Burkley Park

Rate this place

Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Burkley Park is a beautiful public park located in the city of Fort Smith, Arkansas.


°F

°F

mph

Wind

%

Humidity

Summary

It covers an area of 80 acres and offers a wide range of activities for visitors to enjoy. The park boasts many natural features, including three lakes, a creek, and several wooded areas. There are also many picnic areas, playgrounds, and walking trails.

One of the main attractions of Burkley Park is its stunning rose garden, which features over 1,000 rose bushes in a variety of colors. The park also has a butterfly garden, a bird sanctuary, and a koi pond. Visitors can enjoy fishing, boating, and paddleboarding on the park's lakes.

Burkley Park is home to many different species of wildlife, including turtles, geese, ducks, and deer. Visitors can also spot several species of birds, including bald eagles, woodpeckers, and blue jays.

The best time to visit Burkley Park is in the spring and summer when the roses are in bloom and the weather is mild. However, the park is open year-round, and there is always something to see and do.

Overall, Burkley Park is a beautiful and peaceful oasis in the heart of Fort Smith, Arkansas. It is an ideal destination for nature lovers, families, and anyone looking for a relaxing and enjoyable outdoor experience.

       

Weather Forecast

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.
Related References