Ted Ensley Gardens, Topeka

This area is one of the most popular areas of Lake Shawnee. Beautiful scenery that make walking, jogging, and even biking, a very enjoyable time! The Garden is also a fantastic place for photography! It's a very popular place to take prom photos and engagement photos since it provides a beautiful backdrop of the lake, water features, and gorgeous flowers. The Garden is very well maintained and very clean. If you're looking for something to do, definitely stop by and enjoy this wonderful area of Lake Shawnee!

This is a most beautiful garden area, and it's free, compliments of Shawnee County. Workers do a fabulous job with the many flower beds and landscaping. This is truly a gem for the folks that live and/or visit Topeka. Also, a great walking/biking path. This is a place not to miss.

Absolutely beautiful park. As a photographer it is a favorite spot for all sorts of photos. As someone who enjoys being outdoors it is just a wonderful place to wander.

I often ride around Lake Shawnee and always ride through Ted Ensley Gardens. There is practically no way to accurately describe this area. It's a public park that has many flower beds and other plants and trees. It changes with the season. During the springtime tulips about. This is the only time they collect money to visit but donations are reasonable - about $5 I think. The tulips come out and then summer flowers abound. There are many sidewalks, a water fountain, brides over water ways. There are several shelters where weddings often occur. Many photographers take their subjects there for great backgrounds for their subjects. At the crack of dawn, photographers are there as they say it is the best time to take photos due to the filtered light. The former caretakers residence is still there but is converted into a gathering place with a small kitchenette and bathrooms. Finally, this is now a great place to find Poke-a-mons. It is common to see people walking around in the gardens on the sidewalks with their cell phone upright looking for Poke-a-mons as there are many to catch.

This is such a nice and pretty place to stroll through with your family, friends, pets or even alone. A great place for outdoor pictures. There are some areas where you could lay out a blanket and have a basket picnic, read a book, or on nice days watch the boating, sailing, rowing, and other water activities going on at Lake Shawnee. There's a covered area with picnic tables, public restrooms and a drinking fountain. There is also a wheel chair accessible deck that faces the lake. You'll see a lot of Pokemon players wandering about.