1st Place: Phoenix Park
2nd Place: Carson Park
3rd Place: Irvine Park

You know what bugs? Mother Nature. She whips out these gorgeous natural locales, but she doesn’t finish the job. It’s like, nice river confluence, Ms. Nature, but there’s nowhere to sit. Were you too busy with all the natural beauty to spit out a bench? Good thing the engineers of our local bergs came along to fill the gaps. The best polish job on Ma Nature’s handiwork is Phoenix Park, at the confluence of the Chippewa and Eau Claire Rivers. Featuring great views, a natural amphitheater, tons of paths, a converted railroad bridge, a restroom gazebo, and the farmer’s market pavilion, this park is the perfect centerpiece for the new downtown Eau Claire. Carson Park, in second place, has been around a little longer, and it is impressive. Surrounded by Halfmoon Lake, it has sports fields, playground equipment, and lots of forest-type nature for your park enjoyment. In third place is Chippewa Falls’ pride and joy, Irvine Park. In addition to lots of natural goodness, Irvine has a zoo, with real-life animals, in both enclosure-type settings and buffalo-in-a-field-type settings. – Eric Rasmussen