What are the opening hours?

Tuesday 9am - 4:30pm Wednesday 9am - 4:30pm

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Joe Ford Nature Center

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Owensboro, KY
Joe Ford Nature Center

A place to commune with nature. A Beautiful spot nestled into the edge of the green belt. Park is open until dark 365 days a year.

Visit Joe Ford Nature Center where we are dedicated to educating the community about the natural world and offer events and services for our community to explore and rediscover Owensboro Kentucky's natural world of the past and present! Center is open for scheduled events or services and throughout the week when staff are there. (we currently don't have a set schedule but if you reach out via emai

l we can be sure someone is there when you visit). Give us a call and schedule an event or visit today!

09/07/2026

Happy Labor Day from the Joe Ford Nature Center! 🌿

The Nature Center will be closed on Labor Day as our team takes time to enjoy the holiday. We hope you have a safe and relaxing day—and perhaps find a little time to enjoy the outdoors! 🐢🌳

09/04/2026

Happy National Wildlife Day! 🦋🐢🌿

Today, we’re celebrating the incredible wildlife that shares our community—from the birds in our backyards and pollinators in our gardens to the animals that call our local woods and waterways home.

National Wildlife Day is a reminder that protecting wildlife begins right where we are. Take a walk, notice something wild and make a little room for nature today. Every creature plays an important role in keeping our environment healthy!

What wild neighbor have you spotted lately? Share a photo in the comments! 📸

08/31/2026

☀️ This Week at the Joe Ford Nature Center

Monday, 8/31: 8:00 AM–1:00 PM
Tuesday, 9/1: 8:00 AM–1:00 PM
Wednesday, 9/2: 8:00–11:00 AM

Extreme heat is expected this week! If you’re hitting the trails, plan your visit for early morning or later in the day, bring plenty of water, and take breaks when needed. Stay cool and hydrated out there! 🌿💧

08/25/2026

We need your help to Chip In for the Trails!

Join us for a volunteer morning at The Joe Ford Nature Center as we work together to spread fresh mulch along our trails and keep them safe, beautiful and ready to explore.

Wednesday, September 30
8:00 AM–12:00 PM
The Joe Ford Nature Center

What to know:
• We’ll be spreading mulch along the trails
• Bring work gloves and a rake if you have them. We will supply as much as we can and we'll definitely have water!
• Wear sturdy shoes and clothes that can get dirty
• All ages are welcome

Planning to help? Please message The Joe Ford Nature Center directly. An accurate head count is extremely important so we can have the right supplies and work plan ready for everyone.

Many hands make great trails! 🌳

08/24/2026

🌿 Beautiful weather is ahead this week! The intense heat should hold off until Sunday, so now is the perfect time to make your way to the trails!

Our hours this week:

Monday, August 24: 8AM–1PM
Tuesday, August 25: 8AM–1PM
Wednesday, August 26: 8AM–1PM

Stop by the Nature Center, say hello to our animal ambassadors, and enjoy some time outside! The trails are open dawn to dusk so make a bit of time to get outdoors!

08/21/2026

🐍 Meet Your Wild Neighbor: CJ the Kingsnake!

CJ is one of our absolute favorites—and it’s easy to see why! He’s sweet, curious and always happy to be held. If you give him the chance, he’ll happily curl up in your pocket and make himself comfortable.

When he isn’t visiting with guests, CJ stays busy redecorating his enclosure—usually by making a spectacular mess and burrowing deep into his substrate. Apparently, he has very specific interior-design preferences. 😂

Kingsnakes are nonvenomous constrictors that help keep ecosystems balanced by eating rodents, lizards and even other snakes. Their name comes from their ability to prey on other snakes—including venomous species!

CJ loves visitors, so stop by the Joe Ford Nature Center and meet this cute, gentle little king for yourself! How can you not love that face?!

08/19/2026

🌿 Get ready for The Great Joe Ford Nature Hunt! 🔍

Join us on Saturday, September 26, from 10:00 AM–1:00 PM for a community-wide outdoor adventure inspired by Joe Ford’s lifelong curiosity and love of the natural world!

Here’s how the hunt works:

Start at The Joe Ford Nature Center, where you’ll receive your official hunt card and everything you need to begin. Then, travel to four local parks (including the Joe Ford Nature Park) and keep your eyes open for wildlife, plants, insects and other natural discoveries along the way!

Once you’ve completed the hunt, return to the Joe Ford Nature Center to collect your prize and be entered for a chance to win a family nature adventure basket!

A suggested donation of $10 per vehicle will support the Nature Center’s educational programming, ambassador animal care and conservation efforts.

Pack up the family and friends, bring your curiosity and get ready to explore Owensboro’s parks—just like Joe would have! 🌳🦋

Saturday, September 26
10:00 AM–1:00 PM
The hunt starts at The Joe Ford Nature Center. Feel free to come at any time. The entire experience should take under one hour but remember - the goal is to enjoy the outdoors! We aren't here to rush!

08/17/2026

This Week at the Joe Ford Nature Center!

Please note our adjusted schedule—we’ll be open Friday this week!

Monday, August 17: 8AM–1PM
Tuesday, August 18: 8AM–1PM
Friday, August 21: 10AM–3PM

It’s looking like a warm week with possible storms midweek, so bring plenty of water and wear shoes you don’t mind getting a little dirty. We hope you’ll stop by and explore with us! 🥾🌳

08/13/2026

We’re taking care of business at the Joe Ford Nature Center! 🚻🐾

We're not sure if you've noticed our new additions but thanks to our porta-potty and dog-waste stations, both our two-legged and four-legged visitors have a convenient place to… well, handle what nature calls them to do. 😂

We of course have air conditioned restrooms inside the Nature Center but just in case you're on the trails while we're closed - this new addition may be a life saver. As always, please remember to clean up after your pup to keep our trails and our shoes - clean.

They may not be our most glamorous additions, but they’re definitely some of the most practical. Come take a hike, bring your pup, and stay awhile—we’ve got the important stuff covered!

Thank you Owensboro Parks and Recreation for all you do!!!

Address

Location:Hwy 60 W (3870 2nd Street, Behind GRADD)
Owensboro, KY
42301

Opening Hours

Tuesday	9am - 4:30pm
Wednesday	9am - 4:30pm

Telephone

2703022755

Website

facebook.com

Alerts

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