What a great place! The first 10 minutes on the path are fairly residential, but after that you…read morewalk into beautiful trails and nature! Definitely a hidden gem!

I admit that I've passed by this site a number of times, not knowing what it was. What started out…read moreas a parking lot for the south end of the Big 4 Rail Trail has turned into much more. The site has two prominent pieces of art including a mural of a flowing creek that seems to flow onto the sidewalk. The mural, on the south side of the public restroom building, was completed in 2023 by artist Blice Edwards. If you look at the mural face on, the building seems to melt into the natural background. The mural was made possible by the Zionsville Parks Department. There is a second piece of art which is a sculpture called Wingz by Mark McGarvey. This towering sculpture was also completed in 2023. The "wings" move gracefully, almost flapping, with the breeze. Zionsville really needs more public art so this is a wonderful addition at the south entrance to town. The public unisex restrooms are really nice for Trail users or people out walking. There is natural prairie landscaping around the park. The small site is pristine and has 17 parking spots including 2 handicap spots at the front. I'll be using this new entrance to the Trail. I recommending stopping to enjoy the art.

This is a very colorful and eye catching mural that you will find on the side of Speedway tax…read moreservice. It is overlooking a parking lot which is good and bad. It is good because it makes parking here to get a closer look very easy. It is bad because cars are normally parked in front of the mural, blocking a decent portion of its lower section. The mural was painted in 2022 and is the collaborative work of Andrea Townsend and Chris Nusbaum, who was commissioned to do the piece by the Speedway Arts Council. Nusbaum, a Speedway Arts Council board member, digitally designed the artwork, While Townsend led the painting. You may not be able to tell, by how nice it is, but it is part of a community paint project. Over 250 people assisted with painting the mural. The mural depicts the words "Speedway, Indiana, Since 1926", set against a rainbow spectrum background. You will find a checked flag to the left of the words and a1926Indy Car, to honor the year the town of Speedway was incorporated, to their right. It is a very nice mural with awesome detail and artistic work. You will notice though that the 100 foot wall that the mural was painted on was not in the best shape to start with and not well prepared/preserved. Outside of that, I still like the mural and find it very interesting. I am also a sucker for community paintings. Anyway, as with most murals that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes. So, you may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other attractions in the area, or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip.

This is a gorgeous mural by Andrea Townsend that brings bright color to Main St. in Speedway. The…read moreIndy Car and checkered flag part of the mural really embodies the community and it fits in perfectly, especially since it's just steps away from Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

This mural is part of Jiffy Lube of Indiana mural project, in conjunction with the Arts Council of…read moreIndianapolis. It is the work of local artist Nekoda Witsken, who is also the owner of Hue Murals. She completed the mural in 2021 in about 2 weeks. This is a unique and interesting mural. It is in Witsken's signature "color explosion" style. And it also seamlessly incorporates a regaining wall that it in front of the primary wall. It has a 3D cutout flower panel on it. The mural itself is not painted directly on the Jiffy Lube wall because the wall is exposed brick. Witsken used large specially cut aluminum dibord to create a floated surface on which to paint. The mural depicts the colorful image of a black woman's face and a nonbinary person with their arms up above their head while they are standing in front of a sunflower. The retaining wall has a 3D flower and continues with the black woman's neck and top portion of her body. There is also a very close up image of the upper right side of a face. This piece grabs your attention. I like how Witsken uses colors. Witsken aimed to paint a mural that featured empowered, diverse people in terms of both gender and race. She hopes this mural inspires people to take a deep breath, grow their positivity, and be open to those around them. Witsken is very talented and I am a fan of her work. You claims that this piece is her best work thus far. You should really check this mural out if you are in the area. As with most murals that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a very long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes.  You may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other attractions in the area, or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip. You could start with the Lincoln Mural (another of Witsken's pieces) or Lincoln Park.

When one of your favorite local artists proclaims that their latest work is their favorite, you…read moreshould make a point to see it in person. Even though I live southwest of Indy and this new mural is north west, I am so glad I went. She was still working on the mural so I got a brief moment to chat with her. Now I will have to make a return visit to capture the final version. Hopefully some other Yelpers will stop by who can add more photos until I get back to the area to share. As part of an ongoing series sponsored by Jiffy Lube of Indiana, the business wants to be a good neighbor and bring art to the community in unexpected places. In its fifth year at the time of this installation, the business coordinates with the Arts Council of Indianapolis to find local artists who would be willing to take on the opportunity to have their work seen by lots of folks who might not make it to galleries or art museums. One of the limitations is that the mural should have nothing to do with vehicles or that might be interpreted as simply advertising. The artists are given a great deal of freedom to be creative which is one reason this artist Koda Witsken enjoyed working on the project. All artists are paid for their work too! According to comments on the artist's website (Hue Murals), the mural was inspired by the chance to show gender and ethnic diversity as well as the native flowers of Indiana. One of the most impressive things about the mural (in addition to her amazing sense of color and talent) is that she hand paints with brushes (no spray cans for her) the entire 400 sq ft area! Imagine painting a 12 x12 room just over 8 ft tall with paint brushes, no roller? My hands ache just thinking about that task! Another challenge the artist had to deal with is that sometimes the mural may be replaced, so to preserve the art she paints on specially cut aluminum dibord which can be attached and then removed for another location later. In some of my photos you will notice the white dibord before she had a chance to finish the mural with painted jewelry. Personally, I love how the artist can see colors within color. Her work can be found all over the north side and she is adding more locations in the metro area. For more of her work check out my Collection of reviews and photos on Yelp. Review #3941

I know close to nothing about art, but I know what I like and this: I like…read more I think it is a nice addition to an otherwise somewhat drab area (when it's not race time). This reminds me of a dandelion that needs to be blown away. My favorite part is that it lights up at night. It looks spectacular then. The lights even change colors making it even prettier. So take a closer look instead of just ignoring it as you drive by. It deserves some attention.

On the north end of the Main Street strip in Speedway, there is a pocket park that features this…read moreamazing art installation. Seeds of Light was made by artist Arlon Bayliss in 2016. Towering nearly 18', the structure has an organic look resembling a plant known as cow parsnip which is also planted in the park. The park is located on the Speedway Trailhead. The steel structure features LED's that light with various colors at dusk so that the blossoms light the night sky. This art installation has a related piece called "Beacon Bloom" in Carmel at the intersection of Westfield Blvd and 96th that was installed a year later. The installation was done in cooperation with the Arts Council of Indianapolis, Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, and the Town of Speedway. For more information about this and other public art, go to: https://www.indyartsguide.org/public-art/seeds-of-light/ Review #1219

This branch has a long history and was actually the second branch within the Indy Public Library…read moresystem. The branch started in 1967 as the Westlane branch in the Westlane Shopping Center area at 71st and Michigan Road. In 1974, the system purchased three acres of land from Pike Township in this location adjacent to Pike High School. The original 13,000sf Pike Branch was officially opened in 1986 and expanded to 20,000sf in 1999. Meetings are actually currently being held for another renovation in the near future (which it definitely needs). I had the opportunity to visit the Pike Branch last evening for a meeting. You can definitely tell it's an older branch as it looks just a little more worn and lacks some of the amenities of newer branches. Aisles are a little more narrow and even some of the ADA adaptations are a little antiquated - for example, while they do have accessible parking the actual ramps are located in unusual locations. I got out of my car and had to go around a sidewalk to access the ramp. I'm definitely a fan of Indy's public library system. Having attended Pike (though I graduated prior to this branch opening), I'm a fan of this branch. Geocachers should note there's a geocache located in the parking lot. This branch offers public computers with Microsoft Office, early learning stations, and free wifi. There are meeting rooms available for reservation and I saw at least four study rooms that could be reserved (it looked like the limit was four people in the study rooms). I did use one of the simply decorated study rooms for my meeting with one other person. Pike has a bike rack outside and automatic doors for entry. The branch has an accessible stall in the bathroom and I believe I saw two family bathrooms (though you have to get the key from a librarian. I'd imagine since it's next to a high school they're a bit more careful about that sort of thing, ya know?). They offer self-service check-out, scanning, copying, a color printer, and mobile printing services. They also offer exam proctoring, a walk-up book return, and a seed library from March-October. At this point, Pike Branch pales somewhat in comparison to some of the other branches with no really strong fun areas for kids. They do have an aquarium and at least one mural. I checked out the events and it appears that story events for smaller children dominate the schedule. Librarians were friendly, though perhaps a tad less outgoing than some other branches I've experienced. One was very helpful in terms of getting us into a study room where we could have a conversation. There's a strong multicultural flavor here. This makes sense since Pike is a very diverse township and the library reflects that diversity. Overall, I wouldn't call this one of Indy PL's better branches but it has a lot of history within the system and it'll be fun to see what happens with the new renovations. I look forward to returning in the future.

Why do we continuously choose to forget what a great resource the library is? I started coming to…read morethe PBL for prints and copies and fell in love all over again with libraries. Sure they "house books", but there are so many amenities to enjoy that you don't need to be a bookworm to visit. Although this library is a little older (in comparison to new ones in the area) it is still marvelously upkept. It is quiet and tranquil, lots of available computers, and quiet working spaces. Their hours are great, there's ample parking, job board and tools, and lots of community events. I've seen Cookies with a Cop, Crochet/Knitting classes, and so many more fantastic and *free* collaborations with talented people who devote their time to giving back to the community. The kiddo's section is my favorite as I was so amused to see all they provide for children now; there's two computer stations for kids to do countless interactive activities on, stuffed toys, learning board games, a great big sitting area, and a glorious fish tank. I hope to continue to see this library being a strong pillar for its community and I hope more people venture back into libraries to rediscover how resourceful they are. I'll be getting my own library card, after many years, to officiate the relationship and I have plans to "discover" more libraries in the area but the Pike branch will always be a favorite.

This mural is part of Jiffy Lube's mural program in conjunction with Indianapolis Art Council. They…read morecommissioned Shamira Wilson Young to paint it in 2018. The mural is a metaphor for the energy of movement inspired by the social fabric, textile technique and the multi-cultural diversity of the community surrounding the area. Much of Young's work uses stripes as a graphic device which largely comes from textiles. It took her 15 days and 14 gallons of paint to complete. The abstract design depicts a line that is woven vertically that fades from orange to yellow against an intersecting line that is woven horizontally and transitions from pink to dark red. It is meant to represent the back and forth motion of the process of weaving and also reflect the motion of movement and transportation. I am normally not a fan of abstract art and this is a basic design. However, I like this mural. It works for me. I don't know, the colors just grabbed and hypnotized me. It also helped that I had context while viewing this mural, which is huge for me. Parking here is pretty simple. You can either park in the strip mall parking lot that the Jiffy Lube sits in front of or pull right into the Jiffy Lube parking lot. Either way, as with most murals that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes. So, you may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other attractions in the area, or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip.

Interwoven is a colorful art installation on the side of the Jiffy Lube near 56th and Georgetown…read more The art shows two loops of color that are overlapping. The vertical loop has an orange line that transitions to a light yellow the higher it goes, then returns to orange as it lowers to near the sidewalk. The horizonal loop starts as a deep scarlet thread and lightens to a pale red (almost pink) by the time it reaches its lowest crossing. The background is white and visually pops between the crossings. The work was created by artist Shamira Wilson Young (Indy) who worked with the Arts Council of Indianapolis and Jiffy Lube of Indiana. Jiffy Lubes throughout the state are adding original public art and will continue the program in 2019. This piece was added in 2018. Review #2276

If you wanted to make the largest cookie in the world and wanted to make it into the shape of a…read morebear, I think I found an art piece you could use! ha! Seriously, I can't help but think of this 3D sculpture as representing a large 2D image of a bear that could be used for baking. The sheer size of the sculpture and the amount of work it would take to bend metal into such a recognizable shape must be far greater than the simple image might suggest. It looks effortless, but when you think about it, must have been a major task. Former Indy resident (now in Valparaiso) Matthew Berg created this structure in 1997. It is most easily visible while westbound on 56th Street while crossing the Geist Reservoir. The metal surface has a rusted finish, but the installation looks quite solid. Berg has several other art installations in the area including near the pyramids, Plainfield, and the campus of Franklin College. Review #1601

Indy and Indycar go hand in hand, each one improving each other. Their story is documented in the…read moreIMS museum. Located in the heart of the racetrack, you can find a hundred years worth of racing gear, cars, and photos that document the evolution of the sport. The museum has been newly renovated in the past couple years and the experiences help you feel connected to the racing culture in the city. If NASCAR is more your speed (because they're not as fast as Indycars), they have a wing for that as well. Admission is around $20 per person, but students enter for $7 with ID. You can walk around at your own pace. I think I spent about 2-2.5 hours here and I am one to read about 2/3 of plaques at museums. One really cool thing worth doing if you have the time is to do a track tour. There is an extra cost, but you can drive around the oval and learn about the construction of the track and the surrounding areas within the Speedway. I went on one that stopped at the Brickyard, a stretch of 3 feet that still has the original bricks on display at the Tag Heuer pagoda. You can even kiss the bricks if you want! This review is a little out of date, but that just means I'm closer to my next visit!

Enjoyed my first visit to renovated IMS Museum. I have only seen the museum in pictures prior to…read morethe renovations, and the updates modernized the facility and upgraded the user experience quite a bit. When you first enter the museum, you stroll through a mock-up of the garages in gasoline alley. There are racecars from every era. The next stop is an open space with a surround video of the Indy500 experience. This would be a nice recap to anyone who has never been to the race. Finally you enter the main museum with three levels of exhibits. There are of course racecars, but also trophies, helmets, and other memorabilia related to the race and the track. I think race fans and non-fans alike would enjoy a visit to the IMS Museum. There is plenty to see and many things to look at with historical significance. It is also a good place to host events, especially for out-of-towners.

This is a nice sculpture, especially considering its age. It was made in 1989 by Dan Ostermiller…read more It sits right outside the Eagle Creek Park entrance gate in an open field to the right. It was made in dedication to Samuel Sutphin, an avid birdwatcher and wildlife enthusiast who served two terms as a trustee of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and as director of the National Audubon Society, by his family. It depicts a large bronze eagle soaring through the sky sitting on a sandstone and mortar base. The eagle is 8 feet tall and has its left wing angled downward, touching the base, and the right wing is pointing upward toward the sky. There is a bronze plaque on the base that has the verse of Isaiah 40:31 and a dedication to Sutphin. It also lists the sculptor and date it was made. It is kind of an awkward spot to park at. I just pulled over to the side of the road, to get out and take a closer look. The field that it is in is nice and well maintained, making the walk to the sculpture relatively easy. As with most sculptures that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a very long stop. I was there less than 3 minutes. With that being said, you may want to consider making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip. Luckily you have a very nice park, where the sculpture is located in front of, to fill part of that itinerary.

Along the drive into the north entrance of Eagle Creek Park, a statue of a Golden Eagle was…read morededicated to the memory of Samuel Reid Sutphin, former Director of the National Audubon Society. The stone pedestal rises into the air to support the bronze eagle in flight, balanced upon the tip of one of the wings. Review #1597

We drove 2.5 hours for Newfield's Winterlights and it did not disappoint! Parking was easy and…read moreclose to the entrance. When we first arrived right at opening, it was really crowded and people were packed in so we went to Lilly House for a drink and by the time we got back out, people had spread out more. I really enjoyed the variety of light installations and there were plenty of great photo op areas. The shop had some very nice choices and was not packed like I expected. There was one person in front of us at the checkout but two employees, one doing the check out and the other wrapping up items and bagging them, made it a quick and efficient process. We enjoyed our trip so much that we're now looking into what other events are available throughout the year.

My husband and I had a great time at Newfields: A Place for Nature and the Arts. Newfields is a…read morecombination of the Lily House and gardens as well and the Indianapolis Museum of Art. This is in one facility and is all included for one admission price. We started in the gardens. There is a large area to walk and enjoy nature. Make sure that you visit the Lily House and the surrounding grounds. The Indianapolis Museum of Art takes up the second and third floors of the building. There is lots to see here. Each area could take an entire day to properly experience. There is also a gift shop and cafe to check out. I highly recommend Newfields: A Place for Nature and the Arts!