This is such a beautiful, well-kept park that offers something for everyone. The turf gives it a…read moreclean, modern feel, and the playground is thoughtfully designed with equipment for both younger kids and older ones, making it perfect for families with children of different ages. From swings to slides, to the spinning flower seats, there's plenty to keep the kids entertained for hours. We really enjoyed the sway fun feature of the park. The park is also very accommodating, with covered shelters that are great for relaxing or hosting small gatherings, along with conveniently located restrooms. One of the highlights is the splash pad which is perfect for cooling off on warm days and a big hit for the kids. What really makes this park stand out is the peaceful creek nearby. The sound of the water adds such a calming touch, making it a great spot to unwind and enjoy a beautiful day outdoors. It's the kind of place you can easily spend a few hours and not want to leave. They have a parking lot making it easy to access.

This is a fabulous park where my granddaughters can get some outdoor playtime and exercise. The…read moreplayground is awesome with lots of different climbing structures and slides. The padding is ultra soft, to minimize injury when they fall. The swings are designed for all abilities. Nice benches are shaded, so I can rest while I watch them climb. The water park was closed for the season, but looks like fun with various sprinkling contraptions. I'll bring them back this summer. Covered picnic tables and restrooms are nearby so the kids can picnic and use the restrooms. All the facilities are super clean. Trails (suitable for bikes or walking) surround a lovely pond. Natural prairie grasses were attracting many birds. Several beautiful swans were maneuvering around the melted ice. Benches were available for bird watching. An interesting small amphitheater was built into a small hill overlooking the pond. The spot would be a perfect place for a poetry reading or bird watching lecture. Several pavilions are available for family or club picnic gatherings. Plenty of parking for cars or bikes is available. There is no admission fee to use the facilities.

It's a little bit rare that I discover a spot previously unknown to me, however, this was the case…read moretoday when I visited Oliver's Woods Nature Preserve. I was between tasks near Castleton and decided to do a Yelp search to see if I could snag a review or two during my free time. As is often the case for me, I searched for "parks" and Oliver's Woods popped up along with a review from the always dependable Nicole S. It's amazing to me that I've driven by this preserve many times without realizing its existence. In fact, even while looking for it today I drove by it a couple of times before realizing the place where I needed to turn. It's not particularly well marked from River Road. As it turns out, this is part of its charm. Oliver's Woods Nature Preserve is a 56-acre preserve owned by the Central Indiana Land Trust. It includes 16 acres of woods, 37 acres of prairie-savanna restoration, and a mile of White River frontage. As is true for most preserves under Central Indiana Land Trust, Oliver's Woods is fairly light in development but a fairly nice effort toward some ADA accessibility is noteworthy. It's not perfectly accessible but, let's be honest, nature seldom is perfectly accessible. As Nicole S. notes, this is a rather sublime weaving together of urban and nature. In fact, I really expected this to be more like a pocket park considering it's situated so close to an office park, apartments, and a nearby shopping center along with the highway. Remarkably, this is simply a well preserved area of nature amidst it all. In terms of accessibility, the accessible parking is by the Daugherty house. Oliver Daugherty, who passed away in 2009, donated the property to Central Indiana Land Trust and some unexpected funding received allowed for increased development of it in 2017. The accessible parking spot allowed for access to a .6 mile trail made of crushed gravel. I'm a wheelchair user and had no issues with it. However, it's worth noting that parking in the usual parking lot is more difficult because the gravel isn't quite as crushed. While the preserve is open daily, there are specific times when a volunteer docent is available to give a tour of the preserve. There is a canoe launch available for any craft legally allowed on the water in the city of Indianapolis that you can carry to/from the river from the drop-off area in front of the Daugherty House. The southern half of the Town Run Trail Park also runs through this property with an agreement that was made between Indy Parks and Daugherty himself. Volunteers have helped plant native trees and plants and to remove invasive species. "This special care is allowing native species like wild ginger, Virginia bluebells, waterleaf, wild hyacinth and trillium to flourish," according to the CILT website. Because this is so wooded and you are along White River, seeing wildlife is also a strong possibility. This is not a "recreational" preserve other than the ability to launch a canoe. This is a wonderful preserve for enjoying nature, appreciating White River, and enjoying a short but nicely done trail. There are signs around the preserve explaining the preserve (including at the Daugherty House). Quite honestly, I'd have loved living here. I saw one other vehicle while I was here, though I never saw the person associated with that vehicle. I did hear traffic and the highway, though on a warm and sunny Fall day it all felt really perfect. Now that I know this is here, there's no doubt I'll return!

Oliver's Woods Nature Preserve is truly an urban oasis. You can see and hear the vehicles roar by…read morefrom I-465, just a short distance away. You walk through tall grasses as you walk past billboard signs. I love the city and I tolerate nature, so this place is a great combination of both for me. There are hiking trails here, but they're not clearly marked, so as we were walking and enjoying nature, we encountered several mountain bikers who raced past us. There must have been some sort of mountain biking thing going on, because there were a lot of bikers at the park. We must have been on the biking trail, because we didn't see any other walkers, just bikers. The path is super slim, so we had to duck into the brush whenever we saw a bicycler, which was every three to five minutes. Eventually, we headed back and found an actual walking path. All this to say: If you find a dirt path that is jutted, it's probably not the walking path -- it's the biking path. Once we found the walking path, it was very pretty and peaceful. The hiking / walking path will take you to the boat launch, where you can take your boat out onto the White River. It will also take you to the Daugherty House, which is a house that belonged to the original owner of the property, Oliver Daugherty. You can't go inside the house, but you can look at the outside, and there are signs and QR codes that give you more information about it. We found a lot of native plants here, including wild raspberries that were ripe and ready for picking. We also saw a beaver (!) and trekked across a stream that fed into the White River. This is such a cool place, and it's a true Indianapolis hidden gem.

Leave it Carmel to have an amazing indoor sports facility that serves beer and hard cider. It sure…read moremakes being a grandparent fun. Anyway the facility has in indoor soccer fields, rock climbing facility and more. Both of my local granddaughters have taken sporting classes and attended birthday parties at the center. This weekend, I attended my granddaughter's soccer game. The inside smells a bit like gym socks, but the hard cider makes the smell tolerable. Spectator bleacher seating is uncomfortable, but the beer makes it tolerable. The place is loud, but the kids seem to be having fun, as was I. The staff is super friendly and welcoming. The parking lot is large enough. If you live in or near Carmel, you're bound to visit at some point.

Great playing field. Good organization. However, the referees are terrible. I've witnessed two head…read moreinjuries and the referee did not follow concussion protocol, even if the players were in the 7th & 8th grade division. Unacceptable behavior from the referee.

Perfect spot for a laid-back family adventure!…read more Flowing Well Park in Carmel is a hidden gem for families looking to spend time outdoors without a big production. The open space, fresh air, and scenic creek made for a relaxing, fun-filled afternoon. Our kids had the best time splashing in the water, exploring the trail, and collecting cool rocks along the way. It felt like a mini nature escape right in town. Major parent win: there's a foot wash station at the entrance--so helpful when little feet are muddy but happy! There's also a picnic area to grab a bite to eat. We'll definitely be back for more sunshine and creekside exploring. Towels would probably be a good idea to have on hand.

Lovely little park besties between neighborhood. Very easy walking trail if you are not looking for…read moretoo much intensity. It would be a great spot for kids to play in the shallow creek or for dogs. We enjoyed our morning hike!

This is my place!!!…read more Sho'Time is super welcoming and incredibly energetic. The owner, Sho, is a natural teacher and incredibly fun. After growing up with intense dance instruction at other studios, Sho'Time is a breath of fresh air. There are hip hop, body sculpt, barre, and dance fusion classes- I honestly love all of them. I'm sore after each one! Sho always plays great, new music and is constantly teaching new moves and awesome choreography. The prices are great as well- college students only had to pay $60 for the whole summer this time around! You will love coming here and make some great friends as well. Highly recommend!

Pleasantly surprised after two years of dealing with stinky and rarely cleaned carpeting in the…read moremen's locker room at the Monon center - there is new tile. Many thanks to the staff for listening and giving the members voice in corporate meetings. Well done staff

I wanted to take the kids somewhere inside on spring break because it was freezing outside. For $12…read moreor $15 depending on whether the kids are age 15, you can get a day pass. We got to play basketball, use the gym if over 11 yrs old, and go swimming in the pool/Waterpark. Cal and check times for open gym and pool times. You can leave and reenter with your receipt. I like the electronic codes for the lockers you don't pay extra for. The locker rooms were decent could be cleaner. The hall way from the locker room to the the pool was freezing. The pool was a little stained in places. I got to do some water aerobics in their class. The basketball courts were nice. There is also walking trails and an outdoor water park. In another area there is a park with covered area with lunch tables and a splash pad. Overall nice park and rec center

I was recently appointed to the Indiana Trails Advisory Board. We held a meeting at Wilfong…read morePavilion in Founders Park, another Carmel Park I'd had yet to visit. This is a 37-acre park (it feels bigger, but that's according to the Carmel Parks website). I think the reason it feels bigger is that it better utilizes its space over a park like the nearby Hazel Landing. Founders Park has a large shelter, restroom facility, open sports fields (there were kids playing soccer while I was there), walking trails, and a very cool playground that is nature-inspired - swings, a sandbox, climbing structures, and more. Founders Park also has native prairie, wetlands, and a pond. Wilfong Pavilion is a neat facility with a capacity in its main room of 99 people. It also has beautiful views. Founders Park has had multiple upgrades recently including repair of its retaining wall, new fencing, an improved parking lot, and added rubber safety surfacing with the playground. I definitely see this as a very family friendly park. There's a seasonal drinking fountain, fishing, trails, a bike rack, and a seasonal foot wash station that makes me wish I had feet. Carmel is typically good about accessibility and that's definitely evident here. The bathroom had a nice, larger stall with grab rails. I would definitely return and I would definitely consider renting Wilfong Pavilion myself as it has accessible parking and appropriate curb cuts.

Are you looking for a park to take your little ones to or just a park to have picnic at then look…read moreno further. This park is really nice and has some wonderful activities at it for children to enjoy. There are a lot of picnic benches and plenty of grass here for a nice picnic on a nice warm day. There are bathrooms that looked well kept here. If you are in the area definitely check this park out. I had met my friend and her daughter here and found this park to be very enjoyable.

Beautiful trail that leads to a cake shop. It was so pretty during the fall season. You can see all…read morethe foliage. Great way to get your steps in.

The City of Carmel has injected a bunch of fun activities and art along the Monon Trail in area…read moreknow as Midtown. The trail splits in this area with bike/running paths and pedestrian paths. In the medians between, there is a artsy splash pad/fountain, good for a quick cool down on a hot day. One area has a fun climbing structure for kids. There is even a colorful ping pong table, complete with paddles and balls. I even saw a bocce ball and shuffle ball courts - completely equipped! The setup is perfect for a date night or family fun. There was a temporary photo backdrop of splashing water commemorating the local swimmers going to the US finals and Olympics. Along the trail are several sculptures and murals that keep the trail interesting. There are benches and tables periodically to sit and enjoy a cup of coffee or socialize. The landscaping is lovely. The area is kept immaculate. The maintenance staff is super friendly. There is some street and garage parking nearby. The pedestrian traffic gets congested during peak times. Pro tip: Early morning walks are quiet and there is plenty of parking.

Me and my family come at least once a year for a trip with WRCC. We almost always do individual…read morekayaks as they are easier to handle. The buses and kayaks have always been clean and in good shape. The path is clear and we understand where we are able to stop and where the route ends. At the end the employees (usually young boys in HS) are helpful in pulling you onto shore or helping you up out of the kayak.

My family and I have used this company for tubing before and really appreciate that they don't make…read moreyou take the tubes up their stairs when your trip is over. This time as per usual we were told at drop off that at the end we could leave the tubes and just take our life jacket and ties up the long flight of stairs. Unfortunately when we got to the landing, Diego did not get up to help with the tubes and when I asked him if he was going to take the the tubes up as that is what I was told was going to happen, his reply was "oh, well, what did they say" and he didn't move an inch from lounging in his tube and when I pushed back, he kept saying "no, no, they don't take tubes up the stairs"...so this middle aged lady had to haul a tube up the stairs along with everything else. Not Cool