Calling all nature-loving families…read more If your kids would rather play with sticks, logs, and their imagination than a traditional playground, this spot is for you Little play hut with a table and two chairs Hopscotch and balance beams Lots of tree logs, sticks, and natural elements for open-ended play Encourages creativity, imagination, and nature-based exploration Completely covered by trees, so there's plenty of shade Multiple walking paths nearby for a family nature walk ‍ This is one of those places where kids can slow down, get creative, and connect with nature. No flashy playground equipment--just all that Mother Nature has to offer #coolcreekpark #nature #natureplayground #carmel #hamiltoncounty

What a great nature center and park! We visited to check out for our granddaughters. The Nature…read moreCenter has a nice bird watching deck, a selection of live turtles and snakes and much more. We found the bird collection particularly useful in helping us identify some of our backyard birds. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. They were preparing for a school group during our visit. After the nature center, we walked on one of the nature trails. Some flowering trees were in bloom. The trails are wide and well marked (but not paved). Strategically placed benches along the trails make perfect spots to bird watch. Nearby, is an outdoor amphitheater with a large grassy area for seating. I'm not sure what programs they host, but the space is nice. Near the front of the park, is a modern playground with several colorful climbing structures, swings, slides and the usual equipment. A pavilion is available to get shade or feed the kids. There is a water fountain to keep the kids hydrated. Behind the playground, adult exercise equipment is available. We also saw a soccer field perfect for local practice. There is dedicated parking with handicapped spaces and restrooms on site.

Reasons we LOVE Morse Park & Beach…read more Newly renovated playground with multiple levels to climb and explore--perfect for adventurous kids! Features monkey bars, a variety of slides, and a fun whale-shaped rock wall Has a small toddler section, but overall better suited for confident climbers Woodchip ground--something to consider for babies or toddlers still crawling Great, easy fishing spot if you have your license In the summer, there's a beach area for swimming and cooling off Such a fun mix of playground + outdoor adventure all in one spot!

Place is a JOKE. I drove an HOUR up to the beach and all to be told it was at maximum capacity…read more There were a bunch of people leaving. Nobody was maintaining the number of patrons leaving so others could go in. The employees couldn't even tell us to our faces that they weren't letting anyone else in. They told a patron that had already paid to get in to tell us someone about wrist bands and they were at maximum capacity. ridiculous!!

What a lovely new-to-me Central Indiana adventure! One of the learnings I hope to keep from this…read morepast year is to stay hungry for visiting new parks and keep outdoor dining (specifically picnic-ing) a routine activity. My friend and fellow Yelper, Katie U, recommended we visit McGregor Park for a quick lunch time walk and picnic. I admittedly had never heard of it and was shocked to find how easily accessible it was off of US31. Upon arrival, the park has very clear directions of where you can find the trails covered spaces, etc. The bathrooms were very clean and located near a shelter with additional information about the park. I was most impressed by the hilly nature of the landscape which can be hard to find in central Indiana. It's also worth noting that the shelter spaces and landscaping were both impeccable and appeared to be new. My only regret is that I didn't have more time to explore the trails. Looking forward to future longer visits at this nature getaway a stone's throw from downtown Westfield.

I feel like the secret is out. There used to be no cars when I came to MacGregor park, and both…read moreparking lots were filled. The front lot is near a little story walk with a fairly small flat area you can walk around with kids. If you drive to the back lot you have a few different trail options, mostly around a mile. There were some hills, this is not a great park to go to after rain as it can get fairly muddy. But I think it's a nice little getaway.

This is an amazing new park in the heart of Greenfield. It was opened in 2021, spans 1.5 acres, and…read moreis open from dusk to dawn. The park is located on the original site of the train depot that once stood in Greenfield, hence its name. It is well maintained and has a stage/amphitheater, some gliders and picnic tables. It has a capacity of up to 800-1,000 people. The park also has a decent amount of green space to lay a blanket down and sit. The green space is some of the best manicured that I have seen. It is actually turf and not grass though, which is cool to me. The glider swings are really cool. They have a railroad them. The picnic tables are on train car wheels on a small track and are cool too. The park is also home to a small fountain and some art including a sculpture of a man painting. There is a lot of free street parking available on the park's perimeter. The park is host to entertainment and a summer concert series called "Live @ the Rails". This park is a nice addition to Greenfield and is an awesome place to listen to music and chill. As an added bonus, there is the Depot bar/restaurant right outside the park and the Pennsy Trail runs right through it. I really like this park. It is a prototype of what other amphitheater parks should be. It has a lot of personality and is a nice chill spot to watch a performance, eat lunch, host a festival or listen to music. The city of Greenfield hit a home run with this park.

Small, but has everything you would want from a park. It is built on a actual train track, so the…read moreentire park is train themed, really neat. Fountains are placed throughout the park which just adds to the wonderful atmosphere. It's also connected to the longest walking path I think I've ever seen. They have a ice cream shop right beside the park (best ice cream I ever had) and a restaurant that is also delicious. Picnic tables are nearby, so you can enjoy your frozen treat, or swinging benches are all an option of relaxation (they are really comfortable and sturdy). And what's most impressive, is that the park has a stage built for live events, how cool is that?!

No playground! Let's just get that out of the way right now. My children believe that all places…read morethat call themselves "parks" should have a playground, otherwise it's false advertising. I don't agree, but you should know up front that this park doesn't have a playground, so you can set your child's expectations where they need to be. What Beckenholdt Family Park does have is lots of walking paths that meander around a beautiful pond. There's also a wooden deck and lookout tower, which when you make it to the top, you can see the whole park. (The lookout tower is also wheelchair accessible, which is cool.) The lookout is what actually caught my eye from the road. I saw it and slammed on my breaks, did a U-turn and headed toward this park that I had never heard of until today. A good portion of the park is dedicated to a fenced dog park called Rovers Run Bark Park. The dog park has a few obstacles, but mostly lots of grassy areas to run. There's also a gazebo-type sitting area for the humans. Next to the dog park is a rainbow bridge -- literally, a bridge that's painted rainbow colors -- called Baker's Rainbow Bridge, for people whose dogs have died. The owners can place their lost dogs' collars, ID tags, photos and other mementos all along the bridge. I have been in my head a lot lately, with my feelings heightened and right at the edges, so seeing this rainbow bridge, with all of the photos and collars attached to the bridge, made me cry. There was just so much love there. It's making me want to cry again just writing about it! What a nice gesture for the community. Luckily, a dog from the dog park sensed that I needed to snap out of it, and ran over to bark at me. I'm so glad I stopped at this park! It wasn't a planned part of my day, but sometimes the unplanned things are just what you need. It was nice to walk around and enjoy the sunshine at this beautiful place.

Sometimes you just need to take a freaking walk…read more I've been on a health journey for the past few years, and I am trying to change different habits and my default ways of dealing with stress, anxiety and all sorts of emotions. I used to stress eat. When the hamsters were running wild and free inside my brain, I would head straight to the fridge. Now, I go for a walk... and it's glorious. Today, I needed a walk. It was the end of my work day and I wanted to clear my head and burn some calories. I work less than 10 minutes from Beckenholdt Park, so I left work a few minutes early and headed to the park. I keep my ruck pack in my trunk, so I was all set. I arrived at the park around 4:00pm. It was cool and overcast, but a great day for a walk. I have been to this park multiple times over the years. I have taken my kids fishing in the small pond and have walked laps around its trails. Today, I threw on my ruck sack, put in my earbuds, and started walking. There is something special about moving your legs and listening to good music. Neutral Milk Hotel danced in my ears as I walked laps around the pond. While this band might not be for everyone, I feel like nature parks like Beckenholdt were made for folksy bands like Neutral Milk Hotel. Listening to folk music and walking in nature-- that's a great way to slow down those hamsters! Beckenholdt Park isn't the largest park. There are no playgrounds. But it is a great nature preserve to take your family and your dog. Or to simply go for a nice walk around the pond.

Perfect spot for a laid-back family adventure!…read more Flowing Well Park in Carmel is a hidden gem for families looking to spend time outdoors without a big production. The open space, fresh air, and scenic creek made for a relaxing, fun-filled afternoon. Our kids had the best time splashing in the water, exploring the trail, and collecting cool rocks along the way. It felt like a mini nature escape right in town. Major parent win: there's a foot wash station at the entrance--so helpful when little feet are muddy but happy! There's also a picnic area to grab a bite to eat. We'll definitely be back for more sunshine and creekside exploring. Towels would probably be a good idea to have on hand.

Lovely little park besties between neighborhood. Very easy walking trail if you are not looking for…read moretoo much intensity. It would be a great spot for kids to play in the shallow creek or for dogs. We enjoyed our morning hike!

I was a little bit nervous about signing up to do a 3k event in November, however, the opportunity…read morepresented itself and I knew I'd be able to visit a park I'd never been to before. Flat Fork Creek Park is part of Fishers Parks. Located at 101st and Cyntheanne Road, Flat Fork Creek Park offers just over 60 acres of relaxing fun for just about everyone in the family including a good amount of ADA accessibility. First off, you'll get a 60-foot sledding hill here. That's good to know as we inch toward winter. It's the tallest point in Hamilton County. There's also a 1.25 mile progressive mountain bike course that offers features for both mountain biking newbies and those with more experience. There's a beautiful fishing pond - state license required except for those 17 and under. Nearly 20 acres in the park are reforestation areas and there's a shelter with picnic tables that can be rented. Okay, that accessibility I mentioned? The 3k I did was a relatively small group, though it was centered around disability and had several disabled participants. The park includes an ADA accessible treehouse, a paved multi-use trail, and a boardwalk (I would note that while the boardwalk is, indeed, accessible, you do want to be a tad careful due to the side of the boardwalk that do offer a bit of a drop-off). You know what I think is really cool? They've created a ramp here so that even those with mobility issues can get to the top of the sledding hill - in most parks, that's an afterthought. As a side note, Fishers has won awards for their inclusion work and this park really shows it. This is really just a lovely park. You're not going to find a playground or other frequent park features, however, this beautiful park does a nice job of including everyone and weaving together nature with fun park adventures. This was my first time here. It won't be my last.

I recently discovered this park and have gone back a few times now. It's a beautiful park with a…read moregreat walking path, trail and hill. I love taking my dog here for a walk or going alone just to watch the sun set. The park is spacious and clean and overall a great experience. If it were closer to me I'd probably go daily.

Jefferson Oaks is a really nice shaded park. There is a paved walking path, and parking located…read moreconveniently near the shelter. There is a water fountain and the next door baseball field has restrooms. The highlight of the park is the playground which has multiple pieces for kids of all ages to play on. I was surprised at how many pieces of challenging workout equipment were on site. Lots of upper arm strength and balance needed for some. There was also a mixture of new play towers as well as an old school spiral slide and spinning wheel. The park was clean and had lots of mature trees for shade. For the size of the town, this is a really good option for entertaining the kids. Review #2820