The kids (and honestly, the adults too) will LOVE these…read more "tree-style" honeycomb pods at Meadowlark Park -- it's basically modern art you can actually play on! Giant treetop-style play structure that feels straight out of a storybook Padded ground Playground for all ages with 3 separate climbing structures Massive, fast tunnel slides + toddler/baby-friendly slides 2 shaded pavilions + bathrooms for snack/lunch breaks Pickleball courts, basketball court,  pond & access to the Monon Trail + other walking paths ‍ If your kid loves climbing, pretending, and exploring--you NEED to check out this treehouse-style playground

This is a great park. It looks like it was renovated recently. I've never been here and I was…read morepleasantly surprised! It's right outside of Main Street Carmel. There was a playground, pickleball/tennis, basketball, an open area, and some walking/biking trails.

Looking for the perfect toddler park to learn colors? Check out Quaker Park…read more Super bright + colorful turf playground (perfect for color learning!) Small play structure with two slides made for littles Swings for everyone: single swings, mommy & me, circle swing & even a hammock Splash pad for summer fun Features a Sona interactive dance & play arch--scan a code to pick games or music Separate climbing gym for older kids while toddlers play safely nearby 4 pavilions with picnic tables + shaded benches for snack/lunch breaks Connected to the Midland Trace Trail that leads to the Monon Trail ‍ Such a fun, colorful, and toddler-friendly park with something for every age

This colorful little park packs a punch, offering something for everyone. There is an amazing…read moreplayground with structures suitable for toddlers as well as bigger kids. There are several swings for all ages and abilities. My granddaughters spent a long time on the splash pad. There is also an interactive movement game for the kids to play (like a Simon Says). What I like most is that there are many benches, some covered, around the park to relax and watch the kids play. For the adults, there are several pickle-ball courts and a bocci ball pit. There is open green space for football or other sport. The park has a nice (colorful) set for f rest rooms. There are four pavilions that can be used for larger gatherings and picnics with lots of tables. The walkways through the park are paved for easy accessibility. There are two parking lots that can accommodate 40 plus cars. I'll be a regular. Look for me chasing two kids.

This small park in Westfield has an amazing assortment of upscale features for town concerts and…read moregatherings. I just happened upon the park after making the detour off Main Street to avoid construction. There are TWO amphitheaters, a meandering trail through natural wetland, a fabulous playground and lots of space to relax and enjoy a cup of coffee. A modern artistic cafe is nearing completion on the north side of the park. The colorful playground offers a maze of colorful climbing structures. There is a wall for sitting and watching the kids. I grabbed parking on the street, but there wasn't much. I think most people walk to the park from one of the trails that merge adjacent to the park. I didn't see open restroom facilities, but there are probably some in the cafe, when open.

A gem in Westfield! So expansive and such lovely urban architecture dotting the park. Toddlers,…read morepets, adults you name it - just the right place to be in. The plaza itself is massive and has good spacious seats, clean restrooms, open park and a trail leading to a neat hike. In summers we have the Westfield farmers market right near Grand Junction Plaza and we have families, couples, friends hanging out giving such good summer feels! Westfield definitely needed a place like this and while some portions are still under construction there's enough to do and walk around on a good weather day. Parking is free, usually it's not a task to find street parking and everything is just open space!

This is a lovely park in Westfield which doesn't require you to drive too far or make many advance…read morepreps. Right beside a school and close to downtown it's a perfect stop on a busy day of work. There's a path with about 1 mile of walk and the park is dotted with shelters, kids play area, bike park, bike trail and seating just to sit and enjoy the nature. The fall foliage is pretty nice and I saw children of all ages and abilities enjoying the park. I had a great time and loved the peace and no chaos. Quick break and relaxing time.

Looking for a park with NO slides? Check out Asa Bales Park…read more Soft padded turf instead of mulch Tons of climbing activities (and not too high off the ground ) No slides--perfect for kids who love to climb instead! Extras include disc golf, a skate park & an easy ~1 mile paved walking trail with bridges (great for bikes + strollers ) New playground set in an older park = lots of nature and potential shade Right across from Westfield High School & next to the middle school Such a fun, unique option when you want something different from the typical playground setup

Local Mom Meet-Up Spot Check out Carey Grove Park ‍…read more Padded ground Playground for all ages with separate sides for younger & older kids (split by a fun music section ) A couple slide + swing options to keep everyone happy Workout equipment on both sides for parents Features a Pulse Tennis interactive game Small walking trail + open field for extra space to run Shade available around the sides Such a great, easy spot to meet up with other moms while the kids all play

This is an amazing park. It was originally opened in 1998, but was "fully reimagined" in 2020 and I…read morelove everything about this park.There is ample parking and a bike rack for those that ride in from neighboring houses. It is a very modern park that is lined with the rubbery surface that most of the new parks are using. It has a half basketball court with an adjustable rim. The court is in great shape and has a bench along the baseline for spectators to sit and watch. You will find a very nice paved walking/jogging trail that goes around the perimeter of the park, as well as trails leading to the park from nearby neighborhoods. The bathroom facility at the park is very well maintained and is one of the better ones that I have seen in a park. They serviced the restrooms and trash while I was there. The park has two picnic shelters with tables under it and one has a couple of grills just outside of it. The playground is awesome. It has top-notch modern equipment. One side of the playground area has a very nice large jungle gym with a couple of slides, one of which is a spiral slide. There is also a bank of swings with traditional and ADA swings, a spinning net sphere, a pull up bar, and an interactive light game. This side is intended for 5 and older, but my 3 year old spent most of his time over here. On the other side is play equipment for smaller kids. There is a bank of toddler swings, a small jungle gym with a tunnel and slides, a couple of see-saws, a modern merry-go-round, and an expression swing. In between both area is some picnic tables and percussion musical instruments. Both play areas have benches on one side of it for parents to sit and on the other side (outer perimeter) are some workout equipment between some more benches, under a nice shade bearing awning. The workout equipment is intended for those over 14 years old. The equipment happens to face the respective playgrounds, so parents can get their workout on while keeping an eye on their littles. On final feature of the park is its green space. There is a patch of grass that can be used for playing catch, soccer, football, or flying a kite. It can also be used for working out or having a picnic. The only downfall of this space is that it is like in like a little crater. So, it gets very soggy after rain and snowfall and takes a while to dry. I really like this park. My littles and I spent about 2 hours here. It is not very big, spanning 5 acres, but still has a lot to do. This is definitely a destination park and was well worth the 40 minute ride for me to get here.

I was recently appointed to the Indiana Trails Advisory Board. We held a meeting at Wilfong…read morePavilion in Founders Park, another Carmel Park I'd had yet to visit. This is a 37-acre park (it feels bigger, but that's according to the Carmel Parks website). I think the reason it feels bigger is that it better utilizes its space over a park like the nearby Hazel Landing. Founders Park has a large shelter, restroom facility, open sports fields (there were kids playing soccer while I was there), walking trails, and a very cool playground that is nature-inspired - swings, a sandbox, climbing structures, and more. Founders Park also has native prairie, wetlands, and a pond. Wilfong Pavilion is a neat facility with a capacity in its main room of 99 people. It also has beautiful views. Founders Park has had multiple upgrades recently including repair of its retaining wall, new fencing, an improved parking lot, and added rubber safety surfacing with the playground. I definitely see this as a very family friendly park. There's a seasonal drinking fountain, fishing, trails, a bike rack, and a seasonal foot wash station that makes me wish I had feet. Carmel is typically good about accessibility and that's definitely evident here. The bathroom had a nice, larger stall with grab rails. I would definitely return and I would definitely consider renting Wilfong Pavilion myself as it has accessible parking and appropriate curb cuts.

Are you looking for a park to take your little ones to or just a park to have picnic at then look…read moreno further. This park is really nice and has some wonderful activities at it for children to enjoy. There are a lot of picnic benches and plenty of grass here for a nice picnic on a nice warm day. There are bathrooms that looked well kept here. If you are in the area definitely check this park out. I had met my friend and her daughter here and found this park to be very enjoyable.

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.

Check out Cool Creek Nature Center! We saw so many birds and turtles, and the viewing area was…read moreamazing. They even had binoculars for the kids, which made it feel like a real little adventure. Inside, there were crafts, books, puzzles, and puppets to keep the kids engaged and learning. Such a fun and educational outing -- we loved it!

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.

There's something about neighborhood parks - quiet, easily accessible and not too crowded. I got…read moreout on a good weather day today and enjoyed a good 1 hour walk around the different trails. There's a football field with small bleachers and a variety of different plants, flowers and pathways to appeal to senses of all abilities. And I was so impressed with the set up. There's small bridges dotting the park and a kids play area. There's a couple entrance points so it isn't confusing if you don't get through one. There was limited foliage with the time being December nevertheless it was a breath of fresh air getting out!

This park is nestled into a neighborhood and offers a new playground, huge grassy field, and…read morerugby/football field. There are a few mini bridges that go over a stream and it's nice to have this much open space to explore. It makes for the perfect walk. The playground seemed really fun and the only thing that confused us was the life-size wind chimes, which I'm sure the neighbors don't love - haha!

A smaller park worth checking out: Raymond Worth Park…read more Soft padded turf instead of mulch 2 closed slides + 1 open slide A climbing section that adds fun without taking over the whole park More secluded feel with a peaceful grass walking trail Downside: it's right next to the road, but there is a small fence and natural barriers Has a merry-go-round but no swings A simple, quieter spot that's great for a low-key park day

Raymond Worth Park is a fun little spot to spend some time outdoors. It mostly consists of a…read moreplayground, a small trail, and a parking lot (and has a horse hitching post, which is neat). The playground is why we visited, because I have children. The playground has a tall structure with tube slides, regular slides, things to climb (like rope structures) and places to hide for hide-and-seek. There's also a merry-go-round and a long balancing tilty thing that I don't know the name of. The playground is built mostly for kids 5 and older, but young ones will probably find something to enjoy, too. The ground of the playground is soft, synthetic Astroturf. My kids spent almost an hour playing on the playground. It's not the biggest playground, but it's fun and occupied their imaginations for quite a while. There are benches off to the side of the playground (thank goodness), but there isn't much shade at this park (boo). One reason I didn't give Raymond Worth Park five stars is because it's set right off of a busy road, and there is no buffer between the park and the road. There's a small fence that only goes halfway around the front of the playground, but a child could definitely dart into the street easily. So parents who have kids who like to run off and wander: You might want to rethink visiting this park, or just be vigilant with the supervision. There's a small, beautiful trail around the park, which I walked part of the way. I visited during the summer, so the path was grass-lined and there were berries on bushes and flowers everywhere. It's definitely a beautiful place to walk and enjoy some of the nature in Westfield.