Parks
LAKE LEATHERWOOD CITY PARK
Lake Leatherwood City Park is a place of natural serenity encompassing 1,610 acres which includes an 85-acre spring-fed lake. The lake is formed by one of the largest hand-cut native limestone dams in the country. The dam, the historic diving platform and pavilion, and several other park structures were built in the early 1940’s by the WPA. Lake Leatherwood City Park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The park offers a variety of recreational opportunities. For hiking and biking enthusiasts, the park maintains over 25 miles of trails, including seven downhill biking trails. Fishing and boating fans will be glad to know that the historic marina has a variety of boats and fishing supplies for sale. Kids will gravitate to the heart of the park, where our 7600 square foot playground sits under the cover of beautiful catalpa trees.
Lodging at this lake includes cabins, camping and RV sites that are available to rent throughout the year.
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To find out more, please call 479-253-7921.
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BLACK BASS LAKE CITY PARK
Welcome to Black Bass Lake City Park, a facility completed by the Eureka Springs Park and Recreation Commission. From humble beginnings as a lumber source and spring water gathering location this area has long contributed to Eureka’s progress and well-being.
Black Bass Lake was created as a fire protection and drinking water reservoir from the abundant, pure springs in the upper reaches of Old Spring Gulch, including Sycamore, Standing Rock, and Arsenic Springs. The earthen and cut stone dam dates to 1894 and is one of the oldest dams still standing in the Ozarks. The city now receives water from Beaver Lake via the Carroll Boone Water District, but water is still pumped to a 100′ tall water tower on Hwy 62, as it has been for over a century.
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This park is located down Oil Springs Road off of W Van Buren/62 W, just below town in the headwaters of the West Leatherwood Creek valley. On the way down you'll pass by historic Oil and Johnson Springs and a wonderful example of a cavernous overhanging ledge on the way to the park as well as the Oil Springs Trail. Note that the dam, the area below the dam, and the spillway area are NO access areas. General parking is by the kiosk and across the bridge. There are no facilities at Black Bass Lake. You can enjoy hiking, biking, and fishing at this hidden gem of a park!
BASIN SPRING PARK
Basin Spring Park, the legendary healing spring known to Native Americans and early pioneer settlers, has been used for hundreds of years as the central hub for locals and visitors alike. It IS the heart of Eureka Springs.
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The park is steeped in the rich history of Eureka Springs, from the Basin Park Fire Bell to the numerous war memorial pieces, the past can be felt in every corner. At the center of the park lies the historic bandshell, where concerts are held throughout the year.
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Local artists are often in the park to sell their unique crafts, and definitely don't miss the chance to witness one of the monthly Drumming in the Park events in the summer and fall.
HARMON PARK
Harmon Park is located at 532 Spring Street, Eureka Springs, Arkansas and is home of the Eureka Springs Parks and Recreation Commission main office which is open Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The park has 6.45 acres and contains a playground, Skate Park, restrooms, Dog Park and recently constructed Arvest Bank platform for performances.
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It was in 1924 that the Harmon Foundation presented a certified check to the Mayor Claude A. Fuller in the amount of $500 toward the purchase price of land that had recently been acquired by the City of Eureka Springs for a park known on the official city map as “Interstate Summer Normal and Educational Assembly Grounds”, in order to clear the title of encumbrances.
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In 2004, the Harmon Foundation presented a charitable grant donation of $5,000 and again in 2005 in the amount of $4,000 (totaling $9,000), to the Eureka Springs Parks and Recreation Commission, as a contribution to the community’s effort in providing the youth with a skate park, ADA accessible playground, and trails for walking and hiking.
BARK PARK
The Eureka Springs Bark Park began with the love of a dog, Percy, a husky-beagle mix from an animal control facility in Michigan. Percy’s mom moved to Eureka Springs the year after Percy’s death in 2012, and shortly thereafter joined the Parks Commission to collaborate with the community and the Commission to build a dog park.
In September of that year, she founded a small grassroots committee consisting of other residents who shared the same vision of encouraging everyone to spend more time outdoors with their dogs. This type of park was in Eureka Springs Parks Department’s Master Plan for Harmon Park but needed people to step up to the challenge.
Upon the creation of the new dog park committee, the Eureka Springs Parks Department agreed to allow the unused hillside of Harmon Park to become what is now the Bark Park.
The Eureka Springs Bark Park is unique in that the materials were funded completely by the generosity of the community and local businesses and built by dedicated volunteers. The park is located at 532 Spring Street behind Parks and Recreation headquarters.