Sports & Recreation

The area has excellent public recreation facilities sponsored and maintained by the Owensboro Parks and Recreation Department, the Daviess County Parks and Recreation Department and Ben Hawes State Park. Facilities include numerous parks, playgrounds, swimming pools, golf courses, a disc golf course, tennis courts, softball and baseball diamonds, basketball courts, nature trails, an ice arena and a new 2.5 mile greenway for biking and walking. There are two softball complexes, a soccer complex, a youth football field and sand volleyball courts. At least four playgrounds are designed for the physically disabled. The Owensboro Sportscenter is a 5,500-seat air-conditioned auditorium/arena.

Owensboro is home to Kentucky Wesleyan College and the Panthers men's basketball program. With eight NCAA Division II championships, 18 Final Four appearances and more tournament victories than any other NCAA school, KWC is fun to watch each season and is THE winter sports event in Owensboro.

Some of the area's private recreation facilities include three country clubs with golf courses, five swimming pools, 12 indoor movie theaters, three bowling facilities, a large YMCA, the HealthPark and indoor and outdoor tennis courts.