trails.
Key Highlights
- ✓Two distinct large playground areas, one featuring a Panthers Play60 obstacle course and numerous swings.
- ✓A dedicated BMX track for cycling enthusiasts.
- ✓Extensive disc golf course, even used for tournaments, running throughout the park.
- ✓Multiple sports fields including baseball, basketball courts, sand volleyball courts, and 12 tennis courts.
- ✓Several large fishing ponds/lakes, one with a fountain, offering benches for viewing ducks and geese.
- ✓A new 1-mile wooded trail in the rear of the park, ideal for walking and exploring.
- ✓Paved paths suitable for kids to ride bikes and for family walks.
- ✓Numerous pavilions and picnic tables, with several picnic shelters equipped with grills, facilitating cookouts.
Standout Features
- ⭐The Panthers Play60 obstacle course, providing a unique active play experience.
- ⭐Dedicated BMX track, catering to a specific interest group.
- ⭐Extensive disc golf course, attractive to both casual players and professionals.
- ⭐12 tennis courts, offering ample opportunity for tennis play.
- ⭐Two distinct play areas ensuring variety for children.
- ⭐Abundance of picnic shelters with grills, ideal for family cookouts and gatherings.
- ⭐New 1-mile wooded trail, offering a natural escape and exercise opportunity.
- ⭐Generally clean park, despite wildlife presence.
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →Bring bikes for children to utilize the numerous paved paths.
- →Visit during weekdays for a more docile and peaceful experience.
- →Come prepared for a picnic or cookout, as many shelters with grills are available.
- →Bring fishing gear if interested, as there are large fishing ponds.
- →Disc golf enthusiasts should bring their discs, as the course is well-regarded and extensive.
Things to Consider
- ⚠The pond is explicitly stated as 'not for swimming'.
- ⚠Geese frequent the park, which might lead to messy areas, though the park is generally kept clean.
- ⚠While vast, one reviewer noted it's 'not a big park' which might be a perception of specific areas, contrasting with other 'huge' descriptions.
- ⚠The park is described as 'not quite as well manicured' as some other parks like Freedom Park.
Price & Value
Free entry to the park and its extensive facilities, offering exceptional value for families and individuals given the wide range of available activities. No explicit costs for amenities are mentioned in reviews.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •Paved paths are available throughout the park, suitable for strollers and potentially wheelchairs.
- •Restrooms are available on-site.
- •No specific accommodations for sensory needs or other specialized accessibility were mentioned in reviews.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •Outside food and picnicking are highly encouraged, with numerous picnic tables and shelters available.
- •Several picnic shelters are equipped with grills, supporting cookouts.
- •No restrictions on outside food were mentioned.
🚗Parking Info
- •Plenty of parking is available, with several parking lots throughout the park.
- •No fees for parking were mentioned.
👥Crowd Levels
- •**Quiet/Docile:** Weekdays are generally peaceful and not nearly as busy as other comparable parks.
- •**Busy:** Weekends get 'a little busy' to 'really busy', particularly with various activities and events.
🛡️Safety Features
- •The park is described as 'especially clean', contributing to a perception of a well-maintained and safe environment.
- •No specific security personnel or monitored entry/exit points were mentioned.
⏰When to Avoid
- • If you prefer highly manicured or perfectly groomed park environments.
- • If you are looking for a swimming pond, as the existing pond is not for swimming.
- • Weekends, if you prefer a very quiet and uncrowded experience, as the park gets busy.
- • If allergic to geese or prefer to avoid areas where they frequent, due to their presence.
Pricing/Package/Events
What People Say
What's Great
- Spacious play areas (mentioned in 8 reviews)
Areas for Improvement
- Can get crowded during peak times (mentioned in 3 reviews)
- Parking can be challenging (mentioned in 7 reviews)
Recent Reviews
jonmarkheaner
9 months agoThis place is huge! Many baseball fields are in one area, In the next area- a couple large fishing ponds, a large playground with many swings and a Panthers Play60 obstacle course- in addition to basketball courts and sand volleyball courts. Just past that is the BMX track and some more pavilions. There are 12 tennis courts after that (would be awesome if they changed some to Pickleball courts!) And disc golf course runs throughout the park. There are many pavilions and picnic tables to eat and and a few paths the kids can ride bikes. This place feels similar to Freedom park, but not quite as well manicured, not nearly so busy. Tons of space! Highly recommend checking it out.
Randy Williams
11 months agoThe new trail that’s in the rear of the park goes about a mile into the woods and into different neighborhoods,great place to get steps in, to fish cookout and great for the kids….two different play areas,also have rest rooms and plenty of parking.
Elena Makoviy
2 years agoI like the lake with the fountain there. You can take a seat on a bench and enjoy the view. I saw a few ducks and goose. Also you can finish if you like it. There're few fields to play sports, playground for children and some places for BBQ. In general it's not a big park but it's peaceful.
Irly C
2 months agoMy husband is a professional discgolfer who uses this course for practice. During the week, the park is nice and docile, while the weekends get a little busy. Great place to walk with the family, playground for the kiddos and pond to fish.
Dynisha Faust
2 years agoThere's alot to do at this park. The park has paved paths, two play areas, several picnic shelters with grills, tennis courts, a BMX park, softball field, and frisbee golf. The frisbee golf course was used for big tournament once. There's a pond but it's definitely not for swimming. I've seen people fishing. The park is especially clean considering those nasty geese frequent there. There's several parking lots. It's really busy on the weekends.