Looking for a park that feels straight out of a storybook? Check out Coxhall Gardens! This is one of my most magical, dreamy spots in Carmel--and it's so much more than a park. Adorable imaginative play area Water pump and sand play area--be prepared to get messy! One slide built into the hillside Endless walking trails, including a colorful ABC path Beautiful native Indiana plants and gardens Two ponds where you can fish Stunning statues, bell towers, murals, and fountains Whether you're looking for a peaceful morning walk, a place for open-ended play, or the perfect backdrop for family photos, Coxhall Gardens is a must-visit. Trust me--you'll want to bring your camera! read more

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What a great area to do all of the following Walk, Stroll, and explore. These grounds are beautiful and perfect for celebrations. Whether your getting married or turning 15 lol. The place is great for events. I found it just exploring through Carmel. read more

Coxhall Gardens - Parks Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

Love this place. My company is having a team building event here. I went with my family to check it out. We stayed the afternoon and had a great day at a beautiful park. Can hardly wait for the event. read more

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I don't get to the West side of Carmel very often. However, I had some time to kill yesterday before an event at St. Vincent Hospital and decided to drive around Carmel a bit. I stumbled across Coxhall Gardens, a 125-acre park at the 116th and Towne Road. Originally donated by Jesse and Beulah Cox, who acquired the area themselves from one of Hamilton County's earliest settlers in the mid-19th century, this area has really been developed with a tremendous balance of luxury, nature, and practicality. If you're in the area, it's hard to miss with twin 90-foot bell towers at both entrances that chime each hour. While this is a residential area, with 125 acres involved I think it's pretty safe to say that the chiming doesn't disturb neighbors. There's plenty of parking, plenty of green space, and lots of flat trails. Generally, the trails are great for wheelchair users. However, I will note that there are times you have to go around certain areas to access garden features and I can easily see Coxhall Gardens being a tiring wheeling experience for those less independent. There are lots of spaces to walk and bike. While the temperatures were only in the 40s yesterday, I saw quite a few people walking the trails, running, utilizing facilities, and even fishing in a recreational lake that is quite beautiful (and fishing is permitted). Coxhall Gardens has multiple facilities that can be rented. Event spaces are managed by Ritz Charles and lean toward a more premium experience. Facilities include Coxhall Mansion, Cripe Pavilion, and the Centerpiece (which has a tiered amphitheater, fountain, and gazebo). There's a children's garden area that I had to drive by and check out since Nicole S. mentioned it. It's a very cool space - I wouldn't call it entirely wheelchair friendly, however, there are lots of ways for imaginative play. There are also various gardening areas. As it's currently February, I'll admit I don't know much about these spaces but will check them out in the future. The park is your typical park - free and open dawn to dusk. There are times when certain areas may be closed for an event. There are also signs in certain places advising it's a "no parking" area. Generally speaking, I find Carmel police enforce rules pretty well with parks (unlike IMPD in Indy). This was very beautiful during the day and I'd imagine it's incredible at night. This would be an amazing spot for a wedding or special event and with multiple spaces, it would be easy to adapt to different sized events. I also really like how there are common social areas, however, it's also pretty easy to get some quiet time alone here. I saw multiple people just hanging out by themselves. Carmel tends to do its parks well - and even better they tend to really take care of them (again, unlike Indy). This is definitely a set-apart park that offers a calmer, more thoughtful experience. There's no doubt I'll return. read more

We have had this park bookmarked for quite some time and finally had the pleasure of checking it out for an early morning pastry picnic and bike ride with our toddler. I'm sure the garden is much more vibrant in the summer months but we didn't mind having the whole place to ourselves during this visit. The shelter houses are very tidy as were the bathrooms (the bathrooms were also generously heated). The children's garden was full of entertainment with tunnels, mini libraries, herb gardens and more. It would be a fabulous spot for a kiddo's birthday. The park also features a large clock tower and lots of trails. I was surprised at how small the trees are but can imagine how beautiful and lush the park will be in twenty years. I'm sure this is a treasure to all of the neighboring suburbs surrounding the park. We look forward to checking out the pond area and visiting again in the warmer months. read more

Cox hall Gardens is really a lovely place to come for a serene walk or run. The gardens are lovely with nicely paved paths suitable for strollers. The pond is beautiful with awesome reflections. The bells have a wonderful chime on the hour. There is an amphitheater that is gorgeous although I'm not sure how to know what programs are hosted. There are several pavilions with tables suitable for a family reunion or picnic. There are also several sets of restrooms strategically location throughout the park. The Children's Garden is interesting and educational. I brought my granddaughter for a little picnic and visit. The grounds are well maintained. This is a wonderful setting for family or wedding photos. I'll be back. read more

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Huge beautiful park with tons of things to do. It has a bridge, a child's park, space to have events, really cool sculptures. Definitely worth exploring. My favorite part was the children's park. It has a small town basically with all types of "stores" and lots of educational interactive activities. Def worth exploring with your kiddos. read more

Coxhall Gardens - A cute candy land trail with the alphabet on it, part of the children's park in Cox Hall. - Parks Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

The children's garden is beautiful! There are interesting paths for everyone to enjoy. They include signs explaining the "science" features. The play town is a fun place to pretend. The "library" has a giant hungry caterpillar and a little library. The adult gardens are beautiful with many paths to wander. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes! read more

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Beautiful, peaceful, Love the park and all the ponds and walk ways. The kids garden was so cool. Thanks read more

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2nd trip in 2 days and this place has my heart. Lovely ambience with photography sessions, large group parties yet so much space for us to walk around. The gardens are very well maintained and easy to navigate. Highly recommend Coxhall during summers. read more

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What a gem! And there were soo many photo ops! I only wished there were more flowers so my mom would be happy about it. But the atrium was beautiful, and we could have stayed longer but it started to rain. I am praying that I get to go again. We looked at a couple fountains, and a house that appeared to be doing regular tours, but they were closed. read more

Coxhall Gardens - Fun times let's go back. - Parks Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

I love Coxhall Gardens as a park and green space, but I recently saw it through a new lens as an event venue. We came to the Coxhall Mansion for a staff retreat and it was a great space! Here's why I liked it: +Plenty of parking. +Large event room that comfortably fit a staff of 22. +Two servers on-site who took care of our breakfast, lunch, snack and beverages. +Clean restrooms. +Good natural light, though there are thick curtains if you need to close the blinds to see a presentation. +A peaceful and tranquil setting outdoors - we did yoga on the patio and listened to the birds chirp and the fountain splash. read more

Coxhall Gardens - Parks Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

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We frequent Cox hall gardens because it is such a clean and beautiful park. There are always loads of people here taking pictures with photographers because it is so picturesque. We really enjoy the sidewalks around the park. It makes it easy to run or walk with our pup. I also love the huge trees that provide some shade on the grassy areas. This is the perfect spot for a picnic. read more

Such a beautiful spot for family photos! There's a park for the kids, and a nice place to walk and enjoy the scenery!

Coxhall Gardens is a delightful park, with notable clock towers and beautiful landscaping. It's picturesque views make the perfect backdrop for any photo. Great for a solo stroll in nature, a gathering of friends, a run with the dog, or a fun and educational place for kids to play. If you're a nature lover, you'll find joy all over Coxhall. Personally, I love all the wildlife that visits. The Wetland/Prairie is so peaceful and perfect for a walking meditation, or even if you want to be more active there are things to read. I learned about Indiana's Prairie Habitat and the importance of wetlands (e.g. kidney effect and sponge effect). So thankful for their restoration efforts. When I bring my pup here, I can tell he's so happy! Although he cannot run free off leash, there are plenty of paths for him to enjoy. He loves to smell around the ponds and Children's garden . Overall, this is a wonderful park all ages can enjoy. read more

Great location for a wedding. Beautiful views, super spacious. Only thing is, it has steep steps for the ceremony area - risky business elderly or otherwise impaired. read more

One of my family's favorite parks. We've been going for the past 7 years! The views are breathtaking! We really love the tiny town and the tunnels. I don't know if my kids will ever grow out of this park! Last time we were there, there was a wedding being set up right by the water. Truly a spectacular place! And I don't think I've ever seen it overcrowded, and the grounds are always kept up. A must visit! read more

Coxhall Gardens - Parks Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

One of the prettiest parks in Carmel. So much to do and see. There is a very cool playground for kids with little houses. There is also an amphitheater and an old home at the park. There is also a nice pond with plenty of pretty flowers to admire. All among big fields of green grass for picnics and kit flying. Most importantly there are a variety of paved paths for walking and biking that connect to nearby neighborhoods. read more

Coxhall makes for the perfect bike ride destination! There are great paths that wind all the way through it. There is a huge, gorgeous amphitheater for concerts that look like they are set in ancient Grecian times. There is also a huge wedding tent and it is fun to ride by and see what has been set up. There is a creative play area with several wooden, mini buildings set up. They inspire creativity and if I had kids, that's where I'd want them to play! Ride through Coxhall at sunset and you'll get an even better show! read more

What a beautiful, open space to play, walk and explore! There are different sections to Coxhall Gardens, but we mainly stuck to the Children's Garden area. The Children's Garden is a perfect space for open-ended play and imaginative games, because there is almost no playground equipment (save for an inclosed slide). Instead, there are kid-sized tunnels build into small hills, bridges, play houses, gardens, sand pits, rocks to climb and paths to run around. It's a great place for make-believe games, tag with friends or siblings, or flying a kite (there are lots of wide-open spaces and lots of grass). There are also garden plots in various places around the garden; it will be interesting to see what is grown there come spring and summer (we visited in mid-December, and there was nothing much growing in the raised beds). Far off from the Children's Garden is a clock tower that chimes at the hour. It's nice to be at the garden at noon when the tower plays a few pretty songs! read more

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Nice park! Cute unique playground for kids, nice easy walking paths and plenty of benches. the playground was unique because it was facades of buildings instead of a typical slide, swings, etc. Great for using imagination and playing make believe! I would have absolutely loved this as a kid! Two bell towers, an ampitheater area, a mansion, and water in the middle with a bridge as well as another pond in the corner. It was mostly open space with some nice paths. It seems that the park is being improved as we ran into a few paths that ended without connection to other paths, and an area that appeared to be a new picnic shelter adjacent to a parking lot that was closed for construction. There were bathrooms near the playground. I visited on a mild winter day, so I bet they have some things going on in the summer...I'll have to swing by and check it out and add to this review and looks like I'll want to check it out when there are flowers! read more

Super cute park. Great for taking family photos or just any photo in general...I literally walked into several photo shoots while skipping around with my dog lol. There's different areas of the gardens, the children's garden, made for kids has all these miniature houses/fake village for then to play in. It's actually really really cool, 10 year old me was jealous. Then their outdoor stadium area built into a hill surrounded by fountains legit looks like it's out of a movie set. The entire garden looks like that actually. But it's very quiet and makes for a nice place to go walking. Another hidden treasure in Carmel read more

This park is a great get away and also terrific place to host an event with the new shelters.

Beautiful place! Lots of gorgeous fountains and picturesque spots. Unfortunately, the mansion was closed from tours on the day my group went, but we still had a great time walking around the grounds. read more

Coxhall Gardens - Fountain - Parks Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

I absolutely adore this place! The scenery is beautiful there is always someone out taking pictures here because it is so beautiful. The trail is a nice easy walk around, you get so caught up in the beauty of everything that you have walked a mile and didn't realize it. The children's area is the cutest, If I had children we would always be there, weather permitting. read more

What a jewel! I couldn't believe my luck in stumbling upon this place. This is worthy of some fine city in Europe. There's an area for kids to explore. Just perfection. read more

Absolutely beautiful! I came here for a wedding for the first time. I was blown away by the grounds, the nice walking paths and how many families were out enjoying the day. I saw people flying kites, fishing and even taking some professional family photos. My friends wedding reception was breathtaking! The only drawback is that there isn't close parking, but they have drop off spots if needed. I would definitely recommend a visit! read more

Coxhall Gardens - Beautiful love! - Parks Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

My only visits to Coxhall Gardens have been for the Answers for Autism Walk, which is held in September. I'm always impressed with how well kept the garden is and that it's in an easy to find location. There's a large open area that is perfect for fundraisers or events - such as the walk. You'd have enough space to set up vendor tents, activities, registration tables, etc. etc. Plenty of room! At the Answers for Autism Walk yesterday, they even brought in a band. I'm telling you - it's a great spot for an event. They also have a large tent that was set up yesterday for a wedding reception. I don't know if you're familiar with Carmel, but everything in that town is on the up and up. So you can imagine how nice of an area it would be for a quaint reception. There's nothing flashy about the garden - it's just very ... nice. It's also an ideal spot to go for a nice run, a leisurely walk or a Sunday afternoon bike ride. As I said, it's easy to find but it's also kind of off the beaten path. It's peaceful out there and that in itself is a sell for me. read more

Coxhall Gardens - Answers for Autism Walk. Balloons! - Parks Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

I mean...it's ok. 3 stars seems harsh, but 4 seems a bit much, too. It has its interesting spots. The bell towers are cool, the amphitheater thing is fun to run/climb around when it's empty, and the view of the mansion over the pond is very pretty. I heard they have a cute little playground on one end, too. It's well maintained and I can see how a wedding or event would be very nice here. But, honestly, it's mostly grass. With a name like "Coxhall Gardens", I feel like there should be actual gardens. There are tons of walking trails, but you're really just walking around a wide expanse of grass. This place would really be a destination if it had some interesting, artistic, well-arranged gardens. read more

I stopped by this park on Monday morning after having driven by it upon a number of occasions. Not knowing much about this park before hand, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that there were several sections designed to appeal to different ages, and different uses. The two I spent most time exploring were the children's playground area and the decorative bridge and amphitheater. The playground had plenty of places for the kids to run and hide..and learn. Each of the playground pieces had an information station that told about the piece. I read several and was glad to see that they were concise and understandable so that even if a child wasn't able to grasp everything, at least the parent should! There were tunnels, and places to play in the sand. There were echo walls and a sundial. The kids who were there were running and laughing and entertaining themselves while the parents were able to stop and relax. I then walked over to the bridge called Campbell's Crossing. Decorative fences depicting families on each end contained additional art work on the bridge. Beds of flowers and shrubs and grasses softened the cold stone/concrete of the bridge. At the southern end, a pergola shelters the statues of the founders of the park, Jesse and Beulah Cox. Their figures overlook a cascading water feature that descends into an amphitheater. All the grounds were beautifully maintained and made me appreciate that someone had the forethought to set aside this space as neighborhoods and businesses spring up farther into the countryside. I can see this place being useful for special outdoor events and concerts, and everyday use for long walks and letting children play. Review #152 read more

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Stopped by on Memorial Day for a casual dog walk and the park could not be more beautiful! Carmel parks and Rec. always seem to do an outstanding job keeping the grounds beautiful at all of their parks! It has plenty of walking trails and trees to sit under on a beautiful day. If you want to layout, have a picnic, fly a kite or bike, this is a great park for any of those kinds of activities! read more

This is a gorgeous location for an outdoor special event! Both events I have worked here have been weddings. Be cautious of the weather, specifically heat! The venue overlooks a beautiful pond with fountains. It is very secluded, however the rest of the park is a walkable distance for pictures. Parking is a little far for elderly guests. Bathrooms are park bathrooms and have limited space. read more

Coxhall Gardens - Parks Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

Our city park of choice, this site offers a nice peaceful expanse of green that is perfect for walking, jogging, kite flying or just relaxing. Coxhall is one of the lesser-used parks on the north side - it's rare to see more than a handful of people here at once. Though there are no hills or woods for hiking, this park does have some unique features that make it a fun visit: a decent-sized pond, paved walking path, a separate children's mini-park with climbing apparatus and dual bell towers. The focal point of the park, however, is what has come to be known as the centerpiece, a terraced mini-amphitheater with a belvedere that is surrounded by a multi-level fountain. Coxhall was created from land donated to Hamilton county by a well-known Indiana entrepreneur and his wife, who wanted their "oasis" to survive the urban sprawl of housing development upon housing development. read more

This is strictly from a kids playing perspective... First, the grounds look amazing and if you are looking for a nice walk, this place looks great.. Now for kids, the little village they have, that whole area needs to be demolished and redone.. The houses are definitely not maintained, there are nails, the slide is closed and there is lots of overgrowth.. The little alphabet walk is pretty cool and I give them the bonus star for that.. Remember, this is just from a kids visit only.. The grounds do look marvelous.. read more

This park is so beautiful. I take all of our easter photos here. It is a perfect place for portraits because of all of the green and landscaping. read more

My new favorite place to walk. Beautifully landscaped and maintained wide asphalt paths wind around and over the lake and bell towers. Whether you have children or not, be sure to walk to the back of the children's gardens and village. The marsh and lake behind the children's gardens is full of frogs! It had been decades since i had heard such a cacophony of frog song- multiple bullfrogs etc. I will be watching for concerts in the gorgeous amphitheatre. read more

Wide open green spaces. Excellent for running or a pick up game of soccer. The lake and landscape is gorgeous and the twin bell towers make it an ideal location for an outdoor wedding reception. read more