Established in 1958, Shanklin Park was named for respected Goshen High School English teacher Merle Shanklin. Once the site of Goshen's landfill, it grew into the city's largest and most popular park. In the floodplain of the Elkhart River between the river and the Millrace Canal, the 90-acre park includes open areas, wetlands, and wet woodlands. As the centerpiece of the Goshen parks system, it offers recreational opportunities including Shanklin Pool, opened in 1969 with three pools and two diving boards, Shrock Memorial Pavilion, three softball diamonds, a basketball court, a playground, nature trails, and Shanklin Pond.