Lake Etta Park
Rate this placeNearby: Seberger Park Tolleston Park
Last Updated: December 5, 2025
Lake Etta Park is a popular recreational area located in Gary, Indiana.
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Summary
The park offers a wide range of outdoor activities, making it a great destination for families, nature lovers, and outdoor enthusiasts.
One of the main attractions of the park is its lake which covers an area of 26 acres. The lake is perfect for fishing, boating, and other water-based activities. Visitors can also enjoy hiking, picnicking, and playing sports in the park's open fields.
In addition to its natural attractions, Lake Etta Park also offers several amenities for visitors. These include playgrounds, picnic shelters, and restrooms. The park is also home to a variety of wildlife, including birds, fish, and mammals.
One interesting fact about Lake Etta Park is that it was originally a landfill site that was transformed into a recreational area. The park's development was part of a larger environmental project aimed at restoring the area's natural habitats.
The best time to visit Lake Etta Park is during the summer months when the weather is warm and the lake is perfect for swimming and boating. However, the park is open year-round and offers different activities and attractions depending on the season. For example, visitors can enjoy ice-skating and sledding during the winter months.
Overall, Lake Etta Park is a must-visit destination for anyone looking to enjoy the great outdoors in Indiana. With its natural beauty, recreational activities, and unique history, it's no wonder that the park is a popular spot for locals and tourists alike.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
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
Seberger Park
Tolleston Park
Cheever Park
Brunswick Park
Little Turtle Park
Gary Harbor
Green Lake
Powderhorn Lake
Wolf Lake