Residents of Hudson lead very active lifestyles and realize the importance of taking time to enjoy the outdoors. With over 1,100 acres of parkland, Hudsonites enjoy year-round activities from fishing to hiking to cross-country skiing.

Hudson Springs Park, the crown jewel in the park system, consists of 260 acres including a 50-acre lake offering excellent bass and bluegill fishing. Take the two-mile walk around the lake, and you may encounter wildlife including ducks, beaver and deer. Three picnic pavilions, disc golf, volleyball, a playground and a children’s hedge maze offer abundant opportunities for family enjoyment.

One of Hudson’s newest parks is the Barlow Farm Park, which surrounds the historic Case-Barlow Farm. The 60-acre parcel includes six soccer fields, four baseball diamonds, picnic pavilions, a concession stand, walking paths and a boardwalk around Barlow Pond.

Smaller parks scattered throughout the city provide similar opportunities for outdoor activities, from playing fields and picnic pavilions to ecological study and enjoyment.

Ellsworth Meadows Golf Course was purchased by the park board in 1997 and is now run by the city as a municipal course. While the course currently occupies 100 acres, plans include expansion onto the adjoining 60-acre parcel of parkland.

Golf is also offered by two private country clubs in Hudson, including Lake Forest Country Club and The Country Club of Hudson. Both clubs also offer swimming, tennis, dining and other social activities.

For those who prefer to exercise their minds, the Hudson Library is home to an extensive collection of adult and youth books, as well as thousands of compact disks, audiocassettes and books on tape. The library’s collection of books, music and compact disks has increased from about 75,000 in 1991 to approximately 140,000 today. The Hudson library will soon have a new home. A $9.9 million bond issue to construct and furnish a new library will begin by September 2001, and is slated to open in August of 2002.

The Department of Community Education and Recreation (HCE&R), now in its 25th year, provides year ‘round learning and recreation for thousands of Hudson citizens of all ages. HCE&R publishes an activities brochure each fall, winter, and spring/summer, listing a variety of enrichment and recreational activities that are targeted for youth, adults and families. On any given day, residents take classes in foil fencing, community band, swing dancing, positive parenting, plumbing and electrical repairs, swimming, computer processing and more.

It is through the HCE&R that hundreds of community members share their talents, passions and specialized knowledge with others in the community. This generosity helps make Hudson an ideal place to live - people connect as they did in the good old days, sharing their resources and talents with the community at large.

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