Recreation in Minden, Louisiana


	Minden Recreation Complex www.mindenrecreation.com Minden is home to one of the best public recreation complexes in Louisiana. The $8 million Minden Recreation Complex features a gymnasium with basketball courts, exercise rooms, meeting rooms, walking track and a heated exercise/aerobic lap pool.
	Outdoors is a large swimming pool, children's water playground, four basketball courts, two enclosed racquetball courts, four tennis courts, 18 softball/baseball fields, one soccer field, one football field, an outdoor walking trail and five restroom/concession/announcer buildings. The Recreation Complex is located off of Industrial Drive (I-20 Service Road) and encompasses more than 150 acres. Membership is free and open to everyone; however, a photo identification card must be obtained and presented to use Recreation Complex facilities. For more information, call (318) 371-4235. .
	Complex Pool		City Parks, Pools & Facilities In addition to the Minden Recreation Complex, the City maintains several parks and pools: Victory Park: Includes a public swimming pool, tennis court, playground equipment, picnic tables and ball field. Located on Park Highway. Academy Park: Includes tennis court, gazebo and picnic tables. Located at the intersection of Lewisville Road and East & West. High Street Park: Includes playground equipment and basketball court. Located on High Street.
	Ewell Park: Includes ball fields, playground equipment and a recreation center for basketball, ping-pong and pool. Located at 801 Harris St. Webster Pool: Public swimming pool. Located at 608 Joel St. Babb Park: Includes playground equipment and ball fields. Located on Horton Street. Walnut Street Park: Includes playground equipment only. Located on Walnut Street. Roosevelt Street Park: Includes playground equipment only. Located on Roosevelt Street.
	Minden Community House The Minden Community House is located on Bridwell Street off Park Highway and may be rented for community and/or personal activities such as family reunions. The Community House will seat 150 people comfortably and includes a kitchen. For more information, call (318) 377-2144. View Community House Building Rental Agreement Minden Civic Center The Minden Civic Center, 520 Broadway, is the location of several annual community events, including the St. Jude Telethon and the Minden-South Webster Chamber of Commerce Banquet. The public may rent the convention assembly room for special events, which includes a stage and fully equipped kitchen. The assembly room capacity for staged events is 850 persons and 450-500 for banquets. For more information, call (318) 377-2144. View Civic Center Rental Agreement Minden Fairgrounds and RV Park The Minden Fairgrounds, located at 800 Goodwill St., is the site of the annual Webster Parish Fair. The public may rent the Forestry Building there for reunions and meetings. The Forestry Building has auditorium-style seating for 350 and banquet-style seating for 200. View Forestry Building Rental Agreement View Ewell Park Rental Agreement For more information, call (318) 371-4235.
	Area Lakes & Bayous Lake Bistineau When you're fishing in a jungle of flooded cypress trees overgrown with Spanish moss, it's easy to see why many consider Lake Bistineau one of the most scenic bodies of water in the country. The 200-year-old lake is unusual compared to most other man-made lakes, because its sole purpose is recreation.
	Lake Bistineau is best known for its largemouth bass fishing. The average bass is about 3 pounds, and 7- to 8-pounders are not uncommon. Bistineau also produces good catches of black crappies, white crappies, red ear sunfish, yellow bass and bluegills. The lake also abounds with catfish, but most of them are caught on limb lines and yo-yo rigs. Striped bass and hybrid stripers have been stocked in large numbers. Several fishing tournaments are held year-round. Besides fishing and duck hunting, the lake is used for pleasure boating and waterskiing. Bistineau has two public boat ramps, two resorts, 16 marinas and an excellent state park with rental cabins and a campground. Lake Bistineau State Park Situated on the western shore of beautiful Lake Bistineau, this park offers a satisfying blend of beautiful vistas and outstanding recreational facilities. Memorable for its upland mixed hardwood forest, its open waters, and its enchanting stands of cypress and tupelo trees, the park offers two boat launches, hiking trails, horse trails, playgrounds, two group camp facilities, one with a pool, one day use pool and a disk golf course. A lakefront beach, a baseball field, camping, vacation cabins, lodges and excellent fishing. Lake Bistineau State Park is located southeast of Shreveport just off LA 163 south of Doyline. From I-20 at Minden take LA 371 south to Sibley, LA 164 west to Doyline, and LA 163 south to the park. For more information, call (318) 745-3503 or 1-888-677-2478. To reserve a vacation cabin, campsite, group camp, picnic pavilion or the lodge, call 1-877-CAMP-N-LA toll free (877-226-7652). Caney Lakes Recreation Area Located 13 miles north of Minden within the Kisatchie National Forest, Upper Caney and Lower Caney provide more than 350 acres of water recreation. Tourists will find the 12-mile sugar cane trail, Day Use Area ($3 per vehicle), Reserve Group Use Area and two camping loops with 49 camp sites available, a terrific hiking, biking, running, swimming, fishing and picnicking experience.
		The Caney Lakes are located in the 600,000-acre Kisatchie National Forest, the only national forest in the Pelican State. Dense forests of mixed hardwood and pine, meadows, occasional clearings, and rock outcroppings are mixed with numerous streams, bayous and lakes.
From Minden, take LA 159 (Lewisville Rd.) to Caney Lake Road. Go 1.7 miles. For more information, call (318) 377-6727.
Bayou Dorcheat If calm-water canoeing interests you, beautiful Bayou Dorcheat winds its way through the entire length of Webster Parish. The graceful "Dauchite" is a designated Louisiana Scenic Waterway. Canoers and sportsmen alike can access the bayou from a number of locations, including the neighboring Village of Dixie Inn.
Golfing Pine Hills Country Club Pine Hills Country Club is a semi-private club featuring a nine-hole golf course and swimming pool. Memberships are available. Pine Hills Country Club is located at 100 Birdie Alley in Minden. For more information, call (318) 377-3024.
The Grove The Grove is an 18-hole semi-private golf retreat located north of Minden between Dorcheat Road and La. 159 on Benson Road. Opened in 2003, the course sits on about 150 acres and plays about 6,400 yards from the tips. Par for the course is 72. Green size averages about 5,500 square feet. Those challenges include almost no flat spots in the course with mounds, bunkers, ponds, creeks and some thick roughs. Upon total completion, the course will also include a practice green, driving range and clubhouse. Open daily. For more information, call (318) 377-9800.