Center Township has 1,146 acres of parks, 29 for every 1,000 residents
The biggest trail networks: Sauerman Woods (0.7 mi). 4% of Center Township’s land is conserved, about 1,110 acres. 9.0 miles of mapped trail cross Center Township, 0.2 per square mile of land.
Ahead of 59% of U.S. towns · #127 of 593 in Indiana. What drives it
How much outdoors does Center Township have?
On conserved land, trails, park land and how close residents live to a park, Center Township is ahead of 59% of U.S. towns, #127 of 593 in Indiana. Park acres per resident hold the grade up; trail miles pull it down.
Few Indiana towns conserve much land (a typical one, 2%; the U.S., 4%), so Center Township’s 4% is ahead of 77% of Indiana towns, while its trails per square mile lead 63% of them.
PAD-US, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors), Census 2025 Gazetteer and 2020 blocks; details in Sources below. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is Sauerman Woods, with 0.7 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Lemon Lake County Park
Beaver Dam Park
Lake County Fairgrounds
All 10 parks & preserves
1,110 conserved acres
4% of Center Township’s land. Who manages Center Township’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lemon Lake County Park Local Park | County | 295 | Open |
| Oak Knoll Golf Course State Recreation Area | Town or city | 169 | Open |
| Summertree Golf Course Private Park | Private owners | 151 | Open |
| Youche Country Club Private Park | Private owners | 142 | Open |
| White Hawk Country Club Private Park | Private owners | 126 | Open |
| South Shore Country Club Private Park | Private owners | 94 | Open |
| Lake County Fairgrounds State Recreation Area | County | 83 | Open |
| Beaver Dam Wetland Conservation Area State Conservation Area | State fish & wildlife | 19 | Restricted |
| Jerry Ross Park Local Park | Town or city | 8 | Open |
| Onehundredthirtyseventh Ave. Park Local Park | Town or city | 7 | Open |
5 smaller protected places aren’t shown.
18 places to go in Center Township
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Plus 12 playgrounds without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
1 picnic area without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
6 lakes & rivers
1.1 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
The best walking months in Center Township: April and September
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.5 | 10.6 | 11.8 | 13.3 | 14.5 | 15.1 | 14.9 | 13.8 | 12.4 | 11.0 | 9.8 | 9.2 |
| High (°F) | 32 | 36 | 48 | 60 | 71 | 81 | 83 | 82 | 76 | 64 | 49 | 37 |
| Rain (in) | 2.3 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 3.6 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.2 | 3.5 | 3.6 | 2.8 | 2.2 |
February is the driest month (2.0 in) and July the warmest (highs of 83 °F). 4.5 inches fall in June, the wettest month. The climate in Center Township →
Center Township and its neighbors
Tap a town to see its outdoors.
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Center Township | 4% | 0.2 | 29 | 63% | B |
| Winfield Township | 2% | 0.5 | 27 | 63% | B |
| Hanover Township | 1% | under 0.1 | 3 | 49% | C− |
| Ross Township | 8% | 0.2 | 45 | 72% | B+ |
| Cedar Creek Township | 1% | 0.1 | 45 | 41% | C |
| Crown Point | 4% | 0.3 | 3 | 71% | C+ |
| Winfield | under 1% | 0.1 | 2 | 55% | C− |
| Merrillville | 8% | 0.2 | 40 | 73% | B+ |
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Center Township
Where can I hike in Center Township?
The longest trail networks: Sauerman Woods, 0.7 miles; Lake County Fairgrounds, 0.2 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
How much of Center Township is conserved land?
4% of its land, against a typical 2% for an Indiana town and 4% nationally (PAD-US). Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors: easements are usually private land.
Are dogs allowed on Center Township’s trails?
Sauerman Woods and Lemon Lake County Park don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Where can I bike in Center Township?
1.1 miles of bike routes are on the map: 1.0 of off-road paths.
Is there public land near Center Township?
8,507 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Center Township or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 1,146 of them inside the town line.
How much outdoors does Center Township have?
Ahead of 59% of U.S. towns on the Outdoors grade, #127 of 593 in Indiana. The grade combines the share of land that is conserved, miles of mapped trail per square mile of land, park acres per 1,000 residents and the share of residents within a half mile of a park. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Center Township neighbors.
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →