Washington Park is new and improved! The city of Indianapolis is on a roll right now, investing…read morefunds into improving the parks around the city, and Washington Park has been one of the targets for a much-needed glow-up. As of August 2025, there is an all-new playground in the center of the park, a splash pad, new picnic shelters, a huge parking lot and a comfort station. This is in addition to the other features that currently exist on the 120 acres of the park: a family recreation center, an outdoor basketball complex, walking trails, an 18-hole disk golf course, a mountain bike course and another smaller, older playground. The new playground at Washington Park is super fun for kids of all ages. There's an area made for kids ages 5-12, with a big play structure that has multiple slides, ropes courses and lots of things to climb. There's also a play area for toddlers, with a mini slide and a pint-sized play structure. There are also musical instruments, a teeter-totter, swings (including accessible swings) and cement creatures like turtles and salamanders you can climb on top of and ride, if you want to! The splash pad at Washington Park is one of only two splash pads in the near east side of Indianapolis, so it is a much-needed feature in this part of Indy. (The only other splash pad is at Wes Montgomery Park.) It has multiple water features and a fun water slide. One of the best things about it is that there is actual shade around the splash pad! Shade is a scarce resource at playgrounds, oftentimes. I've only visited the new playground and splash pad, but I'm impressed with the updates that have been made to Washington Park! I hope to come back and explore more of the park sometime soon.

I had never heard of this park until my family member started working here. The playground has been…read morecompletely redone. It's very nice with areas for big and little kids. My toddler had a lot of fun looking at the large animal structures they had. We walked some of the trails- they aren't super well kept so that's disappointing. I was surprised to see the mountain bike area and disc golf course.

I have been here a couple times for different events. Each time I have come here I am amazed about…read morehow beautiful this facility is especially with it being brand new. I love that they have this beautiful facility out here in this location for this community. This community center offers a lot for the community which is always a plus and I love seeing this as a social worker. The gym is nice and they have spaces that you can rent out to have an event at. I'm not sure on the cost to rent a space here to hold an event. The employees were all so kind and they will check on you to make sure there is not anything that you need. They have a lovely playground area and there is a swimming pool. Also there is an indoor track here. You definitely should check this place out.

I was Proud to attend the ribbon cutting ceremony of the grand reopening of Frederick Douglass Park…read more& Family Center located in the Martindale Bright-wood neighborhood. The park was originally built during segregation and because of gentrification is now becoming more diverse to reflect the changing landscape of the neighborhood. The renovation costs were upwards of 25 million dollars and will offer everything from technology, the arts and fitness opportunities.

This park is more than meets the eye. The front part, where you first enter, isn't much to see. I…read moremean, it's beautiful -- there's lots of grass and open fields, a lovely amphitheater, lots of flowers and benches under shady trees -- but kids don't care about that. Kids want playgrounds, and fortunately, University Park indeed has a playground. And the playground is pretty awesome. You need to drive a little through the park to get to it, but once you do, you'll see giant play structures with lots of slides, bridges, fireman poles, monkey bars, swings, rock walls and lots more. The playground area has wood chips on the ground for a soft landing. There's an indoor restroom right next to the playground too, and a water fountain. Just beyond the playground, you'll see signs pointing out different hiking paths. We walked into the woods and came across all kinds of beautiful nature, as well as bridges. This is a great place to take an easy walk or hike with kids. For the doggies, there's a little dog park here (Four Paws Dog Park), with some agility equipment and lots of room to run. The whole dog park is securely fenced and gated. University Park is another great park in Greenwood!

It's very nice I also like the monkey bars below the park it's really cool nice place to take your…read morekids and theirs another park across from it for smaller kids

I wish I could be arsed to find out why this park is called Wolf Run Park. I can't, though, so I…read moreguess it will forever remain a mystery. Because the name of the park has "wolf" in it, I kind of thought it would be a bit more bad in the good way (like Michael Jackson's Bad), but instead, it was just good in the bad way (like boring). Kids will love the playground, though. And that's the point of visiting this park. The playground has a big structure for the older kids, and a small structure for the younger kids. There are saucer swings, regular swings, a rope climber, slides, musical instruments, a merry-go-round and other fun things to play on. The whole playground is padded with wood chips. The playground looks like it is relatively modern (no metal equipment), but there isn't anything that stands out about this park. It has a run-of-the-mill playground, and it does its job. There are basketball courts a ways away. There's a big, grassy field to enjoy. One thing to note is that there is zero shade on the playground. That was fine when I visited, because it was an overcast day. But I imagine that this playground can be insufferable on a hot, sunny day. Another thing to note is that there are restrooms at Wolf Run Park, but on the day that I visited, they were closed for the season. So I guess if you visit this park during the fall and winter (and maybe even early spring), the restrooms will be closed.

My nieces love this park and it's become one we visit fairly often. The playground has equipment…read morefor a variety of ages to enjoy with swings, spinning spots, play houses, climbing materials and plenty of slides. The ground is a wood chip base, so sneakers are better than sandals and slides for shoes! There tends to be a lot of bugs, little tiny flys of some kind today, so something to be aware of. They did just add a bathroom recently, and I used it for the first time today. There was no toilet paper or soap. The toilet and sink water worked fine, and there was a changing table. One of two water fountains worked too. I'm hoping that all improves soon, but I'm still grateful they put in bathrooms here! It was a problem before. The trail is nicely paved and there's a little break to the left when you turn down the trail. If you follow it, you'll find a little spot to see the creek. Not really enough to play in, but we like to go take a minute to see it sometimes.

I'm honestly amazed I've never reviewed Arsenal Park. I live just east of SoBro, South Broad Ripple…read morefor the uninitiated, and drive by and/or visit Arsenal Park on a pretty regular basis. It's a 13-acre park smack dab in the middle of the SoBro area. This is a definite residential park with parking that's pretty interesting - it's essentially around the perimeter of the park. This is a very wooded park. It's actually a pretty heavily utilized park and there's very few times that I drive by here that I don't actually see people at the park. This park was purchased by the City of Indianapolis in 1928 (Fun fact: Original price was $19,915). It resulted from a desire for a park in the area east of what's known as Meridian Kessler. Early development came from such projects as the New Deal jobs programs and the Works Progress Administration in the 1930s. Arsenal Park offers a variety of activities including basketball courts, a bicycle polo course, a multipurpose field, a splash pad, playground, a shelter and a comfort station. Arsenal Park was purchased by the City of Indianapolis in 1928 following community interest in establishing a park in the area east of the Meridian Kessler neighborhood. Much of the early development of the 11-acre park was done through New Deal jobs programs like the Works Progress Administration in the 1930s. This park offers basketball courts, a bicycle polo course, a community garden, a multipurpose field, a splash pad, playground equipment, a shelter, and a comfort station. This seems to be a park that's always under some sort of development. There's a current master plan for the park and it's a beautiful setting that I don't feel like has ever lived up to its potential. Another fun fact: It's called Arsenal Park because it used to be on Arsenal Avenue (which became Indianola). At one point, it was also called Haverford Park. If you pay attention to this area, there's a Haverford baseball complex down the street. I tend to agree with most of the reviews here. I love this park. It's also great for those who geocache - there's more than one geocache in this park. It's not the most wheelchair friendly park and there's really not a walking path here. However, the playground is fairly accessible. Overall, this is a solid 4-star park that could easily be developed into a 5-star park with some love, attention, and vision. I typically do feel safe in this park, though the bike area can get a bit congested. It's surrounded by houses and pretty open concept.

This is a neat park. It is a bit older, dating back to 1928, but still has a lot of life left. It…read morewas originally named Haverford Park, after Haverford Avenue which borders it on its West side. The park is home to a garden. I believe it is one of those community gardens that are popping up all over the area. It has a table and chairs to sit and looks nice. The park seems well maintained and has adequate parking available. It spans 13 acres and spans a bit of everything. They have a skate park that has seen better days. It sits on what use to be old tennis courts. It looks like it was put together using items that were found laying around. It has rails, ramps, stairs and other pieces that I do not know the name of. It may be makeshift, but it works. There were people shredding (is that still the word) when I was there. The park also have a restroom facility and a couple of shelters with picnic tables under it and grills outside of them. There is also a very nice water park there. It seems relatively new. There are benches over there that are shaded by canopies where parents can sit and watch their littles play. The park also has a lot of green space that could be used for activities such as football, soccer, flying a kite, or having a picnic. The park's full basketball court has seen better days. It will do for those wanting to just throw up a few shots. The court could use a fresh coat of paint though. Of course the park has a playground. It is on a bed of wood chips and consists of a few pieces of older traditional equipment. It is not a very big area. Some of the equipment includes a bank of traditional/toddler swings, an accessible medium sized jungle gym with slides, and a spinning net climber. The splash pad makes this park a destination park for some. It is a nice traditional park that has a lot to offer.

This is a nice nature park with a vast amount of green space. It is located well off of the main…read moreroad which gives it a bit of calmness. It spans 82 acres and dates back to 1970. The park has a shelter with picnic tables under it and a few tables and a grill just outside of it. A large portion of the park is a dog park area. They have 2 large fenced in areas with benches and dog ramps and jump bars. It is a nice dog park and requires a permit where dog owners can purchase a day or annual pass. There is a decent sized parking lot to park in and just off of the parking lot is the entrance to the park's nature trail. It is a very nice trail that is well defined and wide. You are never too deep in the woods being that it borders a neighborhood. The green space is vast and well maintained. You can do just about any field activity here including flying a kite, playing soccer, playing football, throwing a frisbee, having a picnic, batting practice or playing catch. There is a huge hill in the midst of all the green space that would be awesome for hanging out, working out and sledding after a snow. Some people use the green space, instead of paying to use the dog park to walk their dogs. I think that is acceptable by the park, as long as you clean up after it and keep it on a leash. The park's playground is ok. It has a bank of traditional swings, a bank of toddler swings, a geo dome, a see-saw, a spiral slide, and a large accesible jungle gym with a bunch of slides, monkey rings, pull up bars, and track ride. The area is on a bed of saw dust and the equipment is in fair condition and you can see signs of weather and wear. I know that money does not grow on trees, but it would be nice to upgrade this area. I will caution you that the park can get muddy after some precipitation, so dress your feet accordingly. This is a nice nature park that has a dog park, hiking trails, green space, a playground, and picnic area. There is no restroom facility, but they do have a porta-potty available by the parking lot near the dog park area. Definitely worth a visit if you are looking for a park and are in the area. I enjoyed my time there.

Paul Ruster Park is an 82-acre park that sort of rides the South and East corridors of Indy. It's a…read morelittle gem, though not particularly a wheelchair friendly one given it maintains a lot of its natural setting rather than having a lot of actual "features." The park was acquired in 1970 and is part of Indy Parks. It has beautiful, winding trails, a small fishing pond, and a playground that has some nice equipment but I sure wouldn't consider it to be top-notch in that area. I sort of stumbled by Paul Ruster Park. I was on a therapeutic drive after work and happened to make a turn and instantly saw the park sign. As I knew this was not a park I'd ever visited before, I had to stop and check it out. As I was driving in on a winding road, I saw one guy pulling out his fishing equipment. I love that. Paul Ruster Park does feature a bark park. You can buy a pass for it at the Post Road park. There's also a 1.5 mile trail in the park that I tried out - it's relatively gentle with some inclines and has some lakeside features. Dogs can go on the trail, though they must be leashed. The trail is pretty good for wheelchairs and is certainly paved. Paul Ruster has a really good sledding hill, though that's obviously not wheelchair friendly. It might be interesting, though! There is a path that leads to the playground equipment, though I certainly would not call the playground area an accessible area. I'm always curious about how parks get their names. So, I did some research since Paul Ruster doesn't really ring a bell. Ruster was a 1964 graduate of Warren Central High School who died on December 10, 1978 of Hodgkin's Disease. He was a longtime Eastside presence and had a brother who had been a Warren Central baseball star and would become a P.E. teacher. Paul Ruster himself went to Ball State and returned to Warren Township where he taught for 10 years before his death. He was a beloved child advocate and the park was named after him in 1979. Another fun fact about the park - it's reportedly haunted by the ghost of John Kitley, a 12-year-old harmonica playing boy who was killed along train tracks in 1864. The park is close to the Washington Square area and yet is nicely set apart from both the retail and residential areas that are within minutes.

Do you have a rock climber? ‍ If so, take a trip to Westermeier Commons Playground & Splash Pad!…read more Tons of places to rock wall climb--on both the play structures and the walls Multiple slides Lots of different climbing structures for all skill levels seperate toddler section A few different types of swings Bathrooms close by Mostly fenced in Close to the Monon Trail and the Monon Community Center Con: The padded ground has a lot of wear and tear, but it's being replaced in August! Some of the climbing structures can get wet and slippery since kids run back and forth between the splash pad and playground Pack a lunch and spend the whole day here! Between the playground, splash pad, and all the climbing opportunities, this is the perfect place to get out of the house and let the kids burn some energy

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 park is amazing. I am surprised that it does not have more reviews. It is a well kept secret I…read moreguess. I had never heard of it before my visit. The park dates back to 1921 when 40 of its 64 acres were donated to the City by Wilmer and Edna Christian in memory of Wilmar's mother. The park is a bit aged, but has everything I look for in a park. It is also conveniently located right off of the Pleasant Run Trail. The park has three distinct sections and a ton of parking available between its 4 lots and street parking. The park can be accessed from many different ways. One area of the park, near the front, has a couple of baseball fields that have definitely seen better days. It is pretty worn and not well maintained. Across the street at the main part of the park is a couple of ball fields that are in even worse condition than the ones in the baseball complex across the street. There is a lot of green space in this section as well, that is suitable for activities such as playing catch, throwing a freesbee, a soccer game, a football game or having a picnic. You will find three tennis courts in the section as well. They are a bit rough, but would still work if you want a quick match. There is a shelter with picnic tables under it and grills just out side of it. The shelter can be rented and are in fair shape. It has remnants of parties past still there. Streamers were all over it. I almost thought it was police tape. There are two full basketball courts that are very nice. I almost had to lace them up and throw a few down. Other amenities in the area include a nice splash pad and playground. The splash pad has benches around its perimeter to sit. The playground is on a bed of wood chips and has some relatively new equipment that includes a bank of traditional/toddler swings, a pyramid net climber, and a huge jungle gym with a rock climbing wall, pebble bridge, a web net climber, a bunch of slides, bridges, monkey bars, and a bongo. It is a very nice jungle gym. I was impressed. The large building that you see in this section is the family center. I do not know if it is still operating (But I believe it is). It was closed while I was there. This is the section that has the largest of the park's parking lots (there are 2 lots in this section). The third section has a decent football field, with goal post on each end. It appears well maintained. This section also has a shelter with picnic tables under it. It is better than the shelter in the other section but could still use some love. It can also be rented. You will find a another playground in this section. It has much older equipment. It has a smaller jungle gym with monkey bars, parallel bars, bridges, tunnels and a few slides, a bank of toddler swings, a bank of traditional swings, old school monkey bars, parallel bars and big blue arch that I have no idea what it is. This is a hidden gem. It offers a ton to do. I did not however, find a restroom facility though. It is relatively well maintained, even though I saw a lot of trash on the grounds near the shelter. It has a paved trail through it that can be linked with the adjoining Pleasant Run Trail to give you a nice long hike. Yes, some of the park could use some upgrades, but it still works well. This is a destination park that I highly recommend checking out. You could easily spend a half day or more here, especially during the summer.

This park covers a massive area, but it's not as wooded area I like. It has all you need for…read morerecreation: basketball courts, tennis courts, a splash area, large playground, football field, softball and baseball fields, and lots of picnic tables spread throughout. It does have a paved path to walk and a little area to do calisthenics type of exercise off the path. But, it is more like a sidewalk than a park path or trail, or somewhere I'd want to go for a walk. And, it was riddled with litter (not too bad, but consistent); but, it appears to be a very popular park, so the amount I saw want excessive for the traffic. Maybe more trash bins would help. This park looks like it makes a lot of families very happy. The basketball courts were definitely my draw!