A Practical Guide to Kirksville’s City Parks

Kirksville has enough parks that “go to the park” is not very specific advice.

Pick the park based on the activity.

For playgrounds

Current City information lists playground or play features at several parks, including:

• Brashear;
• Jaycee;
• Memorial;
• North Park;
• P.C. Mills;
• Rotary;
• FLATS Trailhead/Rotary Nature Playscape.

For a playground-focused comparison, see Which Kirksville Parks Have Playgrounds?.

For basketball or pickleball

Current City park information identifies courts at several locations.

Brashear and Memorial have basketball areas also striped for pickleball.

Patryla's tennis courts also include pickleball lines.

Check current conditions before organizing a group around a particular court.

For water play

Current park resources identify:

• seasonal wading pools;
• splash-pad facilities;
• Kirksville Aquatic Center at Rotary Park.

Seasonal opening dates and hours can change.

For disc golf

Rotary Park currently has a nine-hole disc-golf course.

For dogs

McKinney Bark Park is the City's dedicated dog park.

It includes separate off-leash areas for small and large dogs under current City information.

For fishing

Local public fishing options include:

• Spur Pond;
• Hazel Creek Lake;
• Forest Lake;
• developing recreation around Rock Lake.

Each has different access and management rules.

For shelters and gatherings

Several parks have reservable shelters or facilities.

If the event matters, reserve rather than assuming an empty shelter will remain empty.

For walking and biking

Kirksville has multiple park paths and trail connections.

FLATS and other local trail resources expand beyond a simple playground/ballfield model.

City park versus state park

Forest Lake is associated with Thousand Hills State Park.

Do not describe the entire state park as a Kirksville City park merely because it is a major local recreation destination.

Ownership and operation matter.

Check current facilities

Parks change through construction, maintenance and seasonal closures.

Before driving across town for one specific amenity, check the City's current Parks, Trails & Facilities page.

The easiest way to use Kirksville's park system is not memorizing every park.

It is knowing which park fits the activity you have in mind.