This pocket park was a delightful find while walking down 3rd Street. Instead of leaving the site…read moreabandoned, the town has put in this park that shares some of the history of the area as well as providing a place to sit and relax. The fenced park has a small gate on the east side that lets you walk on gravel paths to a picnic table and a bench. The south and east ends of the park use greenery to form a barrier from other businesses. On the east end is a plaque/kiosk that tells about the former Depot that sat across the street and the Lincoln Funeral Train that passed through in 1865. In the center of the park is a large cube that looks like it may have been a bank vault for the Klous Waugh Bank. I haven't been able to find any info about the park or bank, but it is nice to see a bit of greenery along a business corridor. Review #2744

This place is surreal. A true blessing to have within 15 mins of Purdue…read more You can see Wolves, Bison, Foxes, turtles, you name it. Everybody who works here is super sweet and very knowledgeable. I am blown away with my experience and cannot wait to come back in the fall!

I guess I expected something different from Wolf Park, so I was slightly underwhelmed. But I think…read morethat's my own fault. My life motto is to approach everything with low expectations, and I think my expectations were very high for this animal sanctuary. That's not to say Wolf Park isn't cool. It is. The tour guides are very knowledgable and engaging, you learn a lot about wolves, there are some neat things in the gift shop, and it's nice to know that there's a sanctuary in Indiana that cares for these canine creatures. The wolves were mostly sleeping and behind fences, and we had to stand way far away from the fences, so it was difficult to see the wolves, most of the time. Mostly, it was a lot of walking and looking at the animal enclosures during the one-hour tour. But we did learn a lot about wolves and animal conservation, which was nice. There are also buffalo and fox here, but we didn't see those, either. I guess your mileage may vary depending on how active the animals are on the day that you visit. Because the tour is a lot of talking and walking and not a lot of seeing of wolves or touching things, I would say that this experience is better for adults and older kids. There was a young child in my group, and he was trying to climb the fence and then melting down by the end of the tour. Parking is in a gravel lot, but there seemed to be plenty of spaces. There are also restrooms on site.

I have this feeling that this park was unveiled with great enthusiasm and then interest seemed to…read morefade since nobody else was using the park during my visit. The park has no assigned parking lot which may deter visitors. Some of the trees that apparently used to be located between this park and Wood Street park were removed. (I wonder if it was because there were fireworks being launched here on the 4th?) Flowerbeds that were heart shaped were not noticed during my visit. Frankly, it looks like a narrow blacktop path that swirls around on itself from a walking point of view. From above, a pattern is discernible that includes two inverted hearts touching at their points while additional lines have been added to connect for an uninterrupted stroll. There are some trees and benches along the way, but other than mowing, there doesn't seem to be a lot of maintenance needed. There just isn't much to look at while walking. No water fountains or restrooms. No Shelters or ball fields. It's just a place to walk without traffic. At least the open space doesn't attract mosquitoes or ticks. Review #2741

Brookston Heart to Heart Walking Park is a one mile paved walking path. When seen from above, it is…read morein the pattern of two intertwined hearts and looks a lot like a Celtic motif. (see sign in photo for how it looks or look on google earth) It is a nice idea that a walking path like this which helps you improve your heart and health is shaped like entwined hearts. Whether walking with friends or solo, for fitness or relaxation or a leisurely visit, this is a nice little path to use again and again. There are also two heart-shaped native Indiana wildflower areas. Please let the Town Board know how much you like the wildflowers so we may continue to enjoy them! It's very pretty when the flowers are blooming! Also, around the 4th of July (usually the weekend right after it), Brookston launches its wonderful Independence Day fireworks display from the park. If you bring a lawn chair or a blanket it is a really good place to have a "front row seat" for the show.

Of all the parks I visited in the Brookston area, this one seemed to be getting the most attention…read more It is the newest park (2015) and has added a gazebo since then. There is landscaping on the east side near the sidewalk that leads to the gazebo. I like that there is an additional picnic table (and trash bin) near the gazebo for those days when you feel like sitting in the sun. The maintenance crew was trimming the surrounding plants and had cleaned the landscaped flower beds just as I arrived. Good to see an investment by the town was being maintained. Parking is limited to free street parking along 1st Street. Review #2745

The Juanita Waugh park at the corner of First and Prairie Streets in Brookston, Indiana, is…read moreBrookston's newest. The park has two picnic tables. A nice place to enjoy lunch, bring the kids for some frisbee, to play cornhole, bocce, or kubb. Sit and enjoy the the sun and the sky, and watch the town life around you. The park, given to the town by Ms. Juanita Waugh, is a pleasant natural spot on one of the town's main streets.

Unless you are a skilled hiker, I recommend going to this beautiful nature preserve when the…read moreweather has been dry. There is about 90 feet of elevation change on the 0.8 mile loop that can be a bit slippery if you pick a time when mud/rain can be a problem. I only explored the north end trail during my visit. After parking in a shaded lot, I went into the park where I had a choice of left or right. The right side has a steeper descent than the left. Fortunately, there is a hand rail for stability. I figured it easier to go down the steep side than up, so I stayed on the right hand path. There is a fairly level area before you reach the "stairs". The stairs are mostly natural, so they aren't evenly spaced. Just keep focused and you should be alright. Once the trail reaches the bottom of the gorge, there are places where elevated paths keep your feet from trekking through the mud. Depending upon how much rain has fallen, you may get some mud, but my feet stayed dry the entire loop. At the base, there are deep ravines where the trees catch the sunlight and light up in brilliant yellow greens. The rocks are layered and take on a rusty color that can make for some great photos. The highlight of the loop is finding the "arch" through the ridge of rock. It was just a bit taller than my head (I would say most folks won't need to duck going through.) After that, you will start working your way back. Although I traveled the same distance up, it was gradual and not nearly as challenging as climbing steps. I didn't see much wildlife there, but there were squirrels and butterflies that showed themselves. I like a short hike that features a destination and great scenes along the way. If you like that too, then seek out this park. Review #2840

Great trail among beautiful landforms. It's a nice hike that makes for a good day trip along with…read moreWilliamsport Falls, Attica, and the courthouse murals on Covington.

Looking at the pictures from a few years back, I had high expectations for this park. But things…read morehave changed. First, there is no assigned parking for visitors. I thought there was a gravel lot on site, but the curb at the edge of the road is not designed to access it. The row of trees that the previous review mentioned seems to be gone. Now the playground is in full sun and the picnic table has been moved. The base for the playground is sprouting weeds and shows a lack of attention to the park. What happened? I was able to street park across the road since no parking is allowed along the park. There is a basketball court with two of the three backboards having rims attached. The swings, rocker, and slide fort seem to have held up pretty well, but the trash container had either been tipped over or was full and needed to be removed. It just wasn't nearly as inviting as it appeared in the earlier pictures. The lack of shade hindered anyone from the area using the park even though it was a warm and sunny day. This park looked great in early photos, but failed to live up to my expectations. Review #2740

Brookston's Wood Street Park is located on Wood Street, hence the name. The park has a wonderful…read morelot of playground equipment for kids -- a large colorful playground thing with slides and all sorts of activities. There are also very nice swings and a basketball court. There are several seats for moms, dads and babysitters to sit while the kids play. Recently a picnic table was added under the maple trees which separate South Street Park from the Heart Walk Park. The picnic table was donated by the Apple Popcorn Festival Committee in 2012. In easy walking distance from most of Brookston's residential areas, there is also ample parking in the park or along Wood Street. The Heart park may also be entered via Wood Street Park.

We rented the Rogers Pavilion at Highland Park for our family reunion in August. We booked it about…read morea year in advance since we have our family reunion every August, and we wanted to make sure we could get the date we needed. The pavilion was around $250 for pretty much the entire day, which I thought was a great price for the amount of time and space you get. We really like this park because there's plenty of space and lots of parking. There's also a playground directly across the street that's suitable for kids of different ages, along with a basketball court. The pavilion itself has plenty of tables and chairs, you just have to set them up yourself. There's also a small kitchen, which is very convenient, along with two gender neutral restrooms on each side of the kitchen. The only downside is that the grill provided with the pavilion is a little bit of a walk from the indoor area. There's also another covered pavilion with seating between the grill and the Rogers Pavilion. There happened to be another event going on there during our reunion. It didn't interfere with our event, but of course, having the entire area private would have been even better. I really like this pavilion and think it's a great place to host an event. There's plenty of space, lots of parking, and activities for all ages. I'd definitely consider renting it again for future family events!

Highland Park is a huge community park in Kokomo with lots of green space, recreational spaces and…read morea historic covered bridge. What I like best about the park are the mature trees that provide lots of shade. Some of the trees are over 400 years old. There is a huge colorful playground with climbing structures, swings and slides. The base is a mix of mulch and soft matting. Benches line the area for parents to sit and watch kids . (The equipment could use a good cleaning from the trees.) There are two ball diamonds with bleachers within the park. A beautiful stream that meanders through the park attracts fisherman. Tree-covered picnic areas are scattered along the creek. The Vermont Covered Bridge spans the creek and is open to pedestrian traffic. There are restroom facilities near the playground. There are several parking areas throughout the park and you can drive along the creek. Highland Park is a great place to bring the family.

This natural area is a great hidden gem in the Lafayette area. Located on the banks of the Wildcat…read moreCreek, this place has a good amount of trails to keep you busy for an afternoon hike. The trails are maintained very well and there is clear markers of where each trial goes. There is also some really good elevation changes that are approachable for everyone. The NICHS group that maintains the area does an excellent job keeping everything tidy. Being a natural area, many of the plant types and trees types are marked as well as the different geological features of the area.

One of the hidden gems of the Lafayette area, and it has only gotten better over time. Sometimes I…read moremiss the small check-in house with the doggy bags, but the modern updates are really wonderful. Great for a little hike or a short run around the main loop.

How can you hate on a state park? It's like hating on a flower: It exists simply to bring pleasure…read moreto those around it. So, for that reason, Prophetstown State Park gets five stars from me, dawg. The visitor center is not much to see, though, to be honest. There are some displays, and a little area for young kids to play. But it's basically a one-room joint with a small parking lot. And I mean small! I think there are maybe a few parking spaces. This is a place to visit if you have questions or need a brochure, but I wouldn't plan on staying long. The rest of the park is very spread out, so you'll want to drive or bike around. There's an aquatic center that was closed when I visited, and also an interactive museum called The Farm at Prophetstown within the property. There is also a playground, a memorial to indigenous tribes of the area, and lots of walking paths. You can get a lot of steps in here at this park, mostly because there are lots of trails, but also because everything is so spread apart.

This is a calm beautiful and peaceful park. There's something for everyone from campgrounds,…read morefishing lake, biking trails, hiking trails and water slides for kids with playgrounds and other activities too. The campground was full when I went in today, possibly with end of summer and Labor Day weekend. The signage was pretty clear and there was plenty of directions. I hiked trails 2 and the loop, small trail in terms of width but well maintained. Lots of flies and bugs but that's to do with the weather though it was beautiful today. There's an entry fee although I didn't pay as I had my state park pass.

The canal boat ride and interpretive talk were outstanding. The museum was great with several…read moreinteractive areas for kids. A place drenched in history!

When I arrived at the park, I was surprised that there was so much to look at. It's not like most…read moreparks. This one has a pioneer village with log cabins, a museum (which was closed for a private event during my visit), and canal boat rides. The village is open to walk through and includes the Case Reed House which was moved from downtown to this site around 1986. The house was converted to a hotel for travelers after being a private residence. The canal boats are colorful and provide guided tours for those who wish to take the trip. I didn't have time to go on the ride, so I can't say how much it costs or how often the rides leave the dock. There is also a trail that runs through the park along the canal. This is a nice piece of local history from an era when Indiana thought it could be a navigable transportation area with the help of canals. Review #2792