Backyard Adventures

BACKYARD ADVENTURES 2017 PIKE PUBLISHING 1C Tucked away in the middle of the city, Burdette Park in Evansville is a 180 -acre forest. And tucked away in that forest is a plethora of surprises. "Burdette includes overnight cabins, day shelter rentals, spacious convention hall, athletic fields and a full seasonal Aquatic Center," park manager Ger- ald Grannan said. "Burdette Park is municipally owned, covering 180 acres of breathtaking forest. Our mission is to be good stewards of our woodlands and offer a variety of activities to families in a healthy, safe and natural environment. Parks and recreation venues afford us the opportunity to become reacquainted with the peaceful and healing attributes only nature can provide." While 180 acres is plenty of room to get away, there's also room to get together at Burdette in the O'Day Dis- covery Lodge or Burdette Pavilion. "The O'Day Discovery Lodge is truly a one-of-a kind facility in Evansville and Vanderburgh County. Its spacious and engaging architecture make it an outstanding option for corporate parties, weddings, and other large events. Its multi-faceted appeal creates a welcoming environment for groups of up to 650," the park's website says. "For those planning a really big party, try the Pavilion. Its central location in the Park offers a large parking area, is within walking distance of the Aquatic Center, and has availability for caterers to serve guests. The Pavilion will accommodate as many as 1,000 guests—an ideal loca- tion for spring, summer, and fall." Grannan said the pavilion is also the site of a number of public events, so there's always something new at the park. "Our open-air Pavilion hosts commu- nity events such as the Burdette BBQ and Blues Fest on Saturday, June 3, 2017 BURDETTE PARK STORY BY ALDEN HEURING PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED Discover CONTINUED ON PAGE 3C >

• Cover