Merrick City Park
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Merrick City Park is located in Springfield, Missouri and offers visitors a variety of activities and attractions.
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Summary
The park has a large playground area, picnic shelters, a pavilion, basketball courts, and walking trails. The park is also home to the Springfield Greenway Trail, a popular biking and walking trail that runs through the city.
One of the main attractions of Merrick City Park is the beautiful Japanese Garden, which features a koi pond, waterfalls, and a traditional Japanese tea house. The garden is a peaceful and serene location, perfect for a relaxing afternoon stroll or picnicking.
Another notable feature of the park is the Veterans Memorial Plaza, which honors local veterans and their service to the country. The plaza is home to several monuments and plaques, including a World War II memorial and a statue of a soldier.
Merrick City Park hosts several events throughout the year, including concerts, festivals, and holiday celebrations. Visitors can check the park's website for a calendar of upcoming events.
The best time of year to visit Merrick City Park is during the spring and summer months, when the weather is mild and the gardens and playgrounds are in full bloom. However, the park is open year-round and offers visitors a beautiful setting for a winter stroll or snowshoeing.
In summary, Merrick City Park is a must-visit destination in Springfield, Missouri. With its beautiful Japanese Garden, Veterans Memorial Plaza, and variety of recreational activities, the park has something for everyone.
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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.
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