Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park
4.9(4.7K)google
4.9(17)yelp
FamilyOutdoorFreeHealingSlow-PacedNatureExotic Plants
Overview
Spanning an impressive 113 acres in Springfield, Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park is a magnificent urban oasis that serves as a living museum of botanical beauty and peaceful leisure. The park is home to the stunning Springfield Botanical Gardens, which encompasses dozens of distinct specialty gardens, including the magnificent Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden and a fragrant rose garden. Paved walking and biking trails wind past calm lakes, a historic pioneer homestead, and the fascinating Dr. Bill Roston Butterfly House. It is a sanctuary for birdwatchers, outdoor fitness enthusiasts, and families seeking a beautiful, educational environment to connect with nature.
Practical Info
Suggested Duration2-4 hours
Best TimeLate spring through early summer (May to June) is the prime window to visit, as the 113-acre park's botanical features and the Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden are in full bloom. Strolling between 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM provides gorgeous angled golden hour sunlight reflecting off the calm lakes and tea houses.
Getting ThereSuperbly positioned at 2400 S Scenic Avenue in southwest Springfield. Drive west from the center along W Sunshine Street, turn left onto S Scenic Avenue, and travel south for half a mile. The park entrance turns off cleanly on your left, offering multiple connected public parking lots that are entirely free.
Travel Tips
- The premier Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden requires a standalone admission fee separate from the main park and shuts down completely from November through March for seasonal winterization.
- The controlled tropical indoor butterfly enclosure maintains humidity levels exceeding 80%, meaning professional camera lenses will fog up instantly upon stepping through the double containment doors.
- The main parking lots saturate by 9:00 AM during spring bloom peaks; street-side road shoulder parking along flanking Scenic Avenue is illegal, and vehicles will be rapidly ticketed and impounded.
Reviews
Positive
- The stunning Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden, butterfly house, and blooming arboretum deliver immense classical visual and botanical art romance.
- The park infrastructure is flawless, featuring wide paved paths, clear botanical classification signs, and immaculate restrooms next to pavilions.
- The city parks maintenance team keeps the property pristine, lawns manicured, and the botanical discovery stations highly orderly and safe.
- Entering the massive public arboretum costs absolutely zero admission, providing the community an unbeatable zero-cost botanical refuge.
Heads up
- The flagship Mizumoto Japanese Garden and Butterfly House require separate add-on cash tickets and run on a highly restrictive, shorter schedule.
- The sprawling botanical acreage demands a massive amount of walking, and remote gravel extensions lack regular rest benches for weary seniors.
- On sunny spring weekends, pathways are heavily clogged by multiple large bridal photo shoots, making quiet relaxation and walking clumsy.
- The open lily ponds lack continuous perimeter safety guardrails, forcing parents of energetic toddlers to stay hyper-vigilant to prevent slips.