With lakes, rivers, and more than its fair share of beautifully maintained natural areas, LaGrange County supplies a generous helping of opportunities for those who like their recreation on the outdoors side.

Neighborhood parks supply courts and fields for organized sports leagues and pick-up games. Town Park in LaGrange offers a playground, baseball diamond, and basketball and tennis courts, while Wolfe Park in downtown Shipshewana keeps kids busy with playground equipment and a couple of basketball courts. Shipshewana is developing a large park with sports fields, and possibly an indoors sports complex, planned for use by county residents.

Topeka’s three parks–East Park, West Park, and Little League Ball Field–boast everything from picnic pavilions and playgrounds to hiking paths and ponds. A park, with playground, picnic tables, and basketball court, is located in Howe on the centrally located town square. In Wolcottville, Taylor Park provides playground, basketball courts, and ball diamond and Wolcott Park, a natural area on Indiana 9, offers up-close looks at native plants and wildlife. A new park just west of Wolcottville will be open soon.

Other parks worth a visit include Dallas Lake Park, where an observation deck provides views of a restored prairie and a mile of lake frontage. David Rogers Memorial Park, the county’s first park, is the site of a living history celebration and 68-acre Maple Wood Nature Center, which invites explorers to travel its three miles of trails and stop for a visit at the environmental education center. A pedestrian bridge at Scott Mill Park, located on Pigeon River, connects to a 100-acre island. Locals head to the observation tower at Delt Church Park, along the Little Elkhart River, for a look at autumn’s brilliant foliage.

One of the biggest draws for anglers, canoeists, hunters, and naturalists is the 11,500-acre Pigeon River Fish and Wildlife Preserve. Managed by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, the preserve is located near Mongo. Big Turkey Lake, located near Stroh, provides a wealth of fishing, camping, and swimming opportunities in warm weather months.

Amateur and practiced duffers enjoy rounds of golf at eighteen-hole golf courses at Cedar Lake and at the LaGrange Country Club.

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