White River State Park is one of the most popular parks in the city, and for good reason! The…read morenickname for it is Indy's backyard. With riverfront and canal-front trails, a pedestrian bridge to the zoo, proximity to the city, and the amphitheater, so much goes on down here. Over the years, my favorite special events have been the food truck festival and the solar eclipse festival. The area is kept to be pedestrian friendly, with parking being underground to the park and wide walking and biking lanes. During warmer weather, I often see a hotdog vendor for a nice and easy lunch. There's lots of sculptures around the park too, which helps to keep things scenic. There's also a huge lawn space for running around.

This park is such a gem! As I write this review while listening to "Here Comes The Sun" by The…read moreBeatles, I feel like I'm right back walking through the beautiful pathways and taking in skyline views. From the canal and trails to the open green spaces, there's something here for everyone to enjoy. Plenty of smaller festivals and walks/runs are held at this park, and it truly seems like the perfect spot for them. My favorite festival that happens here is the Taste of Indy, which takes place in the summer and the MS Walk is always a well organized event here. I also really enjoy walking the paths behind the zoo, especially in the spring when the cherry blossom trees are in bloom. Absolutely gorgeous! Ps - As beautiful as it is, be sure to stay alert while on the pathways!

NEW TRAILHEAD IS NOW OPEN!…read more The Hannah Wilkinson Moffitt Trailhead is officially open on the newest section of the White River Greenway! It's a great new spot to get outside with the kids, go for a walk, ride bikes, or just enjoy some fresh air and beautiful views of the White River. A few mom-approved details Easy access to the greenway Bathrooms WITH changing tables Scenic overlook with views of the White River High Top Tables + chairs to sit and enjoy lunch A spot where you could even get a little work done while the kids enjoy the outdoors 14001 River Rd. Adding this one to our list of places to explore around Hamilton County!

The homeless have taken over the trail south of the zoo all the way to Raymond and made it unsafe…read moreto ride, walk or run. When they reopen the trail, it will be good until it gets past the Elanco HQ and then all bets are off. It is a shame because that stretch used to be a great ride but it is no longer safe. Hopefully, the city will enforce the "no camping on public property" law and clean that atra up.

We always have a great time at any of the Indy Parks we visit. We're pretty regular at Thatcher, we…read morelove the indoor pool, and our Soccer league uses their fields. We also regularly visit Krannert, the kids have taken karate and swim classes there. They offer lots of different classes, something for everyone.

We went here over the weekend of NCAA in Indy and I did not realize how much there was to do inside…read morethe convention center for free! They had a 40 yard dash tons of field games places for cool photos. Etc. good & drinks available as well. We had a ton of fun and can't believe we haven't been before!

I come here once a year for Revive Our Hearts Christians Ladies Convention. It's big and nice. I…read morenormally get lost. But folks are nice and help direct me. See you next year.

Alright y'all.... If you're looking for a chill fun afternoon on a warm summer day you have got to…read moretake a float down the river. We rallied a few of us girls and our kiddos, packed up a cooler, snagged a portable speaker and off we went. We chose the longer float which was about 4 hours and got the cooler tube to go with (which was an up charge, ties to connect the tubes to one another is an additional charge as well which we didn't love) The rafts were super comfy with nice headrests. This made for a nice chill afternoon. A summer must for us.

We brought our summer camp here for a field trip with 50 campers, and unfortunately our experience…read morewas extremely disappointing. 1. Check-In Process The woman working the front desk (I believe her name was Cali) was kind and did her best to help us. This review is not about her. The check-in system, however, was incredibly inefficient. Every camper had to come to the desk individually, Cali had to look up their waiver, and they then had to have their name written down by hand. Checking in our group of 50 campers took approximately 35-40 minutes. As a camp, we take trips to many local attractions that require waivers, and we've never had a check-in process take more than about 10 minutes. This system felt unnecessarily slow and completely unprepared for groups. 2. Communication Before our visit, we clearly communicated that we needed to leave by 2:30 p.m. to return to camp for dismissal and that we were looking for roughly a 1.5-hour boat ride. After finally checking in, we were put on a shuttle bus for nearly 20 minutes. During the ride, I asked the driver how long the boat trip would be back to our starting point. She told us it was a three-hour trip. At that point, it was obvious there was no way we'd make it back in time. We had to turn around, ride the bus back, wait while boats were rearranged, and then be transported to another launch point. In total, we arrived around 1:10 p.m. but didn't get onto the water until approximately 3:30 p.m.--over two hours spent waiting with 50 campers in 90-degree heat. We ultimately had to notify parents that camp dismissal would be delayed by about an hour. 3. Customer Service This section is directed specifically at the owner, Andy. The employees we interacted with--the front desk staff, the people helping with the boats, and the bus driver--were all friendly and helpful. They were not the problem. After explaining what had happened, we respectfully requested a 50% refund on our $500+ reservation since a large portion of our day had been spent waiting because of issues that were outside of our control. Rather than showing any understanding or attempting to work with us, Andy was hostile and dismissive. Judging by other reviews mentioning similar interactions, this unfortunately does not appear to be an isolated incident. Overall The boating itself was fun, and the campers enjoyed the time they actually spent on the water. Unfortunately, everything surrounding that experience overshadowed it. Between the inefficient check-in process, the poor communication about scheduling, and the owner's response when we raised legitimate concerns, this ended up being the worst field trip we've had in over five years of running our camp. I would not recommend this location for large groups, and we will not be returning.

During a recent visit to Lacy Park, I was dismayed to learn that for some reason someone had…read morereported this vibrant neighborhood park as closed. It is not closed. It was impacted by the current health pandemic (as was most of the state of Indiana). However, Lacy Park is alive and well and on a recent weekend when I visited it was definitely being utilized. Lacy Park is practically the definition of a neighborhood park. This 2-acre Fletcher Place park is nestled in nicely at the corner of Greer St. and East Street. In fact, it was originally known as Greer Street Park until being named after Edna Balz Lacy in 1995. The park itself was established in 1917. While Edna Balz Lacy may not seem like a familiar name, her impact on Indy is rather profound. She was an Indianapolis native who started off as a teacher in 1972; in 1934, she married Howard J. Lacy II (son of U.S. Corrugated-Fibre Box Company founder Howard J. Lacy). Lacy took over the company from his father in 1952. He passed away in 1959 and Edna took over the company and led it for 24 years. In 1972, it became Lacy Diversified Industries. In 1973, she established the Stanley K. Lacy Foundation in memory of her son. The Stanley K. Lacy Leadership Series is one of is many contributions to Indy and it continues to this day. Edna passed away in 1991. Lacy Park was developed to reflect its diverse heritage. If you notice, its gazebo is painted red, white, and green to reflect the Italian heritage of the area at the time. Along with playgrounds and picnic areas, there's a sand volleyball court along with four bocce ball courts that were contributed by the Italian Heritage Society. The group hosts bocce ball leagues here. Holy Rosary Italian Festival is also located in this neighborhood that is easily within view of Lilly and is close to downtown yet feels like a little bit of a wooded oasis. This is a small neighborhood park that remains as welcoming today as it was designed to be in the early 20th century. It continues to be considered a "family park" - a reflection of Lacy's own emphasis on family including ensuring that her business continued to stay within the family. While this is not really a destination park, for those near downtown needing to get away for awhile this is a perfect place to get away. If you're looking to have a near downtown picnic, Lacy Park is a great place to do so.

This park is a very small, only covering 2 acres. It does not have a parking lot, but there is a…read moredecent amount of street parking available. The park has a decent gazebo with a picnic table under it. The gazebo could use a coat of paint. There are also a few picnic tables scattered across the park. The grounds could have used a little TLC. I do not know if the parks department has stopped for the season, or if this park was just missed. In the front of the park you will find an adequate sand volleyball court. There is also 4 dirt boccee ball courts near the back of the park. They did not look very inviting though. The park has a small jungle gym with some slides, a larger jungle gym with more awesome slides, a bank of traditional swings, and a bank of toddler swings. The playground is lined with wood chips and the equipment is a bit on the older side. It has definitely seen better days. This park has a history dating back to 1917 when it was known as Greer Street Park. It was renamed the Edna Balz Lacy Family Park in 1995, to honor a notable local businesswoman. Fun fact: One of Indianapolis's first recreation centers was built here at this park. The park has a strong Italian heritage background. The gazebo is actually painted in the Italy flag colors, red, green and white. Also, the boccee ball courts were a gift from the Indianapolis Italian Heritage Society. They hosts spring, summer, and fall bocce ball leagues on those courts. This is an ok park to visit, if you are in the area. But last many of the features, and maintenance of the newer mega parks. It is definitely a gem if you live close by, but is probably not a park that you would drive to to bring the little ones, or run. I saw the park getting most of its use with kids on the playground equipment for a bit and it was also popular with people walking their dogs.

The Burrello Family Center is a great place for families to enjoy some indoor recreation!…read more As the mom of a daughter with a disability I have attended a few Special Olympic basketball games here. The facilities are clean.. The courts are in great shape.. The staff is friendly and helpful.. The parking is ample... it's very easy to find And if you are there during the day go out and enjoy the rest of Garfield Park!

From the owner: Welcome to Garfield Park Family Center!…read more At Garfield Park Family Center, we’re proud to offer a variety of rental options for both indoor spaces and outdoor shelters, perfect for gatherings, events, and family activities. Whether you're planning a birthday party, a family reunion, or a community meeting, our versatile spaces can accommodate your needs. Indoor Amenities: Our facility features an open gym where you can enjoy shooting hoops, playing pickleball, and participating in many other recreational programs. It’s a great place to stay active, have fun, and make lasting memories with friends and family! Outdoor Spaces: In addition to our indoor offerings, we have beautiful outdoor shelters available for rent. These spaces are ideal for picnics, barbecues, or simply enjoying the fresh air in a picturesque setting. Programs and Activities: We also host a variety of programs throughout the year, catering to all ages and interests. From sports leagues to fitness classes, there’s something for everyone at Garfield Park Family Center. Come visit us and discover all that we have to offer. Whether you’re looking to rent a space or join in on our programs, we’re here to help you make the most of your time with us! For more information on rentals and upcoming programs, please contact us or visit our website.

When the late Yelper Ken N. first reviewed Windsor Village Park as part of his passion for…read moredocumenting Indiana's parks and landmarks, it was a sad little park. It's improving. This is a relatively small park at five acres. It houses a family center that was established in 1953 and was renovated in 2009. The family center is a 12,000 square foot center that has a fitness room, game room, computer lab, multi-purpose room for rental, outdoor basketball court, indoor gym, patio, seating, and the park includes a covered shelter with short trails. This is definitely a residential park, and the neighborhood around it is definitely dense in population. The park has a food pantry every Thursday from 1-3pm. You can also now play pickleball here. Oh, and the park has a splash pad for the kids. This is definitely not a destination park, however, it serves the neighborhood well. Around 2024, IU Health made a donation that helped to provide some upgrades, safety improvements, and improved trails. If you're in the area, it's a park worth visiting and it's nice to see the improvements from back when Ken N. first let us know about the park.

Potential. There is a lot of potential at this park. There is a community center built in 2009…read morefor indoor activities including pickle ball. There is a really nice basketball court. There is a decent playground, open space, and a shelter on the west end of the park. But the parks department website says the community center is closed until further notice. The splash park is a concrete slab with a pole sticking out. And on the west end of the park, houses on each of the corners are boarded shut. Although that doesn't mean it is unsafe, it does make me take caution, especially if I had a child with me. So, my advice is to watch the website for updates and hopefully, Indy Parks will come up with a plan to re-establish this park. Review #629