Ben Hawes Park

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Ben Hawes Park is a popular destination located in Owensboro, Kentucky.


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Summary

The park offers a variety of recreational activities, making it an ideal spot for families, couples and outdoor enthusiasts. Some of the key attractions at the park include a golf course, a driving range, a skatepark, a disc golf course, hiking trails, a fishing lake and picnic areas.

One of the most unique features of Ben Hawes Park is its disc golf course, which is considered one of the best in the region. The course consists of 18 holes that wind through the wooded terrain of the park, offering players a challenging and scenic experience.

Another highlight of the park is the Owensboro Museum of Science and History, which is located on the park grounds. The museum features interactive exhibits that explore the history and culture of the region, as well as a planetarium and a science center.

In addition to its recreational offerings, Ben Hawes Park also hosts a variety of community events throughout the year. These include concerts, festivals, and sporting events, as well as educational programs and workshops.

The best time to visit Ben Hawes Park is during the spring and fall months, when the weather is mild and the park is in full bloom. However, the park is open year-round and offers activities and events for visitors of all ages and interests.

       

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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