Granite City: Wilson Park Walk

Wilson Park in Granite City, Ill., has a paved trail around a tree-filled park with gardens and little elevation gain.

This is an easy 1.4-mile loop with little elevation gain in a 74-acre park with over 1,000 native and rare trees and a formal garden. My son joined me on this walk with his dirt bike.

*My son rode his bike as I walked along the trail.*

Starting the Walk

I parked along Benton Street and then started the walk going up Benton Street to 27th Street.

Across the street with a median with large trees are stately brick homes.

*Map of the Madison County trail system*

I stopped at the corner of 27th Street and State Street. A map across the street on State shows a connector trail that you can take to the Madison County Transit Nature trail which you could do a much longer walk.

Then I passed by numerous baseball fields and a former elementary school making a left onto Fehling Road, which becomes Benton Street near Wilson Park Ice Rink.

Mounted near the ice rink is a green and brown painted military plane. It is an F-84-F Thunderstreak manufactured by General Motors and designed for the Korean War.

Small playgrounds are nearby along with a tree trunk that is turned into a wooden turtle sprawling out to catch some sun rays.

I come near where I started the walk past the tennis courts.

Inside Trails

After the loop, I decided to explore more of the park through paved trails that go into the interior. I walked about a mile going along the many paths.

We went by a skate park with cement ramps when heading northeast for a large playground that my son had noticed.

The large playground included swings, slides, and a long elevated walkway. He had me time him for how fast he could go from one end to the other.

In the back, there is a swimming pool with slides.

Garden Area

Walking further east we came to a sunken garden with lots of plantings and a white and rock-arched structure in the middle.

Next was a plot with red and yellow flowers altogether.

Then a white stone well now housing red and green plants in the middle near a large garden.

I found a circular pool with a fountain in the middle surrounded by plantings (main photo.) This garden was filled with rock structures and small paths among different plants.

I even found a lone blue dolphin peering out from behind a bush.

Then I left the garden and saw another tree trunk turned into a mosaic of red and yellow flowers.

Lastly, I went back down 27th Street heading towards the car.

Final Thoughts

The playground was a fun find for the kid. The garden area is nice to explore with many flowers and plants.

Other Amenities

Basketball court, pickle ball court, GaGa Ball pit, pavilions, amphitheater, and picnic tables.

DETAILS

Drive: Take Interstate 70 to Exit 248 for McKinley Street, which becomes Illinois Highway 3 after crossing the Mississippi River. Then make a right onto Niedringhaus Avenue then a left onto Madison Avenue and then a left onto 27th Street and a right onto Benton Street for parking along the park.

Hours: Sunrise to Sunset

Address: 2900 Benton St, Granite City, IL 62040