Start your visit at the Springfield-Greene County Botanical Gardens at the Botanical Center, which hosts special events, classes and exhibits all year. The Botanical Center is home to the MU Extension, Friends of the Garden, Greene County Master Gardeners and Springfield-Greene County Park Board botanical staff. You’ll find a gift shop, restrooms, water fountain, the Lois K. Boswell Memorial Botanical Reference Library, community rooms, Wi-Fi and information about the gardens. Have a botanical question? Ask the friendly staff at the front desk or call 417-891-1515.
Themed Gardens and Arboretum: Dozens of themed and collection gardens, including hosta, daylilies, Asiatic lilies, iris, peonies, roses, dwarf conifers, ornamental grasses, native plants and more are grown and maintained by volunteer plant enthusiast organizations united under the Friends of the Garden.
Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden: Enjoy the serenity of this 7.5-acre traditional Japanese garden, established in 1986 through a partnership with the Springfield Sister Cities Association and our sister city, Isesaki, Japan. Includes mature landscaping, winding paths, three small lakes, koi, ceremonial teahouse, moon bridge, and a meditation garden. Restrooms and pavilion outside front gate. There’s a small admission to access this park. Open seasonally, check hours.
South Creek Greenway: Eight-mile paved Greenway trail spans from McDaniel Park Trailhead to Wilson’s Creek Greenway. Perfect for biking, running, walking, strollers and wheelchairs. For more trail info contact Ozark Greenways for additional information and maps.
Master Gardeners Demonstration Gardens & Hotline: Includes an ornamental shrub and perennial border, themed herb beds, Missouri natives plants, turf plots and a kitchen garden. The hotline responds to home garden questions 417-881-8909 or info@mggreene.org.
At the Roston Native Butterfly House you can see native butterflies lay eggs, caterpillars feeding, chrysalises in camouflage, and butterflies emerging in this enclosed garden. Private tours available. Open seasonally, check hours.
The Gray-Campbell Farmstead: Discover life in the 1860’s at the oldest cabin in Springfield, along with a two-crib barn, kitchen, granary, outhouse and the recreated Liberty School one-room schoolhouse. Field trips for 5th Grade or other tours available at 417-725-4921. Open seasonally, check hours.
Solar Tram Service: Hop on the Solar Tram for a tour of the park. Tours available Sat. and Sun. 1 p.m.-5 p.m. May through Oct. Private and group tours available. Limit 20. Operates seasonally, check hours.
Play Trail Kids!: Explore the main playground, then find the five botanical themed Playpods along the trail, with butterflies, caterpillars, mushrooms and more!
Host Lions Club History Walk: 30+ granite stone lawn markers tell the stories of Americans who made a difference. Ethnic Life Stories Tree Trail Blackgum trees, hosting every color of the rainbow in fall foliage planted in honor of immigrants to Springfield. Their life stories are recorded in the Lois K. Boswell Memorial Botanical Reference Library.
Lake Drummond: Named for Springfield women’s business pioneer Anne Drummond, immortalized in a bronze statue near the lakefront.
