Recreation
Montpelier
Two public parks are located in Montpelier.
- Fireman’s Park includes fishing, a 0.8-mile long exercise trail, and a children’s playground.
- Baldwin Park includes a basketball court, pavilion, and children’s playground.
The Montpelier Civic Center offers something for everyone in the community, young or old. The facility can host plays, musical events, special events, youth sporting events, and tournaments. The civic center has a full-sized ball court, a large stage, a fitness room, a classroom/conference room, and a kitchen. The facility can be rented for wedding events, reunions, corporate parties, etc. The entire gym or classroom/conference room (710 square feet) can be rented.
The 1/4 mile clay oval at the Montpelier Motor Speedway has hosted races for more than 100 seasons. Events include UMP Modifieds, Super Streets, Thunder Cars, FWD Compact, Mod Lites, Midgets, and Sprint Cars.
Hartford City
The Hartford City Parks Department, created in 1971, is governed by a four-person, non-partisan board. It is currently staffed by a part-time superintendent, and five part-time summer employees. Recreational facilities maintained by the Hartford City Parks Department include five parks and a community pool.
- Sigma Phi Gamma Park encompassing 12 acres, is the city’s largest park containing a “kiddie park,” two t-ball fields, and tennis and basketball courts. Pee-Wee football and flag football programs also occur here.
- Hoover Park, centrally-located in the city, features an enclosed shelter house that is available for rental, a basketball court, a 6-foot basketball goal, and a variety of playground equipment.
- Memorial Swimming Pool incorporates a curly slide, a basketball goal, and a diving board. Located to the north of the pool is a 6 acre playground with swings, slides, see-saws, basketball court, and baseball backstop.
- Kings Park (Waterworks Park) is divided into three sections covering 4.5 acres. Features include a basketball court, 2 tennis courts, playground equipment, restrooms, shelter house, 6 lighted horse shoe pits, and a drinking fountain. There is also a skate park here with a wide range of ramps, rails and jumps.
- Wilderness Park, covering 24 acres of wooded land, includes a fitness trail and a 1.5 mile nature trail.
Other recreational facilities in Hartford City include a bowling alley and golf course. Within Blackford County, youth programs & leagues are available for basketball, baseball/softball, soccer, and football.
