The Flat Rock and
the Driftwood Rivers flow together in downtown Columbus to form the east fork
of the White River. Mill Race Park is located where the rivers join, and kids
and their families enjoy boating and fishing here.
The Flat Rock and
the Driftwood Rivers flow together in downtown Columbus to form the east fork
of the White River. Mill Race Park is located where the rivers join, and kids
and their families enjoy boating and fishing here.
Designed by Michael Van Valkenburgh, the park is composed of 83 acres, and it includes lots of things for kids to see and do. In addition to having a playground and an observation tower that stands 84 feet tall, Mill Race Park includes a boathouse and two lakes.
Visitors enjoy having picnics in the park, fishing, and playing
basketball on the nearby courts. The People Trail, a paved walking and bike
riding path, threads through Columbus for twelve miles, and part of the trail
runs through the park.
Each Labor Day weekend, the Hospice of South Central Indiana sponsors a concert here. Featuring a nationally known singer or group, thousands of people attend the free program. Also in September, the park hosts an art and crafts show that attracts artists from all over the United States..
Movies, plays, concerts, and other programs are presented in the amphitheater during the warmer months. During the Christmas season, the park is filled with many light displays, and after heavy snowfalls, kids enjoy sledding on the steep hills.
Round
Lake and the covered bridge form the centerpiece of the park. In the 1800s wood
was plentiful in the United States, so it was often used to build such bridges.
Covering them with roofs and walls helped to protect the plank floors from
harsh weather.
While many of the bridges are over a century old and still in use, there are just over 1,000 of them remaining in all of North America. Indiana has more than ninety such structures, and Parke County, which is known as "the covered bridge capital of the world," has thirty-two of them .
For more information about our park system and things for kids to see and do, visit the Columbus Parks and Recreation Department. Click on any of the small images below for a larger version.
 Fishing Lake Overlook |
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 River View from the Tower |
 Stage Area from above |
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 Bridge Entrance |
 Bridge Interior |
 Mill Race Bridge |
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 Bridge and Round Lake |
 Playground and Lake |
 Observation Tower |
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 Courthouse from the Tower |
 Hospice Concert |
 Art and Crafts Show |
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© 2003 Marilyn J. Brackney, All Rights Reserved (updated 2018)
Text and images may not be copied
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