Meadowlark Botanical Gardens

 Many of our nation's community parks are ours to enjoy because of donations by generous citizens. Such is the case here - in 1980 Caroline Ware and Gardiner Means gave their 74-acre farm to NOVA Parks to develop it for public use. Over the years several miles of trails, three ponds, twelve garden areas, a visitor center, an atrium, and a Korean bell pavilion have been added to the farmland transforming it into a pretty spot to spend a few hours. 

Almost all flowers were long gone when we visited but the pleasant fall weather and changing leaves were perfect. Half of the park was being prepared for a holiday light show and the other half was decorated for a kid's Halloween scavenger hunt. 

The park grounds slope steeply downhill from the atrium. The trail to the right has a switchback and is the best way to go with a wheelchair although most wheelchair users will need assistance on the return trip. The trails at the bottom of the hill have gentler slopes. The paved trails are accessible but the unpaved ones are not. The visitor center (admission desk and gift shop) and atrium are accessible. 

 The parking lot is large enough RVs. Gardens  38.93774, -77.28032