Here are a few of the Quad-Cities area's more prominent parks:

Illinois

• Black Hawk State Historic Site, Rock Island -- A 205-acre park of rolling woodlands and river bluffs, with 4 miles of hiking trails, a lodge, picnic tables and many species of flowers, trees and birds in a nature preserve. The Hauberg Indian Museum details the daily lives and seasonal activities of the Sauk and Mesquaki (Fox) tribes. Address is 1510 46th Ave., Rock Island, follow Illinois 5 west, (309) 788-0177 (lodge) or (309) 788-9536 (museum).
• Dorrance Forest Preserve, Port Byron -- Picnic area and baseball diamonds. Take Illinois 84 north from East Moline, (309) 786-4451.
• Great River Trail, Rock Island, Moline, East Moline, Hampton -- This scenic path along the Mississippi River is perfect for hiking or biking. Some of the best features are beautiful gardens, picnic grounds, playgrounds, and boating and fishing opportunities. Open virtually all the way from Sunset Marina, Rock Island, to Illiniwek Park, Hampton, (309) 793-6300.
• Green Valley Park, Moline -- Ball diamonds, football and soccer fields, bike and hiking trails, nature preserve, fishing, boat ramp and concession stand during ball games alongside the Rock River; 34th to 70th streets at 52nd Avenue.
• Hennepin Canal, Colona -- Winding through Colona, the first boat passed through the Hennepin Canal about 100 years ago. President Ronald Reagan learned to swim in the canal as a boy. Friends of the Canal is an organization seeking more improvements.
• Illiniwek Forest Preserve, Hampton -- Features 206 acres of forest and bluffs, with a boat landing, camping and nature trails, 60 pads with electric and water hookups, and shelter available for rent. Picnic areas, grills, firewood, playground, two baseball diamonds, scenic overlook, showers, toilets and disposal station; Illinois 84 at the Mississippi River, (309) 496-2620.
• Indian Bluff, Milan -- Eighteen-hole public golf course and picnic area; 6200 78th Ave., south of the Quad City International Airport, (309) 799-3868 (golf course), (309) 788-8506 (park information).
• LeClaire Park, Davenport -- Big bandshell for large group gatherings, horseshoe pits, eagle watching area. Area is handicapped accessible.
• Lincoln Park, Rock Island -- Historic outdoor stage, bandshell, gazebo, swingsets, picnic shelters and tables, lighted basketball and tennis courts, a ball field, plus great sledding hills. During the summer, Genesius Guild performs Shakespearean and Greek comedy and tragedy Saturday and Sunday nights, while the Starlight Revue presents music at the bandshell on Tuesday nights. Park entrances are at 42nd Street and 9th Avenue and at 38th Street and 11th Avenue.
• Longview Park, Rock Island -- Conservatory, greenhouse and formal gardens, sledding hills, basketball and tennis courts, playground, picnic shelter and disc-golf, with a great view of the Mississippi River; 17th Street and 18th Avenue, (309) 732-7275.
• Loud Thunder Forest Preserve, Andalusia -- Features 1,600 acres of forest with five campgrounds, 26 pads with electric and water hookups, 167-acre Lake George, picnic areas, fireplaces, a new small shelter, playground, comfort stations, dump stations, hiking trails, boat ramps, boat rental and concession stand. New picnic area is available. Follow Illinois 92 from Rock Island west to about 5 miles past Andalusia, (309) 795-1040.
• Millennium Park, Moline -- A 14,000-square-foot playground built by volunteers from Moline and East Moline is on the border of the two towns near East Moline's Archer Drive and Moline's 34th Avenue. It got its name by community vote. Planning for the 9-acre park and wooden playground began in 1998 with land acquisition. The park includes gardens, hiking, nature study, picnic area and restrooms.
• Prospect Park, Moline -- Picnic areas, a two-story pavilion, walking and bike paths, sledding hills, athletic fields and playgrounds along the bluffs overlooking the Rock River valley. The lagoon offers fishing. Quad-City Music Guild presents musicals during the summer in the century-old Chatauqua building. The park's at 16th Street and 30th Avenue, Moline.
• Riverside Park, Moline -- A historic hillside cemetery overlooks a pond that provides fishing in summer and ice skating in winter, in an urban setting; with picnic tables, swimming pool, water slide, lighted tennis courts, athletic fields, horseshoe pits, trails, and a conservatory and gardens; 5th Avenue and 34th Street, Moline, (309) 736-5714.
• Sunset Park, Rock Island -- A sheltered marina and boat launch offer Mississippi River access near the mouth of the Rock River; the lagoon provides ice skating in the winter. The hiking and bicycle trails are the southern terminus of the Great River Trail, which continues for 65 miles upriver. The park's at 18th and 31st Avenues at the Mississippi River.
• Sylvan Island, Moline -- This island, cut off from the Moline bank of the Mississippi by a 19th century millrace, offers a touch of wilderness over the ruins of an old Republic Steel factory. A foot bridge at 1st Avenue and 2nd Street provides access to walking and bicycle trails and one of the area's favorite fishing spots. The island also includes a picnic area, gardens and boating.

Iowa

• Clark's Ferry Recreation Area, Montpelier, Iowa -- Picnic shelter, lighted and electrical outlets, outside picnic sites, horseshoe pits, boat ramp and courtesy dock, 45 campsites, showers, restrooms with flush toilets, dump station and electricity hookups and water availability. A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers park on the Mississippi River; take Iowa 22 -- Rockingham Road -- west from Davenport, (563) 263-7913.
• Credit Island Park, Davenport -- Among the activities on this 300-acre island in the Mississippi River are fishing, boating, golf, ball diamonds, river scenery and eagle-watching. A new feature is wooden sculptures of figures from the Georges Seurat painting, ``A Sunday on the Island of La Grande Jatte.'' Enter the island via a causeway near the 2500 block of West River Drive (U.S. 61). Golf course phone is (563) 326-7820.
• Crow Creek Park, 4800 N. Devil's Glen Road, Bettendorf, boasts a new skate park, fitness trails, game courts, a playground, restrooms, and shelters, tables and grill for picnics.
• Devils Glen Park, Bettendorf -- Features woods, a limestone cliff and babbling brook, ball diamond, picnic tables and an archery range; Devils Glen Road and 44th Street.
• Duck Creek Bike Path, Davenport -- This 10-mile paved off-street bike path, which links up with Bettendorf parkways, starts at Emeis Golf Course, 4500 W. Locust St., then follows Duck Creek east. Access points from most major north-south streets.
• Duck Creek Park, Davenport -- This park in eastern Davenport offers a lodge, golf, tennis, softball, cross-country skiing and picnic areas, as well as the Stampe Lilac Gardens with their beautiful spring flowers and gazebo. Adjoins the Duck Creek Bike Path, 3000 E. Locust Drive, (563) 326-7812 (reservations) or (563) 326-7824 (golf course).
• Fejervary Park, Davenport -- Access to the Duck Creek Bike Path, T-ball fields, tennis, volleyball, skating, picnic and play area, a handicapped-accessible play structure and public swimming pool. Fejervary Park Zoo, featuring animals native to the upper Mississippi Valley Region, is a special summertime attraction; (563) 326-7829 (swimming pool), (563) 326-7830 (zoo).
• McManus Park, 12th and Mississippi, Bettendorf, has the only playground in the Quad-Cities that is 100 percent accessible to all children, no matter their physical condition.
• Middle Park, Bettendorf -- Swimming pool, baseball diamonds, volleyball and bike path along Duck Creek. The bandshell hosts summer concerts; the lagoon offers fishing and ice skating. Along 23rd Street south of Middle Road.
• Pigeon Creek Park, along the Mississippi River off U.S. 67 and Marigold in Bettendorf,is a 45-acre nature preserve with marked walkways.
• Prospect Terrace Park, Mississippi Street and River Drive, East Davenport; and Riverview Terrace Park, 10th and Clay streets, Davenport -- These two parks are small but offer panoramic hillside views of the Mississippi River.
• Scott County Park, Long Grove, Iowa -- 1,250 acres include an Olympic-size swimming pool, lakes, picnic tables, grills, shelters, fishing, pool, playground equipment, baseball fields, nature trails, a nature center, tent camping, 90 camping pads with electricity and the Glynn's Creek 18-hole golf course. Winter sports include ice skating, sledding and cross-country skiing. Walnut Grove Pioneer Village depicts a Midwestern village of the late 1800s and early 1900s. Address is 19251 290th St.; go 9 miles north of Davenport on U.S. 61 and 2 miles east of Long Grove, (563) 328-3282.
• Vander Veer Botanical Park, Davenport -- A landscaped 33 acres with a duck pond offers ice skating in the winter. Features a play area, a formal rose garden, a hosta glade, a children's sculpture garden, a grand allee and conservatory which holds five special floral displays throughout the year; 215 W. Central Park Ave., (563) 326-7818 (conservatory).
• West Lake Park, Davenport -- Picnic shelters, grills available, trailer hookups (full and electric only), playground, swimming, paddleboats, fishing and boat facilities; 14910 110th Ave., on County Road Y48 (110th Avenue) between U.S. 61 and West Locust Street, west of Interstate 280, (563) 328-3281.

Additional information

For additional recreation information, contact:

• Bettendorf Parks and Recreation Department, (563) 344-4113
• Davenport Parks and Recreation Department, (563) 326-7812
• Black Hawk State Historic Site, (309) 788-9536
• East Moline Parks Department, (309) 752-1573
• Moline Parks and Recreation Department, (309) 797-0785
• Rock Island Parks and Recreation Department, (309) 788-7275
• Rock Island County Forest Preserves, (309) 788-4451, ext. 603