Ball Band Memorial Park

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Ball Band Memorial Park is a 77-acre park located in Mishawaka, Indiana, and is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers.


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Summary

The park features a variety of amenities and activities, including hiking trails, playgrounds, sports fields, picnic areas, and a disc golf course.

One of the main attractions of Ball Band Memorial Park is the riverwalk trail, which winds along the St. Joseph River and offers stunning views of the water and surrounding wilderness. The park is also home to several historic sites, including the Ball Band factory complex, which was once a major manufacturing center for rubber and other products.

Other points of interest include the park's wildlife habitat, which is home to a variety of bird species, as well as several scenic overlooks and natural areas. Visitors can also enjoy fishing, kayaking, and other water sports on the river, or simply relax and enjoy the park's peaceful surroundings.

One interesting fact about Ball Band Memorial Park is that it was named in honor of the Ball Band company, which was founded in Mishawaka in 1898 and played an important role in the region's industrial history. The park is also a popular venue for community events and festivals, including the annual Mishawaka Summerfest.

The best time of year to visit Ball Band Memorial Park is during the summer months, when the weather is warm and sunny and outdoor activities are in full swing. However, the park is also open year-round and offers opportunities for hiking, cross-country skiing, and other winter sports during the colder months.

       

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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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