This park is NOT how I remember it as a kid, they have this super huge and amazing play place now! The bathrooms are decently clean and the appeal of a running little creek beside you to play in has always been nice.

Nice waterfall very close to downtown. To get to the waterfall park at one of the lots by the playground and follow the creek to the small dam then turn at the bridge. Then you will see a creek and path and follow that to the waterfall.

This is such a nice park. The kids love it. Its been clean every time Ive been there. We enjoy walking up to the waterfall. Its an easy enough hike, that the 4-year-old enjoyed it as much as the 12-year-old.

One of the best local parks when it comes to the diversity of activities to do for all ages. Has one of the better playgrounds that kids love to play on. In addition to peaceful hiking trails with one leading to a waterfall. Park is equipped with a large shelter house & bathrooms.

The park is a good place to take children of all ages

It truly is a beautiful little area but Bloomington really needs to rally a clean-up team to clear the trash and debris.

Great play area for the kids. Lots of shaded areas. Clean restroom. Great for picnic.

Clean simple small dose of nature. Just right for a hike with little kids.

On the first evening of a three and a half day long vacation that my mom, my sister, my two youngest cousins (who are a year and two years older than me. Im 13 by the way). The evening was Monday, July 27th, 2020. We (my amazing mom) drove between four and a half hours and five hours to bend is down here. Back to the story. So, some of my moms friend lived down near here and one of her other friends goes down here to visit family and their son rock hunts for fossils and geodes. Luckily, since around (and probably under Bloomington) there is a large amount of limestone. Limestone is a sedimentary stone. That means its made of many particulates of materials such as stone, sand, and dirt (there might and probably be tiny microscopic and macroscopic [microscopic means you need a microscope to see whatever it is while something thats macroscopic is just very, very, very difficult to see with the naked eye but its possible] particulates of bones and in cases that make me sad, fossil particulates from fossils that just couldnt withstand all of the pressure, heat, movement, etc. that goes into becoming a fossil). Sedimentary rocks are the perfect type of rock to find geodes and especially fossils in. Well, there was a geode about the size of a grapefruit (according to my mom because Ive never seen one asides from fruit snacks). My mom couldnt get it out using the chisels and hammers we brought. However, I kept on trying. A bit later my mom helped. Then a storm started to roll in. Instead of just leaving, my mom allowed me and my youngest cousin to try to get the geode out quick. We were quickly excavating the thing but then I got an idea. I put my chisel under the geode and but it with my hammer three times to be exact. Then it popped out and I grabbed it. I had actually hit my finger with my hammer a few times but I didnt feel a thing til I got it out and we drove to the Air BnB that my mom got above the small(ish) restaurant called Le Petit Cafe. Just too advertise it Im going to tell you that the mattress I slept on (which was the mattress under the bed so it was on the floor) was so comfortable that I feel asleep in sometime less than 15 minutes. I probably feel asleep in around 7 minutes. When I sleep on my favorite mattress at home, it still takes me around 5 minutes with the most calming thing on the Calm app which (at least to me) is the Deep Sleep course when Im very tired like I got every day of vacation. The Lower Cascades Park has rightfully earned the five stars I have given it. (P.S This is something I learned after we excavated the grapefruit-sized geode. Apparently, the geode we unearthed was the same one that the son [the one of my moms second friend I mentioned] has tried to get. Their family had been down in Bloomington few weeks ago. Apparently the son, who Ill call C for the little bit left of this story; So C had actually been trying to dig that exact geode out for a while. Probably at most an hour. Im guessing because I didnt really find out how long C was trying for [why would they even remember anyways]).

Nice park with newly developed bike path closing the old road. Good for an in town hike next to the creek.

Wonderful play area with fun waterfall trail. Trail head needs to be better marked

Excellent park for all ages. Everything is very safe. My only issue is that there is a back entrance into the 2nd level of the play area and sometimes kids can exit that way and run a good distance before theyre retrievable (mostly an issue if one person is trying to keep eyes on two kids). Its nothing terrible but certainly can be an annoyance.

Great place to play with the kids! The main play place is not for small kids, though they do have an additional play ground set it specially designed for toddlers. They have an AMAZING toddler swing, that Ive never seen any place else! It almost a swinging recliner, with a 5 point safety harness! :) Would highly recommend! The main play ground set, is probably 3 and a half stories tall, with amazing slides, a rock climbing wall, I believe a climbing net, walking posts, and more!

Great park to take kids to, lots to do and plenty of room to play!

Absolutely beautiful! Reminds me of being in the woods at my dads old place as a child. I do have an issue with the age limit to be able to play on the jungle gym... Would mental maturity count? Arrested Development oftentimes puts me at 12 Jw

This would be a very cool park if it was maintained. But it isnt and the entire play structure and ramp are made of wood and the wood is very slippery when wet. We ended up leaving because my son fell several times and I didnt want him falling off the side of the very high structure.

Great shady park, not much for really little ones, but good for older kids.

Great place to take the kids for them to just have a blast and adventure a large park!Used to go here a lot as a kid and the feeling of wonder still hasnt really left me to this day. Definitely take the time to explore the rest of the park too!

One of the better parks Ive been to!

Two 2 story slide!! That is all kids need to know. There is a smaller playground that is separate from the main playset so that the tinier children wont get run over by the bigger kids. It is close enough though that you can monitor your littles and still have full view of your bigger kiddos.It can get crowded and tables and benches do seem to go fast on weekends but there is lots of grassy space for picnics!

Such a great playground. We couldve easily hung out here all day. Lots of climbing, multiple slides, Great for kids 12 and under.

This is a great park, lovely waterfall, good shelters!

Beautiful local park with a falls and babbling stream.

Come here for the waterfalls With my wife and daughter we love it

Its probably the best Park in Bloomington. I can only find one obviously dangerous thing on the climbing wall there is one of The Rock pads has broken off and now has an exposed metal screw-top Maybe 3 in extending out that someone could get hurt on but the rest of the park is fine

Great park with very tall slide tower, swings, and various attractions for younger kids and those under 13. Bathrooms and water fountain. Also a waterfall a short distance away. Kids loooooved it.

Not a big park, bit is nice enough. I went to look for a going spot close to town. The trail isnt very long or exciting but it does lead to a rocky alcove with a stream. It might even be considered a waterfall in the wetter months. Over all a decent spot to spend time in nature if you dont want to drive out to one of the county or state forests.

Wonderful Family with children park in Bloomington Indiana

We had a blast at this park. The playground is huge! There is also a creek just across the street that is perfect for letting your kids play in.

Had a very good time

Lovely time with my ️ in Indiana.

Favorite playground with spider net structure and huge slides

Absolutely gorgeous park. My daughter loves to play on the slides and splash in the stream.

Love this spot for afternoon walks by the creek and playtime at the park. Have noticed some glass around the entrance to hikes but otherwise a picturesque quaint spot to spend a day outside with the damijy.

This is such a great quite out of the way spot for the entire fam

Great park where you can enjoy a picnic in a shelter house or under the trees, let the kids play on the large playground or in the creek, get a game of volleyball going, take a leisurely stroll across the meadow, or take a short, easy nature hike back to the waterfall. If you are more adventurous, there are plenty of smaller trails that wind through the woods up and down hills for tons of exploration and fun!

Nice park and good trails minus the homeless people sleeping around.

There is a waterfall and small creek for kids to get feet wet!

Fun! Easily accessible restrooms, wheelchair ramps and handicap accessible swing.

This secluded park is part of a larger overall park and trail system located north of downtown Bloomington along Old State Road 37. Just about a mile north of the College-Walnut split, this heavily wooded park opens up for a large playground area. There is a large ramp that allows access to the upper levels of the playground equipment for those challenged by climbing. There is plenty of parking on each end of the playgrounds. The road to the park is filled with blind curves, so the speed limit is slow. A creek that flows north to join Griffy Creek is on the west side of the road and you can see were access to the shelters on the west side of the park acts like a small dam until the water flows over the concrete, creating a water slide effect (not really a waterfall).

Great place to take your kids. The parks and the outdoor scene is phenomenal!

Well maintained park with nice wooded and pinic areas. Biggest slides in town!

Great place to go!

My son loves going here. It is always well kept and there is lots to do.

Beautiful park and amazing playground!

Gorgeous place to walk.

This is a nice, large park. The playground is very nice. The kids enjoy it. There are nice trails for walking, jogging, and hiking. I wouldn’t really recommend them for bike riding. The areas of the park are nicely separated. However, the park is long and narrow, and a road runs through it. I’m always nervous taking kids there - especially little ones. There isn’t a lot of parking near the playground. The restrooms by the playground are nice for outdoor restrooms.

Very pretty with leaves off the trees. Much walking can be done.

The sand pit for the volleyball court was clean and the pavilion was nice. I would have liked to see a spigot to rinse stuff with.

Brings out my inner kid. I like the location and the park is very nice

Fun playground for kids of all ages .walking trails.waterfall.bathrooms.shelter houses.baseball diamonds.winding Creek through park.

Great playground for kids three to twelve years old nestled in a valley

Great place to take the family and have a cook out. Has a volleyball net up, has grills, shelters with tables as well as the park and beautiful waterfall.

Beautiful very nice and quiet to bring ur family too

Always clean and plenty to do. Great place to picnic or let the little s wear themselves out.

This place has a great playground.Its quiet, relaxing, and you can have lunch and let the kids play.

Amazing play structure for kids. Also some nice areas for a picnic or hike as well

Playground is great. Lots of space.

What a great place for a morning play time! Not crowded in the mornings, during the week at all. Plenty of tree cover keeps the place nice and cool for most of the day.

Panoramic and very very fun. Especially if you have children.

We love this park. Our little girl has so much fun here

Beautiful and lots to do with the lil ones..

Tremendous park. Kudos to B-ton Parks and Rec on this one.

Ive been going here for 16 years

Fun place for kids and a few nice short hikeing trails kids can play in the creek or there is a very nice play ground as well

This place is awesome!! Any kid would love it here

Clean and well-kept park with nice areas to relax interspersed throughout. Theres also a very cool playground and a neat, well-designed skate park.

Nice big place for kids to play and run around

Wonderful place for hiking and to take kids. Also has a water fountain to drink water and a restroom.

Awesome park. My kids have a great time here every time. Nice trail, creek, and waterfall.

I had never been! I love the natural trails! It is serene even with the screaming kids. Great veiws if you walk the trails!!

Very great park to take the kids to play when it isnt to crowded

Its a great place to take the kids. When its not crowded. Luckily we catch it when its not packed

Need to add back old fashion teeter tauter, merry-go-round, just add more fun equipment like smithville has!

Such a beautiful place.

Pretty nice place to have a little retreat from town without being to far out plenty of places to walk along the stream or find your own little private spot.i was saddened to hear a young woman 24 took her life here the other day.

Nice park. However the water in the creek likely has pcb contamination in it, as most of the creeks around here do. I wouldnt let children play in it.

Great place to take the kids to play iin the playground, have a cookout, go biking, go biking and have an overall great family time. The DNR staff does a great job at keeping the grounds clean and tidy

Rough road at entry but a nice shelter with rest room

This has long been my favorite park in Bloomington! Starting to show its age, Im afraid.

Very nice park. Big slides a tower to climb up to the slides. A wooden bridge going to towers. A rope climbing tower.

Nice

The kids love this park. Theres a spot where they can slide down into the water.

There are some great activities on the large playset and very nice options for toddlers. The bathroom was clean as far as park restrooms go. The one star was taken off for a lack of a working drinking fountain. Kids only played for a bit because it was so hot out, and the equipment was scorching hot.

Cool playground with a multistory structure with a couple really large slides. Then great stuff for younger kids and a rope climbing thing for older kids.

People are nosey. Other than that it was pretty laid back and peaceful.

Went for a Nature Sounds program which was great. Went early to bird watch, nice stream & walking trails

Played Pokemon Go. Very nice park.

Best park spot in the city in Bloomington

There are so many things to do here. You can swing, play in the playset, climb the net, spin in a chair, hike, and you even have a little playground for the tiny kids.

Great place I take my kids here they love it!

Nice clean park

Beautiful creek. Very clean place.

Love Love Love this park! Been going since I was a child. Took my children there growing up and now I take my grandbaby. It is a beautiful park. The playground has grown over the years and continues to be my favorite!

Great place to spend the afternoon, lovely waterfall and place to play in a creek!!!!

The park itself is pretty great. This park is very large and tall for kids to explore on safely. Theres plenty of room for many many kids to safely play together. Two different sets of swings and even a jungle gym iroented for younger kids, too. A tall rope-web climibng pyramid. The park is very close to a creek, waterfall access, and various hiking trails. Lower Cascades Park also has various shelters that can be reserved for events of all sorts. The only issue I have with this park is that it will periodically bring is homeless indiviudals that like to use the bathroom for their showering/drug use - I always stay clear of the restroom unless its an emergency.

Nice playground. And nice little creek for my boys to play around.

Great place for the kids to have some fun.

Really pretty park. Id love to see the grills open though. They are locked up during the colder months.

Did you know there is a waterfall here! Waterfall shelter should have been a clue but I missed it. This park is so very beautiful and peaceful. Real bathrooms are a huge plus.