Welcome to the centerpiece of our park system: Simpson Park! (13884 bytes)

Call the parks office at 660-646-4424 (115 bytes)Click here to go to the City of Chillicothe's home page...

Simpson Panorama... Welcome to Simpson Park (25808 bytes)

Welcome to Simpson Memorial Park in Chillicothe, Missouri

Simpson Park Washington Street Entrance (13151 bytes)Perhaps one of the city's oldest landmarks, and the best known of the city's recreation facilities, Simpson Park sports the ambiance of a beautiful, old-style park setting. Trees dating back 200 years frame the splendor that entices travelers to a bit of respite along U.S. Highway 65 north of town.

A picturesque walking path offers the serenity of a quiet walk onWalking trails... (15026 bytes) a one-mile trail under the shade of hundreds of trees. Simpson provides a natural rock and soon-to-be completed boardwalk trail.

Shelters under a canopy of shade... (15828 bytes)Four shelters/pavilions (all with electricity) are available for family picnics, reunions, and meetings. Other fair-weather festivities attract the young and old.

Since the initial ground was dedicated in 1928, there have been five additions to create a nearly 36-acre facility. The trees and green space are shared by three playgrounds, a lighted softball field, a lighted permanent croquet court, two lighted tennis courts, and a sand volleyball court, as well as the four pavilions (shelters).

Freedom Festival  (13509 bytes)On July 4th, a large celebration is held in Simpson Park when friends and family gather at the Freedom Festival and enjoy fireworks by dusk. This event has continued to grow year after year.

Simpson Park also hosts many family reunions and special company events through the spring, summer, and fall. One of the most popular events is the annual Chautauqua in the Park hosted Chautauqua in the Park... just one popular annual event held at Simpson (16379 bytes)by the Chillicothe Chamber of Commerce and the Chillicothe Arts Council. Hand-made crafts, arts, live entertainment, food, clowns, storytellers, farmers' market, and petting zoo draw capacity crowds to Simpson Park. This annual two-day event is a time that adults and children anticipate. Vendors come from as far away as Minnesota to show their hand-made crafts, and shoppersChautauqua in the Park (13231 bytes) come from the entire region to browse the booths, sample a wide variety of foods and old-time drinks like root beer and lemonade, and be entertained by stiltwalkers, singers, dancers, and storytellers.

In 2000, the park began hosting the Annual Chillicothe Car Show.Annual car show (11678 bytes)This show features cars, trucks, and motorcycles with awards for all classes. Visitors enjoy Cruise Night the night before the show and 50's and 60's music throughout the weekend.

The park is a wonderful setting for the show with its lovely shade trees and plenty of room for visitors to stroll, sit on their blankets, and visit with the other car show enthusiasts.

Many events are slated in Simpson Park for this year, including:

  • April 12 - MS Walk
  • April 12 - Community Easter Egg Hunt & Cottontail 5K Run
  • May 13 - Duathlon, 10K run and 50K bike ride
  • June 20 - American Cancer Society Relay
  • July 4 - Freedom Run, 5K and 10K
  • July 4 - Freedom Festival
  • July 4 - Freedom Festival Fireworks
  • July 19 - Chillicothe Car Show
  • September 6-7 - Chautauqua in the Park

The park is also home to the Chillicothe Croquet Club, which holds several tournaments during the summer, Church League Slow Pitch Softball, and several 5K and 10K runs, co-sponsored by the Parks and Recreation Department and the Grand River Area Family YMCA.

Our Park staff makes improvements to Simpson Park (and all our parks!) each year. In 2001 and 2002, theRestroom Renovations (14312 bytes) major improvements include plans to update our restrooms. This renovation was based on a city-wide survey conducted by the Parks Department asking citizens what improvements they wanted made to our parks.

Chillicothe Aquatic Center

Aquatic Center (11642 bytes)In addition to the fully equipped playground at Simpson Park, most of the summer activity evolves around the Chillicothe Aquatic Center also located here.

This facility is anything but typical. Water slides accommodate all levels of swimmers. Two diving boards and graduated-depth Olympic-sizeWater Slides!!! (9918 bytes) pool with a mushroom style fountain invite swimmers to relaxing play or invigorating exercise.

Originally constructed in 1963, the facility received a facelift in 1994 that includes a zero-depth entry area and two water slides. The facility continues to draw an average of 32,000 swimmers annually. The Aquatic Center is open from 12:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on M-W-F and from 12:30 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. on T-TH-Sat-Sun. Swimming lessons are provided for all swimming levels each summer. A city-wide swim meet was also added in 1999.

 

Aquatic Center Rates for the 2003 Season

swimfinal_090202_s.jpg (16847 bytes)

Individual Season Pass $65 per person
Family Season Pass $130 for up to a family of four, plus $25 for each additional individual
Daily Admission Rates $3.50 - adults
$2.50 - students (K thru 12)
$1.00 (or free with adult admission) - preschool children
$2.00 per person - groups
Punch Passes $30.00 for 15-punch card

Click this image to see full details about Swimming Lessons (4708 bytes)

For complete details about our Aquatic Center and swimming lessons, please visit those pages on this web site.

Two diving boards (11235 bytes)

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More photos of Simpson Park

Flowers... photo by Butch Shaffer (16196 bytes) Aquatic Center Diving Boards (11471 bytes)
Swim Lessons (9712 bytes) Tree Trimming (15849 bytes)
Walkers use our trails (12628 bytes) Dogs are welcome on a leash (10499 bytes)
Croquet players (12034 bytes) Beautiful even in winter... (13037 bytes)
Lovely flower beds  (16962 bytes) Simpson's Playground (17498 bytes)
Horseshoe Pitching & Volleyball Courts (12339 bytes) Waling Trails and Shelter Houses (13538 bytes)
One of many shelter houses (13961 bytes) Lovely trees and well-maintained grounds (15298 bytes)
Walking Trail (14342 bytes) Freedom Festival - Good Food (10776 bytes)
Freedom Festival Fun & Games (18249 bytes) Aquatic Center Slides (13209 bytes)

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Home | About Us | Events | Parks Map | Sports League Information
Simpson Park | Danner Park | Shaffer Memorial Park | Gravesville Park |
Clay Street Park | Downtown Greenway | Mills Park
Aquatics Center | Swimming Lessons

 

Ed Crawford, Director
1503 Walnut Street, Chillicothe, MO 64601
Office Phone: 660-646-4424
Office Fax: 660-646-2107
Mobile Phone: #660-646-8859
E-Mail: chilpark@greenhills.net

Chillicothe Parks and Recreation (115 bytes)

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