Recreation

Mozingo Lake located three miles east Maryville is the recreation mecca of the region. This 1,000 acre lake built for the City of Maryville was completed in 1994 and along with an adjoining 3,000 acre park it provides numerous opportunities for family play. The 18-hole championship Mozingo Golf Course, rated by USA Today as the best course in Missouri for under $50 a round, overlooks Mozingo Lake and provides entertaining and challenging play for golf enthusiasts.

Maryville boasts 10 public parks. Each with its own special characteristics and facilities. Beal Park,one of the largest parks andcontains baseball fields, picnic shelters, tennis courts and the award winning Maryville Aquatic Center. This $2 million facility built with public monies features and Olympic size zero-depth entry swimming pool with eight 25 meter swimming lanes and water slides.

The newest and largest park, Donaldson Westside Park and Sports Complex is located on 40 acres of land and consists of four lighted softball fields, five soccer fields, a football field, shelters playgrounds and amphitheater. Recently built is a $2.4 million Maryville Recreational Center/National Guard Armory. This "joint use" facility  provides citizens of Maryville with indoor tennis courts, basketball courts, volleyball courts, walking track and fitness weight room as well as meeting rooms.

Wildlife abounds in northwest Missouri. Hunting for water fowl, game birds, deer and fishing for a wide variety of fish are available to the public at three nearby locations: Mozingo Lake, Nodaway County Lake and the Bilby Lake and Conservation Area.Ê Hunting and fishing at these locations are regulated by the State of Missouri Conservation Department and permits are required.

One of the benefits of having a state university in Maryville, is the lineup of cultural and entertainment attractions it brings. From Broadway musicals, symphonies, rock & country bands, lectures and so much more, Maryville residents enjoy top-rated entertainment year round through Northwest's "Encore series".  In addition, students conduct performances throughout the year at two performance facilities on campus. Most of the facilities on the campus of Northwest are open to the public. Memberships to the Fitness Center, walking track, indoor pool, weight room, and gymnasium are available. For those who would rather cheer than sweat, the university's intercollegiate athletic teams are a popular attractions.

But there is still much to do and see off campus. Each year Maryville hosts the Nodaway County Fair featuring regional arts, crafts and down-home fun. Many of the other communities in the county also hold festivals and events throughout the year. Skidmore Punkin Show, Hopkins Picnic, Ravenwood Fall Festival and Graham Street Fair just to name a few. For the movie buffs, The Hanger's five screen theater complex with an Italian restaurant, dine-in theater and game room recently opened in what looks like a collection of arched Quonset hut-type metal buildings with huge sliding doors. And true to its name, The Hangar looks more like a storage building for airplanes than a state of the art cinema complex.

The positive factors that affect the quality of life in Maryville go well beyond the recreational opportunities available.

There is the low cost of living; affordable, quality housing; numerous cultural opportunities, low crime rate, and excellent heath care. Another advantage of northwest Missouri is the proximity to additional amenities in Kansas City, Omaha, Lincoln and Des Moines.