This is a great spot for locals and visitors alike! We stopped by from out of town thinking it…read morewould be a good winter activity for our little one while it's too cold to walk much outside. The conservatory exceeded our expectations! Admissions is affordable at $5 per person, but it was free the day we visited because of a reptile show! We got to see tortoises, skinks, salamanders, tarantulas, snakes, and more! Inside the conservatory, there are fish and a couple other critters permanently on display. The signage around the gardens is informative and interesting- and the plants are simply beautiful! So well cared for and healthy. I could have walked around the loop 5 times and noticed new things each time. There are several places to sit and relax throughout the gardens (we fed our baby on one of the benches). There is a restroom and coat racks- which you'll need because the gardens are quite warm! What a great find for the afternoon! Bonus that it's located right in a park, by a library, several cute places to stop and eat, and public art. The only downside I can think of is that there wasn't a ton of parking- probably more accessible when there isn't a special event going on!

There is something about plants and nature that brighten up my mood. I came here on a gloomy rainy…read moreday, and it was the perfect decision to lift up my spirits. It's close to the highway so easy access and near my house - double plus. The admission to get in was $4 per person, and they take card - another plus for being inexpensive. They have plants for sale and host events/activities, the lady working was friendly and explained all of that. They have brochures in the front as well. Inside is so astonishing, there is so much to see. It's so beautiful, I adore and admire all of it. I love how things are labeled and have informational tidbits about the plants. They have ponds with live fish and waterfalls around. They have a restroom and it had a window so of course there is a plant inside, I love it. I'll have to take note next time I go here that it was very warm inside, I felt very hot so dress accordingly. There is parking available. Check hours before coming, holidays vary.

We had never been to this park before, I was looking for a trail to walk and this was perfect!…read morePerfect location, has so much to offer. Playground, creek, bridges, basketball court and walking trail. It was beautiful!

Sarah T. Bolton Park is named after the woman largely considered the first lady of Hoosier poetry…read more(I bet you can guess what her name was!). Originally known as Beech Bank, the park was purchased by the city from the Bolton family 1930 and is a nearly 32-acre park that includes picnic areas, a one-acre dog park, play equipment, shelters, restroom facilities, athletic facilities/courts, a creek, and it has a sort of winding topography that makes it Beech Grove's most popular park. It is also recognized as a certified wildlife habitat. In 2012, the baseball diamond was named after Richard "Dick" Templin, a lifelong Beech Grove resident and longtime city council member who managed Beech Grove's American Legion Baseball Team for over 35 years and had scouted for the Philadelphia Phillies. He's a member of the Beech Grove Little League Hall of Fame. I bet you didn't even know that Beech Grove Little League has a Hall of Fame, did you? The park has ample parking and is paved throughout. Generally, it's wheelchair friendly. The paths/sidewalks do have gentle inclines, though I've never had any difficulty navigating. Bolton herself was a poet and women's rights activist whose most known poems were "Indiana" and "Paddle Your Own Canoe." She wasn't well known outside Indiana, though she was quite popular in Indiana. She is buried in Crown Hill Cemetery. There is also a veterans war memorial in Bolton Park that is also wheelchair friendly, though it also has a bit of an uneven surface. Geocachers should also note that Bolton Park has a couple of geocaches within its boundaries, though one, in particular, is definitely a bit tricky to access due to the park's popularity!

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.

This is a nice little park in Beech Grove. It was originally named South Grove Park, but was later…read morerenamed to Don Challis Park, after a man who diligently worked for 29 years to make the parks in Beech Grove a wonderful place for children and adults to enjoy. The park has its own private lot. It appears to be going through some type of renovation. Maybe a paved jogging trail or something. It is relatively small, sitting at about 14 acres. It has a a covered pavilion with picnic tables, a playground, a sand volleyball court, and a little green space to play or sit and have a picnic. The park also has a huge restroom facility. The playground is lined with wood chips and has a jungle gym with some slides and a long row of swings. The sand volleyball court is in adequate shape and the park's grounds are well maintained. This is a decent park to spend some time. You can hang out with the little ones or just relax and watch cars go by. It looks like they are set on improving this park and making it even better.

I discovered this nice park while in Beech Grove. It used to be called the South Grove Park, but…read morewas recently renamed. The address is a little confusing to find...the park is located directly south of the school on 9th which is north of I-465. The park itself has a volleyball court (sand), a nice playground with swings, slides, and climbing equipment, and a shelter. There is plenty of paved parking along the north side of the park. There isn't a lot of shade, but the park has some trees that are mature, just not near the playground. Review #617

This park is a good size for Southport area. The parking lot has plenty of spaces. They have a…read morecovered picnic area. Some of the playground equipment is older and some of the newer stuff is missing belts. They have a basketball court and a softball/baseball area. My toddler is a simple guy and enjoyed picking up the sticks and running around. So I'll give it 4 stars,

This is the definition of a traditional park. It is a small park with its own private parking lot…read more It has a medium sized shelter with picnic tables under it and a couple of grills next to it. The shelter has seen better days. There is also a field with a kickball backstop. The field does not have any markings, base lines, or mounds. It is just an open green space with a back drop. So, it can be used for other field activities such as soccer, football, frisbee, flying a kite, or playing catch. The playground equipment is in decent shape for the most part, but could probably use an upgrade soon. There is a set of monkey bars, a merry go round, a huge spiral slide tower, a metal slide, a bank of 3 see-saws, an expression swing, a hilly balance beam, a metal climbing pyramid, a bank of traditional swings, and a bank of toddler swings. Behind the swings are a couple of picnic tables and some benches. It looks like there is a merry go round that has been fully taken over by dirt and weeds and looks more like a garden The park has a full basketball court that is decent. The court is a good shape and the rims have nets. The court has benches along the side for resting or spectators. and there is a set of bleachers over there that it shares with the field. This park is alright. It is not like the new mega playgrounds, But it is one of the better ones in the area. I may not have the flash or pizzazz of the newer ones, but it can provide fun for a couple of hours.

I'm a big fan of parks and playgrounds, so I'm very glad that Commons Park exists. The playground…read moreat Commons Park has the biggest climbing spinner that I've ever seen on a playground ... and my children and I have been to a lot of playgrounds! It could easily fit a whole classroom of children on it. The playground also has a huge geometric climbing system; a huge play structure with a bridge, steps and a climber; slides; swings for all ages; and lots of opportunities to climb and get the wiggles out. The playground area is padded with soft tiles for easy landings. One of the best features of Commons Park is that this park is completely fenced all the way around. This helps to give parents with kids who like to dash some peace of mind. And not only is the park fenced, but the park is small enough to see where your child is wherever they are playing, as you sit at any of the benches that are placed around the park. This park also has an area where you can play table tennis (bring your own paddles and ball!), as well as a barbecue grill. Commons Park has a lot going for it. And I'm glad that this space is being used as a park, instead of what it used to be (apparently, this space was the site of a motorcycle gang). The downsides of this park -- which sits in a residential neighborhood -- is that there isn't a designated parking lot for the park. Parking is on the street. The other downside is that there isn't a bathroom or water fountain. So parents and caregivers of young children: Plan accordingly!

This is a very nice park. It is relatively new, opening in late 2018. It is very neat and clean and…read morehas newer/modern playground equipment. It is a very colorful park, which is good given the lands history. They have park benches and a grill. There is a cement ping pong table, a huge jungle gym , cargo nets, ropes, a large merry-go-round, two sets of swings, a beehive climber and other equipment I do not know the name of. The ground of the playground is covered in the rubber surface that is popping up at most newer playgrounds. Your kids will love this park. The park does not have a private lot, but there is free street parking available on the street bordering the park. The park is relatively small, spanning about a quarter acre. The playground is fenced in, which is good because it it right off of a busy throughfare. Kind of keeps the little ones corralled in. There is only one way in and one way out. There is no restroom facilities or water, so plan accordingly. The park was once the site of the Outlaws Motorcycle Gang clubhouse before the city took over the property after its seizure by federal authorities. This is a very nice park. I had past the park a few times and it was packed. I really like it. It can definitely entertain the little ones for hours. It is surely worth a visit.

If you're looking for a great park to take the kids, get a walk or run in, or even hop on a bike,…read morethis spot is perfect! The playground equipment is super nice--you can definitely tell they put some money and effort into making it great. It's right next to the canal, so once the kids are done playing, you can head out for a walk or rent a bike and ride along the water. There's even a dog park area, which is a huge plus if you want to bring your pup along. They have poop bag stations stocked and ready, so no worries if you forget yours. The whole place was really clean too--I didn't see any trash around, which shows people actually care about keeping it nice. The only downside is that there aren't any restrooms by the park. So definitely make sure you (and especially the kids) empty your bladders before you get there, otherwise you'll end up leaving to find a bathroom nearby. Parking is mostly street parking, and yes, you'll need to feed the meter. But if you go on a Sunday or a holiday (like I did), you're in luck--free parking! And honestly, who doesn't love free parking downtown?

This place is really dang cool. Tons of things for the kids to climb around on and explore. The…read moresurface was pretty spongy so if one did fall it would most likely not be too bad. I took my family here to get them amped up before heading down the road to goto the awesome Childrens Museum. This is a must visit park if your kids love climbing on EVERYTHING!

I grew up coming to this park for picnics/games in the large grass field. The play structure is a…read morebit lacking. I brought my baby today hoping they would have a bucket swing and they did not so we did not stay long.

This park is relatively small. It spans about 5 and a half acres and has a small parking area, a…read morelarge patch of green space, a large, a large jungle gym and a couple of swings. You will also find a covered picnic shelter, with picnic tables under it and a grill just outside of it. Outside of the overflowing trash, the park is very well maintained. The playground area is lined with wood chips. The jungle gym has a couple of slides, a bridge, lots of things to climb and is ADA accesible. The park does not have any restroom facilities, walking/jogging trails or paths, benches, nor water. Like most Indy parks, this park is located next to an elementary school. It is connected to Jeremiah Gray Elementary School by a small path that goes through a wooded area. None of the school kids were at the park while I was there, but you could surely hear them playing loud and clear. Anyway, I think the highlight of this park is its green space or open field. It is well maintained, pretty flat and can be used for a variety of activities such as football, soccer, frisbee, playing catch, flying a kite, etc... Outside of that, this park does not have a lot to offer. It lacks a lot of the amenities that you would find in most parks. I guess if you could not make it to any of those parks though, this would do in a pinch or short visit.

We had a great time here. I took my 4 and 2 year old. There were lots of lifeguards on duty paying…read morevery close attention and took their jobs seriously. The kids area looked to be updated with a toddler slide, and the big slide was fast and fun!!! I will definitely be back. They are open even in the winter and it was a good day to go today because it was slightly raining out. 4 stars because they have a good court with nothing in it.

Eh -- Indy Island is OK. I'll start with the positives:…read more 1. There were always at least half a dozen lifeguards circling the perimeter of the pool and water area. They were constantly walking back and forth, checking things out, so I always felt like my kids were safe. 2. This indoor aquatic center is open year-round, so kids have a place to splash, wade and swim even when it's freezing outside. The day I visited, the water temperature was nice and warm, and the ambient air temp was just as inviting. 3. It's really inexpensive. Prices range from $4 to $6 dollars depending on age and the day you visit. Kids 2 and younger are free. 4. This is a small indoor water park, but it's big enough to have fun for hours. Now for the negatives: 1. This indoor water park is really old and in need of an update, and it shows. The playground structures in the water area are visibly rusted and look dirty. 2. The lock to the bathroom / changing room I was in DID NOT LOCK. It goes without saying that their changing rooms should have working locks. I had to stand by the door to block it, hoping that no one would try to come in! It also didn't have a trash can, for some reason. 3. The hallway to the changing room was super dark and didn't have any lights. Pretty much the last place you want to be changing in is a dark and creepy room. Fix the lightbulbs! This is another simple thing that could be fixed if they kept up the place. 4. They don't allow outside food or drinks inside the aquatic center. You can buy food and drinks at their snack bar, but when I was there (on a weekend), it was closed. Not sure what they expect visitors to do with a closed snack bar during operating hours. I like that Indy offers places like Indy Island so kids can enjoy swimming and playing in the water indoors. But this place is in need of some TLC in order to compete with some of the other indoor aquatic centers.

I found myself with one of my littles and some time to kill and he wanted to play at a park. This…read morewas nearby so, I decided to stop by this one. The park is right in front of a residential neighborhood and has lots of green space that can be used to play catch, fly a kite, play soccer or football. There is also a decent paved path that goes around the park's perimeter. There is an ample amount of parking available in the park's private lot and there is a small pond that separates the park from the neighborhood. There is no swimming allowed in the pond and it is only open to fishing for the neighborhoods residents. The park has a half decent full basketball court. The court does however have some large cracks and the nets are broke in certain areas. The backboards and rims are pretty good though. The park's picnic shelter is also "ok". It has picnic tables under it and a grill right outside of it. The shelter, tables and grill are showing signs of wear and could use a little TLC. My little was not impressed with the playground area. He kept saying that it was not a real playground. It is set on the a bed of wood chips and has a bank of toddler swings and a bank of regular swings. There is also a medium sized jungle gym that has an accessible ramp. The jungle gym has a few slides, parallel bars, and monkey rings. It is older but in decent shape. My major gripe with the play area is that there is nowhere for parents to sit and watch their kids play. The nearest seat would either be in your car or in the shelter. The green space looks pretty well taken care of and manicured, but my major concern was the amount of trash all around the park. I was not a fan of the used condoms and Black and Mild wrappers around the parking lot. The park does not have any restroom facilities or water fountains either. We stayed there for about 30 minutes and my kid wanted to go to a "real playground". I guess he has been spoiled by the mega playgrounds that we have visited lately. Anyway, this park has a lot of potential, and it would not take much to get it up to par. As it stands now, it is good for the nearby neighborhood residents and people that have time to kill and are in the area, such as was my case. This is definitely not a destination park.

My brother and I opted to play basketball this morning instead of going to the gym and it was a…read morenice change of pace. It's a smaller park but it really has everything you need. In addition to the basketball court there's a playground, picnic shelter with grill, lots of large fields, and a walking trail. I'm sure we'll be back.