There are three parks located in Oskaloosa. City Square Park is located in the center of the community in the historic Bandstand. For more than 132 consecutive years, the Oskaloosa Municipal Band has entertained and delighted citizens and visitors with concerts in the Bandstand, held every Thursday evening during summer months. Regular community events are held at the City Square including Art on the Square, Sweet Corn Days, and two evening Lighted Christmas parades.

Edmundson Park is on 157 acres located in the southwest corner of Oskaloosa. The park features an 18-hole golf course with cart rental and a pro shop, a large outdoor swimming pool and wading pool, three baseball and softball diamonds, two sand volleyball courts, a Frisbee golf course, numerous shelters and picnic areas as well as a large wooden playground.

VanderWilt Park is located on 18 acres in the northwest corner of Oskaloosa. This park consists of a shelter/picnic area, playground, a double tennis court and six baseball diamonds. It is the home for numerous T-ball, Little League baseball and softball games.

Some of the recreational activities available include picnicking, camping, trailer camping, hiking, boating, fishing, hunting, and cross-country skiing.

Other recreational facilities include a YMCA, which offers numerous programs for people of all ages. The Y has an indoor swimming pool, fitness center and racquetball courts. There are also community movie theaters in Oskaloosa, as well as indoor tennis courts, fitness centers, a bowling center, and an indoor skating rink.

A Mahaska Community Recreation Foundation has been established to provide funding and oversight to the development of a comprehensive, county-wide recreational program. An executive Director for the MCRF was hired in November, 1999.

In Mahaska County there are 17 county parks and recreation locations, several of which are located in Oskaloosa. It is fifteen minutes by boat from the Des Moines River running just south of Oskaloosa to Lake Red Rock. Lake Red Rock is a prime area for water sports, fishing, hiking, picnicking, camping, and more.

There are large quantities of wildlife in southern Iowa, such as deer, waterfowl, and many species of fish which make the hunting grounds in Oskaloosa and neighboring cities some of the most popular in the United States. Ottumwa Beach, located minutes from Oskaloosa, offers indoor and outdoor water fun for all ages. Lake Rathbun, another attraction, is located just south of Albia and is known as Iowa’s Ocean. It is one of the most popular recreational water areas in Iowa. The lake has 11,000 acres of water, eight parks and two marinas.

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