Gaddis Park

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Parks

Illinois

Nearby: Lewandowski Park Patrick Sullivan Park

Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Gaddis Park is a public park located in the state of Illinois that offers visitors a range of recreational activities and points of interest.

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Summary

The park is located in the town of East Peoria and covers an area of around 30 acres.

Some good reasons to visit Gaddis Park include its beautiful scenery, hiking trails, picnic areas, and playgrounds. Additionally, the park is home to a variety of wildlife, including deer, foxes, and birds, making it an ideal location for nature lovers and photographers.

One of the most popular points of interest in Gaddis Park is its large pond, which is stocked with fish and offers visitors the opportunity to go fishing. The park also features a Frisbee golf course, a disc golf course, and a basketball court.

Interesting facts about the area include that Gaddis Park was once the site of a coal mine, and that during the 1920s and 1930s, the park was used as a location for picnics and social events. In 1937, the park was donated to the city of East Peoria by Mary Gaddis, the wife of a local businessman.

The best time of year to visit Gaddis Park is during the spring and summer months when the weather is warm and the park is in full bloom. Visitors can enjoy the abundance of wildflowers, trees, and other vegetation that make up the park's natural landscape.

Overall, Gaddis Park is a popular destination for locals and tourists alike, offering a range of activities and attractions for all ages.

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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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