Howard Park sits on the west bank of the St. Joseph River in the heart of downtown South Bend and has been transformed in recent years into one of the city's most appealing public spaces. In summer, the riverfront lawn hosts concerts and events; in winter, a free outdoor ice skating ribbon winds through the park.
The park connects easily to the East Race Waterway and to the riverwalk trail system that runs north and south from downtown. A small pavilion with a café operates during warmer months. The renovation of Howard Park was part of a broader downtown investment that has made South Bend's city centre noticeably more lively than it was a decade ago.