Sherwood is a city in Pulaski County, Arkansas with a population of over 30,000 residents. Known as “The City of Progress”, Sherwood has experienced rapid growth in recent years. With its convenient location just 15 minutes from downtown Little Rock, Sherwood offers residents and visitors a small town atmosphere along with easy access to big city amenities.
One of the best features of Sherwood is its abundance of beautiful parks. From large recreational parks perfect for sports and events to quaint neighborhood parks ideal for taking a stroll, Sherwood has something for everyone. The city’s 12 wonderful parks provide the perfect backdrop for individuals and families looking to enjoy the outdoors.
Sylvan Hills Community Park
Spanning over 50 acres, Sylvan Hills Community Park is the largest park in Sherwood. This park contains a little bit of everything. With 5 baseball/softball fields, 5 soccer fields, a football field, 3 playground areas, 6 tennis courts, 2 volleyball courts, a golf driving range, and a lake with a fountain, visitors flock to Sylvan Hills Community Park for both recreational and organized sporting events.
Some highlights of Sylvan Hills Community Park include:
- Baseball/Softball Fields: Perfectly maintained fields with dugouts, fencing, bleachers, and lighting for evening games. Hosts various youth league baseball tournaments.
- Soccer Fields: Regulation size fields with lighting and goals to accommodate soccer practices, games, and tournaments year-round. New turf was recently installed.
- Playground Areas: Three different playground areas featuring equipment for all age groups. From swings and slides to climbing structures, even the youngest visitors will enjoy the playgrounds.
- Lake and Fountain: A serene lake featuring a lighted fountain provides a relaxing backdrop for park goers. The lake is also stocked for catch and release fishing.
With ample parking, bathrooms, concessions, and covered picnic areas with grills throughout, Sylvan Hills Community Park has everything needed for an enjoyable and comfortable visit. Whether you’re an athlete looking for top-notch sports facilities or just want to enjoy a nice walk around the lake, Sylvan Hills Community Park is a Sherwood gem.
Johnson Mill Park
Nestled alongside Johnson Creek, the aptly named Johnson Mill Park spans 15 acres in the heart of Sherwood. Named for a historic lumber mill and dam that once operated on the site of the park in the late 1800s, Johnson Mill Park now serves as a recreational and event space that brilliantly blends Sherwood’s past and present.
Some top features of Johnson Mill Park include:
- 1.5 Mile Loop Trail: Perfect for walking, running, biking, and exploring nature. This trail loops around the perimeter of the park.
- Historic Mill Site: The old foundation of the lumber mill and remnants of the dam still remain as a glimpse into Sherwood’s past. Interpretive signs tell the history.
- Covered Pavilions: Two large covered pavilions complete with picnic tables, a fireplace, and restrooms accommodate gatherings large and small throughout the year.
- Playground Equipment: A large, creative playground structure keeps kids entertained for hours. Swings and interactive musical equipment add to the fun.
- Johnson Creek Access: Visitors can fish, skip rocks, wade, or simply enjoy views of the flowing creek.
With onsite parking, dog waste stations, and park benches situated alongside Johnson Creek, Johnson Mill Park allows visitors to make a connection with Sherwood’s early beginnings while enjoying the natural beauty of this special place.
East End Park
Boasting a popular splash pad, skate park, scenic walking trail, and playground, East End Park packs a lot of fun into its 8 acres on the eastern side of Sherwood. Especially popular in the hot Arkansas summers, East End Park draws kids and families looking to stay cool and entertain even the most energetic children.
Top East End Park Attractions:
- Splash Pad: Dozens of fountains, water cannons, dumping buckets, and water jets delight toddlers through pre-teens. Lots of shade keeps parents comfortable on hot days too.
- Skate Park: Concrete ramps, boxes, rails, and obstacles challenge skaters and skateboarders to perfect their skills. An alternative to team sports, the skate park provides independent recreation.
- Playground Equipment: Standard playground fare like swings, slides, and climbing structures are complemented by unique musical elements and structures accessible to differently abled children.
- Walking Trail: Just under 1 mile, the walking trail loops through the park including a segment through woods thick with Arkansas flora and fauna.
With onsite restrooms, picnic tables, benches, and parking, East End Park makes for an excellent destination for summer fun with options for every member of the family.
Sherwood Forest Park
As the name implies, Sherwood Forest Park transports visitors to a shady, wooded oasis in the center of town. Encompassing 10 acres that were once part of a private estate, Sherwood Forest Park has retained its peaceful, secluded ambiance. Mature oak, magnolia, dogwood, and pine trees shade meandering trails and create a canopy over open lawn areas used for games, picnics, and quiet contemplation.
Top Features of Sherwood Forest Park Include:
- Trail Network: 1 mile of natural surface trails wind through the woods perfect for walking, trail running, biking, and exploring nature.
- Open Green Space: Two open lawn areas have plenty of room for recreational games, picnics, relaxing, and impromptu gatherings.
- Playground Area: Kids can romp on swings, slides, and climbing equipment situated at the edge of the woods.
- Restored Historic Elements: An estate gate, lamp posts, stone wall, and concrete artwork have been preserved adding unique charm.
- Natural Wildlife Habitat: A diversity of plant species and mature trees make Sherwood Forest Park an excellent place to observe birds, small mammals, and native flora.
With onsite parking, Sherwood Forest Park offers a welcome retreat into nature without leaving town.
Kellogg Park
Tucked into a quiet Sherwood neighborhood, the nearly 5 acre Kellogg Park packs a lot of family fun into a small footprint. Created to memorialize Sylvan Hills elementary students tragically killed in an accident in 1998, Kellogg Park was constructed in large part by volunteers wanting to create a special place for Sherwood families.
Top Kellogg Park Attractions Include:
- Accessible Playground Equipment: A huge, custom-designed playground caters to all ability levels with ramps, ground level components, sensory elements, and standard equipment like swings, slides, and climbers.
- Splash Pad: Dozens of water features create an interactive area for kids to stay cool from spring to fall. Lots of shade keeps parents comfortable too.
- Walking Trail: Just under 1⁄2 mile loop trail is perfect for stretching your legs or teaching kids to ride bikes. The trail circles a open lawn.
- Sports Field: Backstop, dugouts, bleachers, and bases convert an open lawn into a baseball or kickball field. Bring your own equipment for an impromptu game.
- Picnic Facilities: Several picnic tables and covered pavilions create gathering spaces for potlucks or picnics. Grills allow for cooking out.
With ample parking, restrooms, and night lighting, Kellogg Park packs big fun into a neighborhood gem.
Riverchase Park
Boasting an ideal location alongside the Arkansas River, the aptly named Riverchase Park serves as green gateway into Sherwood from the north. Its 12 acres span both sides of Riverchase Boulevard with pedestrian tunnels allowing safe passage underneath the roadway.
Top Riverchase Park Attractions:
- 1 Mile Loop Trail: Perfect for walking, running, biking, and enjoying river views. Interpretive signage describes the history and ecology of the Arkansas River.
- Bank Fishing Access: River access allows visitors to try their luck fishing or simply enjoy the views.
- Children’s Garden: Budding gardeners can plant, water, weed, and harvest vegetables in this special garden designed for hands-on learning.
- Natural Amphitheater: Grass terraces created along the riverbank allow for concerts, plays, or other performances. The backdrop of the Arkansas River sets the stage.
- Open Green Space: Over 5 acres of open lawn make room for games, picnics, kite flying, relaxing, and large gatherings.
With playground equipment, parking, trails, and bathrooms on both sides of the road, Riverchase Park takes full advantage of its ideal location alongside Arkansas’s most famous river.
Pleasant View Park
Quiet and quaint, the intimate Pleasant View Park spans just 3 acres within a Sherwood neighborhood. Mature trees shade open lawn perfect for picnics, yard games, or simply finding a peaceful place to unwind. Custom designed playground equipment built to resemble iconic Sherwood landmarks like the water tower entice kids to explore while parents relax under shady pavilions.
Top Pleasant View Park Attractions Include:
- Custom Playground Equipment: Classic playground fare like swings, slides, and climbers are integrated into installations designed to mimic Sherwood’s standpipe water tower, City Hall, and other landmarks. Interactive elements keep kids engaged through imaginative play.
- Shady Pavilions: Large covered pavilions with picnic tables provide gathering spaces protected from the elements. Grills allow for cooking out.
- Open Green Space: Just under 2 acres of open lawn has ample room for recreational games, kite flying, picnics, or other group activities. Mature trees outline the space and create pockets of shade.
With onsite parking, Pleasant View Park makes an ideal neighborhood pocket park perfect for residents looking for some outdoor recreation close to home.
Asher Park
The smallest park in Sherwood at just 1 acre, Asher Park packs a lot into a small footprint. Tucked within the Shadow Creek subdivision, this quaint neighborhood park gives local families and residents a place to gather within walking distance on a nice day. Standard playground equipment, swings, picnic tables, and a small pavilion cater to young families while a paved loop trail outlines open space used for yard games or simply tossing a ball.
Top Asher Park Attractions Include:
- Playground Equipment: Classic playground fare like swings, slides, and climbing structures packs a lot of fun into a small area.
- Paved Loop Trail: Perfect for teaching young kids to ride bikes, the paved trail loops around the perimeter of the park—just under 1⁄4 mile.
- Open Lawn Space: Manageable open lawn has room for activities like throwing a ball, flying kites, yard games, or sitting on a blanket.
- Shaded Picnic Area: A few picnic tables underneath a small pavilion create an area for snacks protected from the sun or rain.
While small, Asher Park serves an important role offering close-to-home outdoor recreation for families in the Shadow Creek neighborhood.
Avalon Park
Spanning 5 acres nestled behind Sherwood’s city hall complex, Avalon Park brings a touch of European flair to Sherwood. Avalon Park was constructed on the site of a former private estate and the name pays homage to early twentieth century vacation destinations popular among America’s elite. Stonework, formal gardens, and historic estate lighting preserves the feel of an earlier era while modern amenities welcome contemporary visitors.
Top Avalon Park Attractions Include:
- Formal Gardens: Manicured floral beds, brick patios, stone walls, and decorative lighting create a series of formal garden rooms perfect for events or simply strolling.
- 1⁄4 Mile Loop Trail: Connecting the various gardens, a paved walking path loops through Avalon Park perfect for a leisurely stroll.
- Historic Elements: Stonework, antique lighting, and decorative ironwork have been preserved from earlier estates that once stood on the site.
- Open Green Space: Nearly 2 acres of open lawn provide space for yard games, sitting on a blanket, or pick-up sports.
Both beautiful and functional, Avalon Park brings a taste of Sherwood’s historic estates into an accessible community space.
Indian Hills Park
True to its name, the terrain of Indian Hills Park delivers an unexpectedly hilly landscape making it a popular spot for outdoor recreation. Spanning 6 acres abutting Indian Hills Country Club, mature trees dot the rolling topography surrounding a central meadow. A 1⁄2 mile loop trail completes a perimeter lap up, down and around the park’s charming hills.
Top Indian Hills Park Attractions Include:
- 1/2 Mile Loop Trail: Perfect for walking, trail running or mountain biking. Moderate hills add intensity compared to Sherwood’s flat, lowland parks.
- Open Meadow Space: Nearly 2 acres of open lawn allow room for field sports, kite flying, recreational games, sitting on a blanket or picnicking.
- Playground Equipment: Classic swings, slides, and climbing structures tucked under shade trees appeal to kids of all ages.
- Restored Historic Elements: An antique stone chimneyremnant from estates that once occupied the land has been preserved adding unique ambiance.
Offering views of Indian Hills Country Club’s golf course just over the fence, Indian Hills Park delivers a slice of countryside in the middle of Sherwood’s suburbs.
Woodland Mead Park
Constructed on land donated by a private family, Woodland Mead Park preserves the peaceful, pastoral ambiance of what was once Arkansas pastureland. True to its name, the nearly 9 acre park allows visitors to feel as if they’ve left the city behind and escaped to the countryside without ever leaving Sherwood city limits.
Top Woodland Mead Park Attractions:
- 1 Mile Loop Trail: Designed to showcase the park’s meadows, wetlands, and young forest, this natural surface trail provides opportunities to observe birds and other wildlife along the way.
- Open Meadow Space: Over 4 acres of meadow scattered with young oak trees create space for flying kites, enjoying a picnic blanket, yard games, and pick-up sports. Birds, butterflies, and bugs abound.
- Wetland Area: Interpretive signs describe the park’s temporary wetland basin, home to aquatic plants, frogs, turtles, and other wetland species based on season and rainfall.
- Young Forest: Recently planted native saplings will mature into oak-hickory forest, critical habitat for native birds and mammals.
Blending open space and natural areas, Woodland Mead Park maintains ties to Sherwood’s rural heritage while serving the recreation needs of a growing community.
Little John Park
Named after the legendary bandit accomplice of Robin Hood, Little John Park brings 8 acres of family fun to Nottinghamshire-themed neighborhood in west Sherwood. Standard playground equipment is complimented by unique custom-designed elements featuring the iconic characters of Robin Hood folklore. Interpretive signs describing popular legends transport visitors to Sherwood Forest of medieval England.
Top Little John Park Attractions Include:
- Custom “Sherwood Forest” Playground Structures: Equipment installations resembling Nottingham Castle, Robin Hood’s treehouse hideout, and the famous archery tournament field encourage fantasy play.
- 1⁄2 Mile Loop Trail: Winding through mature oak and pine trees, the trail is perfect for walking, jogging, or bicycling for all ages.
- Open Meadow Space: Over 2 acres of open lawn provide room for sports, games, picnics, kite flying, sitting on a blanket, and large gatherings.
- Nottinghamshire Interpretive Elements: Signs describe popular Robin Hood legends and medieval England granting an unexpected history lesson amidst the fun.
With restrooms, picnic tables, and ample parking, Little John Park offers a unique twist on outdoor recreation with its nottinghamshire themes and custom playground equipment.
Conclusion
Boasting twelve amazing parks spanning over 200 acres, Sherwood has an outstanding park system for a city of its size. From massive Sylvan Hills Community Park that hosts regional sporting events to quaint neighborhood parks ideal for family gatherings, Sherwood’s parks truly have something for everyone.
State-of-the-art playground equipment, extensive trail networks, open green spaces, lakes and streams, wetlands, gardens, and historic elements transport residents and visitors to destinations serving recreation needs across generations. Whether you’re an athlete, nature lover, history buff, or simply searching for some family fun, Sherwood’s twelve fantastic parks guarantee a great experience.