Parks, Recreation and Fun!
Park information and contact info at bottom

 

In an area as beautiful as Independence County, it would be a shame to see it only through a windshield. This section will guide you to some great outdoor spots throughout the area, Wherever your interests lie - water, hills, forests, caves, festivals, museums, wildlife and so much more, they are all found in Batesville. The town's location amid the eastern foothills of the Ozark Mountains - actually an ancient plateau that has been eroded by thousands of years of wind and water - places it in and near many different kinds of outdoor recreation assets. Abundant opportunities for outdoor activities, such as hunting, fishing, hiking, canoeing, camping and picnicking, are found in Batesville or within only a short scenic drive.

Batesville was also voted by a national cycling magazine as "one of the top mountain-biking destinations in America."

Several state parks are found within a two-hour drive of Batesville. Campgrounds, picnic areas, swimming and short hiking trails can be found at state parks such as Lake Charles near Powhatan in Lawrence County, Jacksonport in Jackson County, the Ozark Folk Center at Mountain View in Stone County, Old Davidsonville between Black Rock and Pocahontas in Randolph County and Mammoth Springs near the Missouri line in Fulton County.

The area's flowing streams entice fishermen and canoeists by the thousands each year. One of the area's most popular float streams is the Spring River, which runs from Mammoth Spring to its confluence with the Black River and Black Rock. The Spring River also attracts scores of trout fishermen, as do many smaller tributaries of the White and Black Rivers. The White and Black Rivers themselves are full of a wide variety of fish for anglers, including catfish, bass and crappie.

Canoeists and kayakers can challenge the running waters of the Spring River in Fulton, Sharp and Lawrence Counties or float under the awe-inspiring bluffs standing at attention alongside the Buffalo National River, a couple hours drive to the west.

The Corps of Engineers operates several campgrounds and access points along reservoirs in north central Arkansas, such as Greers Ferry Lake near Heber Springs and Lake Norfork and Bull Shoals Lake flanking Mountain Home. The larger lakes provide opportunities not found on smaller waterways, including speed boating and water-skiing.

The woods and meadows of the area feature abundant deer and wild turkey, calling hunters out of their warm homes on cool early mornings in late fall and early spring. Fields and sloughs in the lowlands to the east add ducks and geese to a hunter's options.

While many hunters prefer to stake off private lands amid the area's widespread forests and rugged hills, public hunting areas are also available in the Ozark National Forest Sycamore District north of Mountain View and in state Wildlife Management Areas such as Harold E. Alexander in Sharp County, Shirley Bay-Rainey Brake in Lawrence County and Henry Gray Hurricane Lake in White County. Deer season in the late fall and turkey season in the spring are among the most popular. Additional hunting, camping and hiking are also to be found a few hours west in other areas of the Ozark National Forest, which generally extends from northeast of Fort Smith east to Marshall and then north to Jasper.

 

Batesville Area Parks and Entertainment
Batesville Recreation Complex Highways 167 & 364 698-2431	Baseball, softball and soccer field for adults and youth, swimming pool, horse show and rodeo arena, playground equipment, jogging track, restrooms, handicap accessible
Municipal Golf Course Corner of Chaney Dr, and River Rd. 793-9947	9-Hole golf course, club and cart rentals
Fitzhugh Park 20th Street 698-2431	Baseball fields for youth, swimming pool, row lake, tennis courts, picnic tables, playground equipment, handicap accessible
Kennedy Park Hwy 167 immediately south of the river, east of the highway 698-2431	Pavilion and picnic tables, running water, electricity, restrooms
Riverside Park Chaney Dr 698-2431	Pavilions (reservations available), playground equipment, train engine, sand volleyball court, basketball court, horseshoe pitching pits, walking track, restrooms, running water, electricity
Batesville Country Club - (private) 24th Street 793-2525	9-hole golf course, swimming pool and tennis courts
Stars and Stripes Gymnastics 3417 Harrison Street 612-5000
Kaleidoscope & Lee Gymnastics Academy 3443 Harrison Street 793-7455
Putt N Putt Golf 455 Gap Road 793-4084
Hollywood Bowl 557 North Central Ave 793-7078	League bowling, 10 lanes, automatic score keeping, arcade, seven pool tables, handicap accessible
Riverfront Grand Prix Highway 167 immediately south of the river, east of the highway 793-7078	Go-carts, miniature golf, batting cages
Cinema 7 Theater 2250 Harrison St 612-5200
Melba Theater - (downtown) 115 W. Main Street 698-9252