Green Spaces Around Purdue's Campus

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Even though the weather is starting to get cold here in West Lafayette as winter approaches, that doesn’t mean that you still can’t go outside and go for a walk, have a picnic, or study outside. In this blog, we include numerous green spaces that Purdue has around campus that are accessible if you don’t have a car or live on campus. All of these spots have great scenery during all 4 seasons. The green spaces included are some of our favorites on campus!

Horticulture Park

For anyone living on campus, one of the best places for small hikes through a wooded area is the McCormick Horticulture park. These trails are a great way to connect with nature! You can go through the woods in a loop, or if you prefer to walk, run, or bike on a paved path, there is an adjacent path that runs from the entrance to the park on McCormick road past Airport Road. These trails feature many birdhouses, and plenty of opportunities to see wildlife, including minnows in the creek at the entrance to the trail and just about every type of squirrel possible.


Planting a tree at Horticulture Park for Purdue Day of Service Fall 2022.

Happy Hollow Park

Just off the east side of campus, Happy Hollow Park also offers several trails. If you have access to a car or live off campus, this is a popular wooded area with paved paths which can be useful for walking, running, or riding your bike. This park also has playgrounds and beach volleyball courts!

One thing that is great about Purdue’s arboretum and gardening programs is that plants are often identified with their Latin species name, with a QR code available to scan for more information. There are also efforts on campus to plant more trees native to the area to preserve biodiversity and relocate any uprooted trees due to construction to the McCormick horticulture park.

Memorial Mall

Located at the heart of campus by the Block P and Stewart Center, Memorial Mall is a large open green space where on nice days, you can see students studying, using hammocks, or playing frisbee. From May through October, students can enjoy a Farmer’s Market on Thursdays at Memorial Mall where you can put local produce, flowers, plants, and sweets all while being on campus. Memorial Mall is also home to the Hello Walk where students and visitors are encouraged to “smile and say hello to everyone you meet.”

Horticulture Garden

“Established in 1982, the Jules Janick Horticulture is one of the most visually appealing landscapes on campus.” Located near Hawkins Hall, on the agricultural side of campus, the Horticulture Garden is a half-acre garden with over 1000 different plants. The garden is not only a pretty place to study when it's nice out, but the garden is used for classes such as Entomology and Veterinary Toxicology and Basic Drawing. If you ever get the chance, also try checking out the Greenhouses! To learn more about the garden click here!

The Engineering Fountain and Purdue Mall

Located near Purdue Mall and most of the engineering buildings, there is a fountain called the Engineering Fountain that is surrounded by lots of green space. During nice days throughout all four seasons, students can be seen laying out in the sun, sitting doing homework, playing frisbee, or having conversations. The landscaping in the area is typically changed seasonally with plants and flowers that can sustain the new conditions, but the trees in the area bloom in the spring and offer the perfect place to relax as the weather warms up for spring finals. When near Engineering Mall, you can also see students hammocking, enjoying the fountain on hotter days, or drinking Starbucks, which is conveniently located in the Material Sciences and Electrical Engineering (MSEE) building. It can also be relaxing just to take in the view as you head to class during the day, though the engineering fountain is also lit up at night- sometimes in special colors for holidays!


These are just a few of the Green Spaces on campus where students can sit outside to study, read, or play frisbee with their friends. Some other spaces we recommend checking out when you visit, or choose to come to Purdue, are the Intramural Gold Playing and Pickett Memorial Park, over by the CoRec and the large courtyard in between Windsor and Honors Halls! No matter what the season is, you can always find someone outside on campus whether it’s relaxing in a hammock on a nice fall day or playing in the snow during the winter.

Morgan Lehmkuhl, CE '25 & Christine Mayo, ChE '26

Recruitment Project Committee


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