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Parks Division The Parks Division is responsible for maintenance of highly visible, well-used grounds and facilities that are a major contributor to the quality of life in Ottawa. In addition to the parks, personnel assigned to this division operate and maintain Hope Cemetery.
Haley Park, at the intersection of 2nd and Main Streets, is home to a gazebo-like shelter and the Mayor’s Christmas Tree, and serves as a focal point for downtown events. Heritage Park, located on the northeast side of town, is among the City's most recent additions. It lies along Powhattan Street near Birch Street on land acquired by the City during the 1990s, and developed as a neighborhood park. This park boasts a walking track approximately 1/2-mile in length and a playground structure suitable for toddler to ten-year old children. Cox Field is a recreational complex which is home to the baseball programs sponsored by the Ottawa Recreation Commission. There are a total of 9 fields; 3 full size fields, 2 softball fields, 2 coach pitch fields, and 2 tee ball fields. The park includes two restroom facilities. Freedom Park is a newly-named small neighborhood park on Poplar Street between 2nd and 3rd Streets. Nearby are the Don Woodward Community Center and a Skateboard Park which was constructed on a pair of under-used tennis
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Forest
Park, in the northwest corner of the City, is notable for
its mature oak and walnut trees and its array of recreational facilities.
Included are a 475,000 gallon full size municipal swimming pool,
5 new lit tennis courts, 18 individual horseshoe courts, 1 basketball
court, a lit baseball diamond and a lit softball diamond, and four
playgrounds including a “tots lot”. In addition there
are three restroom facilities in the park. Forest Park hosts a number
of community events each year, including the Ole Marais River Run
(a custom car show), the Power of the Past Antique Tractor and Engine
Show, and Chautauqua Days (a July 4th celebration). There are shelters
eight shelters all with electricity and a small grill. Two shelters
may be reserved through the 
Kanza Park serves
as a stormwater detention pond on the upper end of the Skunk Run
drainage basin, but Kanza Park has been enhanced by the addition
of a hard-surfaced walking track almost a mile long, and lit with
salvaged Victorian fixtures from early 20th Century Main Street
(downtown). The trail around the park has been incorporated into
community events and celebrations, including running/walking events
and a luminary display during the Christmas season. The park is
adjacent to the Prairie Spirit Trail.
City
Park, which is home to the Carnegie Cultural Center, boasts
a gazebo/bandstand used for summer evening concerts, weddings, and
other similar events. The gazebo/bandstand can be reserved through
the 
The Prairie Spirit Rail
Trail is a rail-banked right-of-way that has been improved
by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks between Ottawa and
Garnett. PSRT enhancements in Ottawa include a paved walking/riding
surface ten feet wide between 5th and 23rd Streets, a bridge over
the Marais des Cygnes River, and a Trailhead facility immediately
south of 17th Street. The PSRT passes immediately beside the walking
trail at Kanza Park. A grant application has been submitted to improve
the PSRT north of the bridge.