Located on the corner of VanBuren & Blackstone, this park features open green space and is the home of the State Champion Beech Tree.

Located at Lewis Street near Locust Street, this park features baseball fields.

 In 2000, the park went through a complete redesign, including new landscaping, playground structure, water feature and a charming statue of children at play. Located at West Avenue and Brighton Street, it is near the Inter-City Bike Trail and Parkside Middle School, between two larger parks Cascades and Sharp Parks.

Located on the northwest corner of Michigan Avenue and South Jackson Street, this park features benches and green space in the shade of several mature trees. A fountain is the focal point of the park as well as the First Congregational Church that borders it on the north. Across the street on the northeast corner of Jackson and Michigan is Bucky Harris Park on the site of Old Jacksonburg Square and on the southwest corner is the Millenium Clocktower where a time capsle buried beneath it on January 1, 2000 and finally the Horace Ismon Building on the southeast corner which is in the Michigan Registrar of Historic Places.

Located off of Michigan Ave between Durand and Thompson Streets, this park features two tennis courts, two basketball courts, a ballfield, playground equipment and picnic tables. It is along the parade route and is often filled with children during the annual Rose Parade.

Located on the northeast corner of Jackson Street and Michigan Avenue, this park is an historical recreation of Old Jacksonburg Square, featuring green space with benches, a fountain, and a concert stage. Summer concerts are put on here by the Jackson Downtown Development Authority and it is also a focal point of many other downtown Jackson events including Summer Cruise-ins. On the north side of the park is the Old Stone Post Office, the oldest stone structure in Jackson. The northwest corner of the intersection features Blackman City Park, the southwest corner features a clock tower with a time capsule burried beneath it and the southeast corner features another historical building named for local merchant Horace Ismon.

The best known attraction of this 457 acre park is The Cascades, a man-made, illuminated waterfall with musical accompaniment enjoyed by all since 1932. Some prefer to watch the dancing lights and listen to the beautiful music from comfortable seats, while the more energetic climb to the top of the 500 foot hill alongside the six giant fountains while dodging the spraying water. The falls are illuminated every night in season, 8:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. with an admission charge. Children 10 years and under are free with paid adult. Call for special group rates. 

The park, also known as the Sparks Foundation County Park, features the Cascades 18-hole Championship Golf Course and Cascades Short Course and driving range.  Other features include outdoor basketball court, baseball and softball fields, a very popular walking path, playground area, and a picnic shelter.  The Cascades Park is also the home of many special events such as the Midwest's Largest Cascades Civil War Muster, and spectacular fireworks show every year. Don't forget to stop by the Cascades Ice Cream Co, featuring "Frozen Dome Malts", opened March through September.

2013 Admission Rates for The Cascades 
Senior   $3.00 per person
Regular   $4.00 per person
Family Nights $7.00 per family
Fireworks  $6.00 per person
Children 10 and under always free with paying adult.

Group Rates for 12 or more people at $3 per person, with one person paying for entire group.
(Please call ahead – Mon thru Fri @ 517-768-2901)

2013 Season Passes
Includes Family Nights and Fireworks
Single (1)   $40.00
Double (2)   $60.00
Family (Limit 8)  $90.00

This 7 acre park on the beaches of Clark Lake includes grills, picnic area, playground area, swimming area, boat launch, and portable toilets.

A five acre park with picnic shelter, playground, swimming area, historic pump house and portable toilets with 200 feet of shoreline on the beach. Take I-94 to the Clear Lake Rd. exit.  Head North approximately 2.5 miles and the park is on the east side of the road.No alcohol is allowed in the park, swim at your own risk, no lifeguard on duty. Pets allowed on leash only in all Jackson County Parks; pets are not allowed in the picnic, playground or beach areas.

Ella Sharp Park is located on 562 acres along the banks of the Southwest Branch of the Grand River in beautiful Jackson, Michigan. The landscape of the park varies from relatively flat to heavily rolling and hilly. This provides a great location for a park full of fun and activities for everyone. The park holds a challenging golf course, beautiful flower gardens, miles of hiking trails, basketball courts, soccer fields, a golf learning center, softball fields, and many other facilities for athletics and casual enjoyment of the outdoors.

The 562 acres were donated to the city of Jackson by Ella W. Sharp, the largest park donation to the city. She bequeathed her farm to the city to be developed as a park and maintained through a trust fund from her estate. Beginning in 1912, this family farm was developed as a public park. park roadways were laid out as well as the picnic and play areas, the golf course, tennis courts, and ball diamonds, and the gardens. The Merriman-Sharp Farmhouse became the beginning of the Ella Sharp Museum.
In 2001, the Golf Course went through a restoration and redesign. The park's landscaping plan for the main park entrance was also professionally redeveloped, including new signage, additional trees and beautiful flowering shrubs.

This park currently features an eighteen hole golf course, eighteen hole miniature golf course, golf practice and learning center, four tennis courts, two picnic shelters, Olympic size swimming pool, rose garden, Carter’s Corner Play Structure, two lighted softball fields, three regular softball fields, ten soccer fields, four baseball fields, one basketball court, playground areas, cross country ski trails, and the Ella Sharp Museum.

Mini-Golf

• Ella Sharp Park's 18 hole miniaturized golf course holds fun for everyone. The mini course is open 7 days a week. Please call for Seasonal Hours @ 517-788-4696

Golf Course

• Ella Sharp Park's 18 hole golf course provides a challenge for golfers of all levels. The course touts two of Jackson County's most challenging golf holes (2nd & 12th holes) along with an array of other well manicured fairways and greens. Call the club house for availability at (517)788-4066.

Golf Learning Center

• Ella Sharp Park's Golf Learning Center is a great place to learn how to play golf, brush up on your skills, or just go to hit a few golf balls. The center includes 25 tee stations over looking a well manicured range with 5 target greens. The center also has a sand bunker and a large putting green for practicing that short game. For those golfers that are looking for more than just hitting a few balls around, the learning center also has a wide range of classes available for youths and adults. Classes and private instruction by PGA Golf Professional (Eric W. Terrian) are available for both beginners and veteran players. Please Call for Seasonal Hours @ 517-780-4799.

Lighted Softball Fields

• The park includes 2 full service fenced and lighted ball fields. Field #1 has a scorer's building while field #2 has a rain shelter.

Open Field Sports Area

• The park includes 3 full size football fields, 3 softball fields, 4 full size soccer fields which can be used as 8 smaller fields.

Fishing Area

• The park has a stretch along the banks of the Grand River which is available for fishing. The area is handicapped accessible and is located in the southeast portion of the park.

Paved and Unpaved Walking, Jogging, and Bike Trails

• The park includes a 1 mile path that connects from Fourth Street with Museum and with the South Jackson Street entrance. In addition, the park also keeps some rough trails that meander through natural preservation areas in both the East and West sides of Fourth Street. These trails are ideal for walking, jogging, and cross country skiing. Cascades Cycling Trail Map

Tennis Courts

• The park upkeeps 4 paved tennis courts on a first come first serve basis.

Basketball Court

• The park upkeeps one basketball court located at the South Jackson Road entrance.

Playground Equipment

• Includes Carter's Corner located across from the Ella Sharp Museum

Meeting Facilities

• The Jackson Recreation Department will reserve either the Ella Sharp Park Rose Garden (near the entrance of Ella Sharp Park) or the Rotunda (across from the Museum) for your wedding. The Ella Sharp Park Carters Corner Picnic Pavilion or the West PicnicPavilion are also available for rental. See Ella Sharp Museum for their Facility Rentals.

At the intersection of East High and South Milwaukee Streets, this park features green space, park benches and a bike rack, along the Inter-City Trail. Ornamental roses climb rot iron trellises.

On Mansion Street between Merriman and South Milwaukee Streets, this park, sponsored by the Exchange Club of Jackson, features playground equipment, two basketball courts, two tennis courts and one ballfield.

The Falling Waters Trail is a major east-west component of the Jackson County Regional Trail plan, connecting  the town of Concord with the city of Jackson.  This 10.5-mile asphalt rail-trail follows the old rail bed of the former Michigan Central Railroad and at its northeast terminus the trail carries on as the Jackson Inter-City Trail from Weatherwax to Morrell Street. The trail has been dedicated as a Jackson County Park. The trail is mostly rural, with only a few road crossings. It also crosses the Lime Lake County Park where you can drop a line for fish. There are plenty of places to stop along the way and admire the scenery, have a picnic and take a swim.

Between Mt. Evergreen Cemetery and the King Recreation Center and near the Inter-City Bike Trail, this park features green space and playground equipment. 

On the Corner of Ganson and Bush Streets, this park features greenspace with landscaping, a playground structure and several benches.

This 8 acre park offers a swim area, historic pump house (restored in 2002), picnic shelter with a grill, a playground, softball diamond, open field for soccer and portable toilets.

Dedicated to former Governor of Michigan and Jackson resident Governor Austin Blair, this park features green space and park benches. The park is located at the intersection of Greenwood Avenue and South Jackson Street. Governor. Austin Blair was known as the Civil War Governor who championed civil rights both as an opponent of slavery and capital punishment. He was also chairman of the committee who founded the Republican Party ""Under the Oaks"". A statue of Governor Austin Blair is in front of the Michigan State Capitol building in Lansing. Following his service in the US House from 1867 to 1873, he returned to Jackson to resume a private law practice and is interred at Mt. Evergreen Cemetery.

Officially opened on October 26, 2010, this one mile trail follows the Grand River from downtown through the Art District at Art 634 and Armory Arts ending at Monroe Street.

This park is a place to honor area citizens with small monuments. It features a circular walkway with benches in front of the new Consumers Power building / Old Post Office and across the street from Louise Nevelson's Summer Night Tree.

This 9 acre park has picnic areas, grills, a shelter, playground area, modern restrooms, a boat launch and a swimming area.

On the corner of Prospect and Milwaukee Streets, this park features green space with a walkway and benches, near the Exchange Club City Park.

Hayes State Park, in the heart of the Irish Hills, is located on Wamplers Lake and Round Lake great for fishing and boating. The park's close proximity to Michigan International Speedway, crafts and antique shows and Hidden Lake Gardens make Hayes State Park a prime tourist destination. This park also includes a modern campsite with mini cabins available. 

Off of Moscow Road, this 5 acre park includes a picnic shelter, playground area, pond for fishing, a gazebo, dam and portable toilets.

The arrow-straight Jackson Intercity Trail follows the old rail bed of the former Michigan Central Railroad for 3.4 miles through the southwest section of Jackson. The trail provides a nice non-motorized way for area residents to commute to shops and work, as well as for recreation. For those wanting to venture farther afield, the Jackson Intercity Trail turns into the Falling Waters Trail at Weatherwax Drive, which carries on southwest 10.5 miles to the town of Concord.

On the corner of Elm and Blakely Avenues, this park features green space, playground equipment, and a picnic shelter. Major renovations of the park were completed in the summer of 2011 funded by both the city and the Kiwanis Club. Renovations included improved fencing, landscaping, signage and a lighted entrance as well as construction of a new picnic pavilion.

A 2 acre park including a boat launch, a swimming area, playground equipment and portable toilets.

On the corner of Blackstone & Adams Streets, this park features one lighted softball field, one regular softball field, one tennis court, playground equipment, a picnic shelter and two basketball courts. The Grand River Arts Walk passes through the park here, which runs from Monroe Street to Louis Glick Highway. 

Located north of E. Michigan Ave between Edgewood & Gilbert Streets, Loomis City Park features the Boos Recreation Center, two outdoor basketball courts, two outdoor tennis courts, picnic shelter with grills and the community built wooden play structure. The recreation center hosts a variety of classes, events and workshops year-round. Programs involve every age group from early childhood to 50+, and include everything from yoga and arts & crafts to gymnastics and toddler classes.

On the corner Adrian and Mitchell Streets, the Howard Charles Woods Recreational Complex &  Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center features new in 2003 community-built playground equipment, a picnic shelter, two outdoor basketball courts, a tennis court, and two ballfields. The Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center is a full service community center operated by the City of Jackson Recreation Department. The center provides a safe and supervised place where families can recreate and particiapte in community programs.

The King Center offers a continuing program of activities for adults and children, including a wide range of classes, lectures, study tours, camps, art exhibits, and special community events. Center facilities include a full Gymnasium with a rubberized surface for safety, The Flamingo Brown Lounge, the Comcast multimedia Lab with computers and internet access, the Tony Dungy Meeting lounge, and a small commercial kitchen. Center facilities, including the outdoor picnic pavillion, indoor gym and kitchen, may be rented for private functions such as business conferences, receptions, parties, and recitals.

A beautiful 5 acre park with beautifully landscaped gardens, parks nursery, picnic tables, picnic shelter, grills, a ball diamond, playground area, and modern restrooms.

This park is a parking area to access the Inter-City Trail take the trail northeast into the city ending at the King Center or go southwest where the trail eventually becomes the Falling Water Trail. 

On the corner of Pleasant and Pringle Street, this neighborhood park features green space with playground equipment.

Near Jackson Crossing Mall, this park features a softball field, a basketball court, and playground equipment. To get to the parking lot go east on North Street, North on Lansing Ave, veer left on Clinton Road, parking lot is off of Clinton Road. 

At the intersection of Mason & Williams Streets, this park features playground equipment, a picnic shelter, and benches. This park is in the center of the Partnership Park Downtown Neighborhood Association featuring an after-school tutoring program at a nearby church and a community gardens project.

The place for dogs in Jackson County! The park is open from dawn to dusk and it is FREE, but please sign up to be a member. The Paw Playground is right across from Cascades Humane Society.

The Phyllis Haehnle Memorial Sanctuary is well-known as THE staging area for Sandhill Cranes. Every autumn, thousands of these birds gather here in preparation for their southern migration. The 963-acre Michigan Audubon Society sanctuary has a variety of habitats, making it possible to see over 200 species of birds and plants, including the Rough-legged Hawk and the Northern Shrike during the winter months. 

The Sanctuary is always open to visitors, and during the fall on weekends sanctuary greeters will be available to answer questions. You can also see many Cranes feeding in the fields in the area in the spring and summer, but especially the fall (September to mid-November). Late afternoon visitors during that time of year can see well over 2,000 Sandhill Cranes landing in the sanctuary during that time. We have even been fortunate to have an elusive Whooping Crane visit the sanctuary as well.

The Jackson Audubon Society is the steward of this sanctuary. They ask that you please stay on trails or the observation areas and treat the land, plants and wildlife with respect.

The Phyllis Haehnle Sanctuary is located 6 miles northeast of Jackson, Michigan on Seymour Road. For GPS, you can use the coordinates of 42.322, -84.289. 

This 22 acre park has 60 modern campsites with water and electricity at every site, plus hot showers, modern restrooms, a sanitary dump station and water tower. Also available is a swimming area, biking area, fishing, a playground area, picnic areas and three shelters (by reservation). An 18-hole golf course is nearby within 1/2 mile. Pets in campground on leash only! Weekly and monthly rates.

Drug & Concealed Weapons Free Park - Alcohol Prohibited

With more than 20,000 acres, 47 miles of trails and 21 lakes, the Waterloo State Recreation Area has many different outdoor activities including Portage Lake State Park offering swimming, picnic areas, fishing and more.

Are you having your share of fun? In our increasingly complex world the answer is typically “of course not!” It’s getting more and more difficult to unplug-unwind and fall back into natural rhythms to rejuvenate ourselves. That is why we paddle kayaks. Once we’ve left the launch site, within a few short minutes, we’ve reconnected back through time to a world of utter simplicity. There’s just us, our kayaks and paddles, and the always-changing waters. And before we know it, we’re getting our gentle, relaxing exercise while adding precious FUN back into our lives.

We paddle the Grand River, Vandercook Lake, Browns Lake, Williams Lake & Cove Lake. We offer rentals at Vandercook Lake and lessons and tours at all locations. We offer Sit-In, Tandem and Sit-On-Top Kayaks as well as Stand-up Paddleboards. 

Located on Deyo Street between Summit and Elm Avenue, this park features playground equipment, a tennis court, a basketball court, and a ballfield.

On this 2.5 acre park you will find grills, picnic area, boat launch, playground area, portable toilets, and a flowing Artesian well for filling your water jugs.

56 modern campsites are available with water and electricity at this beautiful 26 acre park, along with hot showers, restrooms, sanitary dump station, and water tower. Other features include a boat launch, picnic areas and the 3 shelters (by reservation), playgrounds, sand box, horse shoe pits, basketball court, swimming area, hiking, biking, fishing, volleyball area, softball diamond, and nature trails. An 18-hole golf course is located across the street. Pets in campground on leash only! Weekly and Monthly rates available.  For pre-season reservations,1st Monday in February until the Friday before Memorial Day, please call (517) 768-2901.

Drug & Concealed Weapons Free Park - Alcohol Prohibited

This is a historical site honoring the birthplace of the Republican Party. On July 6, 1854, a state convention of anti-slavery men was held in Jackson, Michigan,  to found a new political party. Since the convention day was hot and the huge crowd could not be accommodated in the hall, the meeting adjourned to an oak grove on "Morgan's Forty" on the outskirts of the town forever known as "Under the Oaks".

Photo Courtesy of the Jackson District Library Photo Archives.

Also known as Townsend F. Beaman Park, this 17 acre park includes a swim area, 3 ball diamonds, a boat launch, playground area, fishing area, grills, 2 picnic shelters and modern restrooms.

An 8.5 acre park with a playground area, a boat launch, swim area and portable toilets.

Waterloo Recreation Area is the largest park in the Lower Peninsula. At more than 20,000 acres, the park boasts two modern campgrounds, a rustic campground, an equestrian campground, a swimming beach, several picnic sites, 11 excellent fishing lakes, eight boat launches, 12 miles of interpretive nature trails, 47 miles of hiking trails, three rustic cabins, numerous equestrian trails and the Gerald E. Eddy Discovery Center.
Available amenities include Picnic Tables, Picnic Shelters, Playground Equiment, Lake Swimming, Fishing, Boat Ramps, Trails for Hiking, Cross Country Skiing, Horseback-Riding and Snowmobiling. Big Portage Lake Disc Golf Course is mostly wooded with tight, challenging holes. First tee is located at (42.333,-84.238)

This park contains a waterpark, featuring a zero-depth pool and water slides, a skateboard park and full-size inline hockey rink as well as four softball fields, playground equipment and a picnic shelter.

The park features the sculpture Defense of the Flag or Jackson County Soldiers and Sailors Monument, an original Lorado Taft sculpture made of bronze and granite, surrounded by a beautiful flower garden and benches to rest from downtown shopping to enjoy it. The  memorial to the 3,282 men of the First and Seventeenth Michigan Volunteer Infantry regiments was erected by their commander, Gen. William H. Withington. Jackson holds the honor of mustering the first volunteer regiment of Civil War soldiers in the state, although it is not the first Civil War Memorial, it is one of the finest. It is unique in the fact that rather than organize a public fundraising drive as most did, Withington funded the memorial out of his own pocket. Although the monument bears a date of May 30, 1903, production problems delayed its dedication until June 14, 1904, by which time General Withington had died. Lorado Taft was a famous sculptor of the day and taught at the Art Institute of Chicago. For more information on the public sculpture of Jackson visit the Ella Sharp Museum at http://www.ellasharp.org/our-outdoor-sculpture.html . Photo Courtesy of the Jackson District Library Archives.