This is a small park that was developed by the Community Caring and Sharing Center and was…read morededicated in 2018. It doubles as a community garden in area that has very limited green space. It has tons of parking available and you will find colorful painted truck tires that are being used as planters. There is also a share a book box, and a couple of pastel colored painted picnic tables to sit and/or eat. The park is a collaboration between the Community Caring and Sharing Center, Palmer Trucks, who owns the lot, the Arts Council of Indianapolis and Keep Indianapolis Beautiful. It was funded by local businesses. The center piece of the park is a sculpture titled Palm that was created by Quincy Owens and Luke Crawley. It is a colorful eye catcher and an excellent addition to the park. The park has gravel walkways and tunnel arbor with a wire mesh roof and alternating green and blue pillars. The park is located off of a somewhat busy street, but could still have some value as a spot to sit at one of the picnic tables and eat. Sadly, the park experiences vandalism from time to time. We just cant have anything nice. Just recently, two of the park's three marble benches were broken and the Little Free Library 's plastic window was busted out. This is a nice, be it small community park. It is a work in progress and has many people that have and continue to contribute to its development. This park is a wonderful project that really beautifies the neighborhood. I hope that more neighborhoods follow suit and create their own community parks. And for those vandals out there, get a life.

This very small park is located in the vicinity of many other wonderful Greenwood Parks and in…read morewalking distance from the community center. It does not have any parking associated with it. I just parked at the community center and walked over. This park is two acres and is in a bad location. It is at the intersection of a busy street and a train track. It can get very loud there. The central point of the park is the gazebo, which can be rented for events. There are also a few park benches around the gazebo and a memorial to Genevieve "Genny" Worsham, a former Greenwood secretary and treasurer that passed away in 2008, off to the side. Additionally there is a path leading from the entrance to the gazebo that is lined with colorful tiles, which are neat. I did not spend too much time at this small park and given its location, I did not find it very relaxing or soothing. They is not much to do at this park outside of sitting on one of the benches and reflecting.

This two acre park is intended as a place for relaxation. I am not sure why it was named…read moreChildren's Garden because there are no activities for children to do here. There aren't even open areas for children to run. Instead, the park has a central gazebo with benches, a fountain on the west end, and a memorial to four term secretary-treasurer Genny Worsham. A paved pathway from the west end to the gazebo is lined with small mosaic tiles. A handful of benches surround the gazebo. Outside the paved area of the gazebo, a ring of shrubbery is set a few feet beyond. A small brick half wall runs along the north side of the park acting as a shield to the street. There is no specific parking but there are spaces across the street. Review #664

Known as a pocket park with a purpose, this is a small park nestled away in the Hawthorne…read moreneighborhood. It is literally behind 2 houses. It dates back to 2013, and was created after receiving a Project Green Space Grant from KIB.You can find parking in front of one of the houses, but keep in mind that parking is only allows on one side of the street. It is a small art park, that use to be an abandoned lot that was full of illegally dumped trash and furniture and drug paraphernalia. The first thing that yo notice when you see the park is it's bright yellow 1964 Pontiac Bonneville sitting vertical. You will also find bench seating and a picnic table around the car and a fire pit with some stump seating around it as well. The fence is painted with a rainbow version of the city's skyline. In addition to serving as a place to display public art, the park serves as a place that local residents can garden. There are also some fruit trees there. You will also find this home to many species of local native vegetation. Events are hosted at the park throughout the year such as Art in the Park. So, outside of one of these special events, you probably will not spend a lot of time at this park. It is however, a nice place to see and has a wonderful backstory about a neighborhood coming together and doing something positive in their community. And plus you get to see some cool public art (for free) and it provides for some awesome photos.

This used to be an abandoned lot, and now it's a beautiful space for the community. You gotta love…read morethe great things that can happen when residents come together to make their neighborhood better. Purpose Park is a pocket park in the Hawthorne neighborhood. It's on a quiet, residential street, and you would probably drive right by it, except for the fact that there's a yellow 1964 Pontiac Bonneville planted right in the the ground at the entrance of the park. It's a photo op for sure, but also practical: The bottom of the car has been smoothed and is used as a projection screen for neighborhood movie nights. It's a small little park, but it serves the local residents by being a place to plant vegetables (there is a raised bed community garden here). There are also fruit trees and grape vines that surround the park. There's a casita that's used for community performances. There are wooden stumps that circle a fire pit that the neighbors use for summertime campfires. According to Purpose Park's Facebook page, this pocket park is a meeting area for community events, such as Easter egg hunts and other gatherings. I love pocket parks so much, and this little one is a great addition to Indianapolis' amazing community spaces.

This is not really a park. But for the purpose of the review. I will call it a pocket park. It…read moredates back to the 1920s, is very small and is in the middle of a road in a residential area. There is a lot of trees in the park, which really works out on a sunny day, providing lots of shade. The park has come landscaping, paved walkways, and some benches. It main feature though is the Memorial Sundial that honors the organizations that made it possible, as well as the first black Indianapolis police officer to be killed in the line of duty, William Whitfield. The Park was originally named Watson Park, after the owner of the development, Watson Hasselman. I guess they did not like Hasselman. Anyway, the park's name was changed to McCord Park in 1970, in honor of Robert McCord, a local resident who who personally took care of the park for 20 years. I do not see much utility for this park. I just ate my food on the bench. The most use I see the park getting is from people from the local neighborhood walking their dogs through it. Also, the sundial and park in general was in need of a little attention. The grounds could have used a bit of landscaping and the dial is starting to show signs of wear and tear and being exposed to the elements.

This small park is a neighborhood gem with quite a history. Not only was it maintained by Robert…read moreMcCord during the sixties who was a local gardener, but it also features a Memorial Sundial in honor of a fallen policeman. The park itself is located between Central and College Avenue on the north side of 36th Street. It's triangular shape comes from being wedged into a space where Watson Road angles off of 36th. There are trees and flowers that add to the peaceful nature of the park. In the center of the park is a large sundial dedicated to Officer William Whitfield who was killed in 1922. Officer Whitfield was the first African-American Indianapolis Police Officer killed in the line of duty. Sadly, his murder was never solved and he was buried in an unmarked grave. But in 1998, review of records uncovered this tragic oversight and IPD honored the officer with a full honors funeral at Crown Hill Cemetery. Review #506

Just a short drive from the State Fairgrounds is a block-sized park with a nice sized hill and some…read moremature trees. Apparently this park is a haven for birds. It looks like just about any other bare lot with trees. It may be a place for bird watching, but with a title like this, I expected some information kiosks or some thing useful to people stopping by the park. Frankly, I'm not sure why this block is named this way. It still is a nice place for the neighborhood. Who doesn't like a calm and shaded woodland within walking distance? But it isn't a destination for anyone else. No benches, no shelter, no playground, no information. Oh, well. Review #720

Hidden away on a quiet little side street, near the Fairgrounds & right off the Monon Trail. Set…read moreaside in 1925, it remains one of the very few urban bird sanctuaries in the US. At first glance, it doesn't seem like much. But get out of your car or off your bike. Look at the interesting varieties of trees, both young & old. Walk the uneven dirt path, concentrating on the uncut native flowers, grasses, & bushes in the interior of the preserve. Suddenly, you're not in the city anymore. You hear the birds, you feel the breeze, the sun filters through the leafy branches. This is the way I like it, mostly undeveloped & undisturbed. Surrounded by a charming neighborhood with well-kept houses, it's a lovely little oasis in the middle of Indianapolis.

This is a nice tribute to our Country's heroes, our vets. It is a small pocket park located right…read morenext to the Greenfield Fire Station #21 and catacornered from the Hancock County Courthouse Plaza. It was dedicated in 2010, but you could not tell. It looks amazing and new. The park is open 24 hours a day 365 days a year and it is free. The admission was paid in full by the wonderful service members. The purpose of the park is to ensure the service of every Veteran with ties to Hancock County will be recognized in a permanent way. It is a peaceful place that has a soothing effect and tasteful pays tribute to the deserving men and women. There is free parking on the streets adjacent to the park and within a reasonable walking distance. I parked right across the street from it. It is small but very impressive. It is well maintained and represents all of the armed forces, including the Merchant Marines. It is rare that they are represented. Each branch has a black granite panels that are dedicated to them. There is also one for POW/MIA. They have engraved pictures and words and their respective flags waving proudly on a pole behind them. You will also find benches in the park that you can sit on that were purchased by loved ones and dedicated to individual servicemen, along with a serviceman's cross along the fence, a purple heart stone dedication, paver brick's that are dedicated to individual service members by their loved ones. and a very nice sculpture of a solider in full battle gear kneeling next to his helmet. Many of the statues, and markers have lighting on them that features them at night and allows for viewing after dark. The purple heart stone dedication reads, My Stone is Red For the Blood They Shed, The Medal I Bear is My Country's Way to Show They Care, If I could Be Seen By All Mankind Maybe Peace Will Come to My Lifetime" The center piece of the park is a long black granite panel that represents all of our service members with a bench in front of it. The panel and bench reads, "Lest We Forget Those That Did Not Return". The panel also reads Sacrifice Commitment Honor Courage", The county did a great job putting this park together and an equally great job maintaining it. It is definitely something to see and a place to reflect on members's service to our country.

This park is incredibly well taken care of, it looks so new, like it was just built yesterday. You…read morecan tell so much love, care, and attention to detail was put into this park. I've been visited here plenty of times throughout a few years, and it looks just as great as it was the first time I stopped by. They always make sure to keep up with the garden, beautiful stone benches are placed throughout it, and they even have lights that flick on when it's late. The way the lights are placed make the park look even more stunning!

This park is named after Reverend Mozel Sanders, civil rights activist and philanthropist, most…read moreknown for founding an annual city-wide Thanksgiving meal for the underprivileged and shut-in and heading the Indianapolis Opportunities Industrialization Center, a national job-training program. This park is OK. There is ample parking, but it is shared with an elementary school. The park has a basketball court that has seen better days. It is covered in duck excrement and is cracked. There is also a playground with some updated playground equipment such as a jungle gym and swings. The park also has a huge open field to play sports or just run around. The field however has trash on it and is not very flat or even. The park is located right off of the White River and in the backyard of Matchbook Learning at Wendell Phillips 63. The school has pretty much adopted the park as their own during school hours. There is always students out there playing, if the weather is half decent. So, I don't even know if you can use the park while school is in session and would not feel comfortable if I did. This is an ok park if you live in any of the adjoining neighborhoods and wanted something to do or just stumbled across it. I definitely would not make a trip here.

This "park" is really a greenway with some recent plantings. I get the impression it is more of a…read moreway to honor Rev Sanders than to be an actual park. The space along White River Parkway has no amenities or equipment. There is only a small number of trees that appear to be quite young to break up what otherwise would be a basic lawn. It could also use some attention since there seemed to be quite a bit of vehicle debris from accidents near the location. With some love and care and time, the "park" could grow into something more visitor friendly. Maybe if the trees matured, the city could put in a bench or two and a walking path. Review #527

Along the Monon between 64th and 66th Streets in Broad Ripple is a stretch of land between Cornell…read moreAvenue and the trail that has been landscaped and designated as the Bill Brink Memorial Garden. Brink was a naturalist and nature photographer who contributed to the conservation of central Indiana. After he passed in 2011, locals decided to build this nature park which was completed in 2014. The park includes native plants and some of the flowers that attract local pollinators. The park also has a gazebo with information about the park and Brink. The gazebo is named after Tom Revard who was one of the key players in getting the city to acquire the land rights to the Monon rail line so that it could become a popular hiking & biking trail. Revard was an advocate for bicycle safety and served as safety director of the trail. I would have liked to give this garden a higher rating, but like many other memorials around the state, there was a lot of effort put into creating the space. Sadly, there doesn't seem to be the same amount of energy into maintaining it. There are numerous bare spots in the lawn and since there doesn't appear to be any watering, the rough summer has allowed some of the grassy areas to brown. Review #1177