Park is very clean. Plenty of room for birthday parties or other events. The trail is well kept…read moreand has restroom. Plenty of children's recreation equipment. Highly recommended.

This park, although located nearest to Cumberland, is across the Hancock County line and has a…read moreGreenfield address. Located along Buck Creek on the far east side, the park is sponsored by the Lions Club. What makes this park hard to review is that it appears to be undergoing a transformation. I didn't see any master plan kiosk that would share the vision, so I could only go by my own observation where some of the equipment looks much newer than the pieces in the back. There also appears to be new bridges that span the creek and there is straw spread along the paved walkways that looks like they are trying to grow grass. But at this point, there wasn't much green poking through. There are a couple shelters and two playgrounds, a volleyball court, a basketball court, and pathways that run by the creek. Like many of the parks I visited today, the recent rains had created a high water problem and much of the park was a bit squishy if you got off the paved paths. So, for the pieces that look new, I am encouraged. But some of the older pieces, including the shelters, could use some attention and use of the park is definitely subject to water levels of the creek. Review #779

This is a nice nature park with a vast amount of green space. It is located well off of the main…read moreroad which gives it a bit of calmness. It spans 82 acres and dates back to 1970. The park has a shelter with picnic tables under it and a few tables and a grill just outside of it. A large portion of the park is a dog park area. They have 2 large fenced in areas with benches and dog ramps and jump bars. It is a nice dog park and requires a permit where dog owners can purchase a day or annual pass. There is a decent sized parking lot to park in and just off of the parking lot is the entrance to the park's nature trail. It is a very nice trail that is well defined and wide. You are never too deep in the woods being that it borders a neighborhood. The green space is vast and well maintained. You can do just about any field activity here including flying a kite, playing soccer, playing football, throwing a frisbee, having a picnic, batting practice or playing catch. There is a huge hill in the midst of all the green space that would be awesome for hanging out, working out and sledding after a snow. Some people use the green space, instead of paying to use the dog park to walk their dogs. I think that is acceptable by the park, as long as you clean up after it and keep it on a leash. The park's playground is ok. It has a bank of traditional swings, a bank of toddler swings, a geo dome, a see-saw, a spiral slide, and a large accesible jungle gym with a bunch of slides, monkey rings, pull up bars, and track ride. The area is on a bed of saw dust and the equipment is in fair condition and you can see signs of weather and wear. I know that money does not grow on trees, but it would be nice to upgrade this area. I will caution you that the park can get muddy after some precipitation, so dress your feet accordingly. This is a nice nature park that has a dog park, hiking trails, green space, a playground, and picnic area. There is no restroom facility, but they do have a porta-potty available by the parking lot near the dog park area. Definitely worth a visit if you are looking for a park and are in the area. I enjoyed my time there.

Paul Ruster Park is an 82-acre park that sort of rides the South and East corridors of Indy. It's a…read morelittle gem, though not particularly a wheelchair friendly one given it maintains a lot of its natural setting rather than having a lot of actual "features." The park was acquired in 1970 and is part of Indy Parks. It has beautiful, winding trails, a small fishing pond, and a playground that has some nice equipment but I sure wouldn't consider it to be top-notch in that area. I sort of stumbled by Paul Ruster Park. I was on a therapeutic drive after work and happened to make a turn and instantly saw the park sign. As I knew this was not a park I'd ever visited before, I had to stop and check it out. As I was driving in on a winding road, I saw one guy pulling out his fishing equipment. I love that. Paul Ruster Park does feature a bark park. You can buy a pass for it at the Post Road park. There's also a 1.5 mile trail in the park that I tried out - it's relatively gentle with some inclines and has some lakeside features. Dogs can go on the trail, though they must be leashed. The trail is pretty good for wheelchairs and is certainly paved. Paul Ruster has a really good sledding hill, though that's obviously not wheelchair friendly. It might be interesting, though! There is a path that leads to the playground equipment, though I certainly would not call the playground area an accessible area. I'm always curious about how parks get their names. So, I did some research since Paul Ruster doesn't really ring a bell. Ruster was a 1964 graduate of Warren Central High School who died on December 10, 1978 of Hodgkin's Disease. He was a longtime Eastside presence and had a brother who had been a Warren Central baseball star and would become a P.E. teacher. Paul Ruster himself went to Ball State and returned to Warren Township where he taught for 10 years before his death. He was a beloved child advocate and the park was named after him in 1979. Another fun fact about the park - it's reportedly haunted by the ghost of John Kitley, a 12-year-old harmonica playing boy who was killed along train tracks in 1864. The park is close to the Washington Square area and yet is nicely set apart from both the retail and residential areas that are within minutes.

I tend to appreciate all of the Cumberland area parks, though I've always found the town to be a…read morelittle unusual in that I find the two smaller parks in the area to be preferable over the town's two bigger parks - Lions Park and this park, National Road Park. National Road Park is just north of Cumberland's Town Hall. It's a four acre park area that, as you might guess from the name, emphasizes the area's connection to the Historic National Road. However, it doesn't do it quite as nicely as the nearby Wayburn Pocket Park. National Road Park has two shelters, two actively used basketball courts, playground equipment, and a gazebo that can be rented. Cumberland's park rental prices are incredibly reasonable. There's a walking area in the form of a sidewalk that lines the park - this area also offers benches and quite a bit of greenery. While National Road Park is just fine as your typical small town park, it lacks the razzle dazzle and, quite honestly, beauty of the town's two smaller parks. The two smaller parks are memorable; this is basically a fine, functional park that I'm sure works just beautifully for those in the area.

This park is mostly a buffer between the Washington Street businesses and the residential living to…read morethe north. The park consists of mostly green space with a few shelters, a play ground on the east side of the park, and basketball courts on both ends. Sadly, some idiots have trashed the rims and nets so that full court games can't be played until maintenance is done. The playground consists of swings only, so they didn't even put much into that. There is a sidewalk/paved path that goes along both the north and south sides of the park, but due to some ground shifting, there is a place by one of the large shade trees that the sidewalk is uneven (a couple inches) which could be a tripping hazard/obstacle for users. Finding the place is a bit challenging unless you know where to go. The road that leads to the parking area is one way. The entrance is the same as the Post Office parking lot on the west side of that building. The road curves around the Dollar Tree building where you will see parking just before reaching the large mural on the back of that place. The open space is nice and pretty level for kids to run and play though I didn't notice any street lights for when the days get shorter. The gazebo was a bit trashy due to kids throwing stuff on the roof. With a bit of attention and maintenance, this park could be much more appealing. Review #2995

The Jacob Schramm Nature Preserve is a 31-acre mature woods in Hancock County close to New…read morePalestine. It was originally protected in 1999. It is owned by Hancock County Community Foundation and the Central Indiana Land Trust helps manage the stewardship of the property. For those who like trails but prefer a shorter one, Jacob Schramm offers a fairly easy .6 mile trail that is pretty much all natural with some bridging and some markings for trees. A pergola, bench, and boardwalk area was added in 2009. Because this is mostly natural, it can be a little difficult (or a lot) during inclement weather. As a wheelchair user, I most definitely could not wheel even the short trail during rainy weather because it gets fairly muddy. During good weather, it's a pretty delightful little preserve. I'm always torn with how to rate preserves. As a wheelchair user, I get frustrated at the lack of access. However, I also respect the desire to keep the nature preserve in its natural condition. It's a difficult dilemma. I think active wheelchair users could handle most of the preserve during good weather days, though there are natural obstacles periodically and even with a largely flat trail I'd hesitate to call it anything close to actually accessible. That said, I love the work of the Central Indiana Land Trust and this is an under-appreciated gem in Hancock County. While I don't get to Hancock County often, when I do I most always stop here. I should note, of course, that this is not a "park." There are no activities here other than the pergola and bench where you can relax and enjoy nature. You will discover a wide variety of trees, flowers, birds, and occasionally other wildlife while here.

This little gem of a nature preserve is found about a mile south of US 40 on Mt Comfort Road (CR…read more600 W) in Hancock County. The preserve was established in 1999, and the pergola, bench, and the board walk areas were added in 2009. The 31 acres are mostly woods but contain a small pond area within the woods and small tributaries that meander towards the nearest creek. The local boy scouts have done a good job of building crossings for the widest/wettest spans of the trails. However, the majority of the 0.6 mile hiking loop is foot worn with leaves as the main buffer between your shoes and the dirt/mud. What I really like about this otherwise run of the mill wooded area is that there is a small kiosk at the entrance to the trail area which has park pamphlets inside. The pamphlets have numbered items that are either tree descriptions or instructions for observations. Along the trail, you will see numbered blue posts that correlate to the pamphlets. For example, #12 is a Sycamore tree that grows from 60-90 feet, has triangle shaped leaves with alternating leaf placement, and bark that is pale white which often peels. I like feeling smarter after a good walk, exercising my mind at the same time I exercise my body. The ground is mostly flat, but footing can be a little slippery after rains. They could also use a trash can near the parking lot to help keep the preserve clean. Review #781

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.

This park is 88 acres and has many features. The first thing that you will notice as you enter the…read morepark is the Southern Hancock County Veterans Memorial, a memorial dedicated to the Veteran heroes that called Hancock County home. It is a well done and fitting tribute to those men and women. There is no problem parking at this park. It has a decent sized private parking lot. The park also has a basic dog park that is basically two large fenced in areas with some seating. To the best of my knowledge, the use of the dog park does not require a membership, which if true, is nice. The park is home to a decent paved trail. My only issue with it is that it is a down and back trail and not a circular one. It runs along the side of the park and is about 2 miles, round trip. There are a few benches along the trail for people to use and take a load off. The trail also has some fitness equipment along its path to use that has bee there for over 12 years. You will find a picnic shelter at this park, with picnic tables under it and a grill just outside of it. The shelter and picnic tables are a bit aged and could use a little TLC. It is available to be reserved through the county, if you are looking. The park's playground area is on a bed of old wood chips and has some older equipment that consists of a pebble bridge, a spiral slide, rocker bees, a rock climbing wall, a jungle gym with a spiral slide, canopies and bridges, a bank of traditional/toddler swings, a pyramid net climber, and a see-saw. They have benches along the area's perimeter for caregivers to sit and watch their little ones, while their little ones play. The playground equipment is serviceable, but you can tell that it has been since 2010. A 9-hole disc golf course was also installed at the park in 2010 as part of a Boy Scout project. There is no shortage of field or green space at this park. The park has a multi-use field with a bunch of soccer nets spread out on it. There is also a backstop on the field as well, that could be suitable for sports such as baseball, softball, or kick ball. The open field could be used for just about any field activity including football, soccer, field hockey, flying a kite, playing catch, or having a picnic. The park does not have a rest room facility. You will see a porta-potty by the dog park, just off of the parking lot though. Feel free to use that. Anyway, the park is relatively well maintained, but there was a little trash and junk around the shelter though. On a positive note, the grass was well groomed. Does it need a few updates and new equipment? Yes, but it works for now. It is a decent park to pass some time and hang out at, if you are in the area. I probalbly would not call it a destination park though.

One of the first things you notice at the entrance of the park is that there is a new installation…read moreof the Southern Hancock County Veterans Memorial going in. The memorial has flags and some nice monuments and a bunch of loosely laid bricks with veteran names on them. I hope that these bricks will be installed properly when the memorial is completed. The rest of the park has a dog park, a playground, something that looks like it might be a frisbee golf game (I honestly haven't seen anything like it), and space for sporting events. And poor drainage. So much so that even after two days since the rains cleared out, much of this former field had standing water. The playground was surrounded by water, so I can't see this being an ideal condition for most visitors. I guess if you want to use this park, you hope for a drought and then there is a lot you can do. I will give it a bonus star out of respect for the memorial, but the rest of the park needs some drainage and attention. Review #780

Don't blink or you just might miss this park. It is located between two commercial buildings that…read morelook like residences. It has somewhat of a parking area, but it has to be accessed from the back of the park. It is not a park that you would just travel to through. It is a place that you just come across as you are walking down the street, unless you are a weirdo like me. The park has a few benches around a cement slab. Along the sidewalk you will find two long information placards about the town of Cumberland. The placards are pretty weather though, but still able to be read for the most part. The park does not have much to offer when it comes to amenities other than some benches and no utility other than taking a rest while watching people and cars go by. For what its worth , the park is relatively clean and well kept. I do not see it getting many visitors though and the few that it does get, do not stay there for any extended period.

I've always been a fan of the concept behind a "pocket park." Essentially, a pocket park takes a…read moresmall sliver of land - essentially one lot or some irregular piece of land - and turns it into a small "mini-park." These parks very seldom have the full park amenities simply because there isn't room for them. Instead, a "pocket park" focuses on taking the unused and turning it into something beautiful and more restful than functional. Wayburn Pocket Park in Cumberland is just such a park, a small lot existing essentially between two residential areas. It could have easily stayed nothing, but Cumberland turned it into something. One of the reasons I think Wayburn is a notch above the usual pocket park is that it really stresses its history. Located on the south side of East Washington Street, Wayburn Pocket Park exists where Wayburn used to meet up with the Historic National Road. As expected, it's a small area with some benches, gardens and, for me the best part, interpretive signs about the history of the Historic National Road in this area. These aren't "casual" or cheaply made signs, but signs that really serve as almost monuments to the area and its history. They're simple, but they're done incredibly well and they help to turn this park into a great little place to stop if you're in the area. For Geocachers, I'll also note that there's a Geocache right around Wayburn Pocket Park (which is how I found it). While parking isn't super easy around here, there's multiple areas to park. You may have to cross a street, but it's not that difficult around here. Cumberland has been great about building decent curb cuts along their sidewalks - thus, this park is what I'd consider easily accessible. Because the residential areas are nearby, you feel fairly safe in the area with the possible exception that any truly meditative goal may be interrupted by inquiring neighbors.

This park has a lot of potential. It is not a very well visited park. I saw a few people come there…read morewhile I was there, but they did not stay long. It has a modest, but adequate parking lot for visitors to park. You will find a couple of very nice full basketball courts in the front of the park. The court is well paved and the rims can be raised and lowered. Even I could dunk on them. just behind the basketball courts, are two tennis courts. They are in pretty good shape too. The park is home to two shelters. They are in fair condition, but have a very limited amount of picnic tables under them. There are also grills just outside of the shelters. The park features a decent playground area that is on a bed of wood chips. The area has benches on its perimeter for caregivers to sit and watch their littles. The playgrounds equipment includes a bank of traditional/infant swings with a nest saucer swing, a small and medium jungle gym with slides, bridges, tunnels, and a sliding pole. a large pebble bridge setup with a climbing wall and Jacobs ladder, and a spinning net climber. The equipment is in pretty good shape. Other park amenities include a nice paved trail and a decent path of green space that is suitable for activities such a picnic, playing catch, flying a kite, a football or soccer game. The park is poorly maintained, or I caught it on a bad day. There was trash all over the place, trash cans were knocked over. On a positive note, the grass was cut. This is a nice park to visit, if you are in the area. They do not have any restrooms, but they have just about eveything else that I look for in a park. I would not label it a destination park, but still worthy of being a place that you spend some time.

First time visiting this with my 3 and 4 year olds. Super clean park. One broken slide but it's…read moreclosed off. It's in a quiet area and has a huge area to play or run in also. The basketball court seems good and kids were playing on it. My kids loves how different it is from other parks and how much things there were to climb and jump off of. Definitely a nice park and so close to where we live. The giant merry go round was also a huge hit.

What a fun experience! How have I driven by this place so many times along the highway and never…read morebeen? I have had it on my hit list for so long and was thrilled to attend their annual plant sale this past weekend. Note to self: it is hopping! It appears that the sale takes place over the course of several weekends. We ended up purchasing okra, tomatillos and a few fun purple tomato varieties. They had live music, Tinker coffee and chickens on hand to round out the experience ;) It was fun to see everyone so fired up for gardening and supporting the cause. I've made a note to attend their Farmraiser for the Parks Alliance in the fall. Keep up the amazing work for our community!

I've been making an effort to review more of my beloved Eastside's businesses, restaurants, and…read morecommunity organizations. As someone who has lived on the Eastside for around 12 years, I've always felt like it gets a pretty high level of disrespect and yet is filled with good people and good businesses. The area surrounding Indy Urban Acres is a weird mishmash of working class, lower income, residential programs, and more challenged areas economically and in terms of crime. It's honestly a perfect location for Urban Acres. It's fairly easy to drive by Urban Acres without completely noticing it. It's a collection of four organic farms dedicated to empowering and educating people by providing equitable access to free, high quality produce. The program has been around since 2011 and has provided farm-to-home workshops and tours to thousands of volunteers, groups, and teens. The staff are dedicated and the volunteers deeply involved in the program. The site itself is semi-accessible. The parking lot is mostly gravelly and, as you might expect from a garden, the majority of the area is ground. However, having been to Indy Urban Acres multiple times I have very little difficulty getting around in my wheelchair. Indy Urban Acres donates 100% of its produce to food pantries and directly to select low-income families. They also grow flowers, however, that they use to help raise funds for the program. You can get these flowers in bouquets at Kroger. You'll know them by the Indy Urban Acres logo and the hashtag #flowersthatfeed. Indy Urban Acres is a program under the umbrella of the Parks Alliance of Indianapolis, a non-profit organization. As a little known secret, there's even a geocache on site here. I'm not telling you where! This is a marvelous program that nicely utilizes what was a vacant lot near 21st and Shadeland while also addressing the food needs in the area and in broader Indy. It empowers youth and also educates adults and children in valuable ways. I can hardly ever drive by this place without stopping to just appreciate their efforts. It's a great project and a valuable asset for Indy's Eastside.

DuBarry Park is a 27-acre park that was acquired by Indy in 1967. It is located behind Tindley…read moreSummit Academy and has a playground, basketball and tennis courts, a football field, a pond, greenspace, and a fairly freshly updated playground. DuBarry's ponds are stocked with fish by Indiana DNR. There is a bathroom facility, though it's not always available. The park is located in a residential area and is utilized fairly well. When I worked for a youth mentoring agency, we would often meet some of our youths in this park. There's a decent shelter with picnic tables and a nicely done, short walking trail that I consider wheelchair friendly. DuBarry now has 3 pickleball courts, though there are no nets or backstops (there are posts for a net - which means if you have the net you could easily use it here). In 2024, a funding for a new splash pad was noted. DuBarry has seen sporadic issues with violence - most noteworthy a double killing of two teenagers in 2022 - Isaiah Jackson and Da'vonta White (ages 15, 14). While I think that's worth mentioning, I've never felt unsafe in the area and I have multiple friends who regularly visit and use the trail at this park without any concerns.

This park is a hidden gym. tucked away in a little neighborhood. There is a decent private parking…read morelot there. It was opened in 1967 and is a deceptive 27 acres. They have a small picnic shelter with some picnic tables under it. There is also a small bathroom facility that was locked when I was there. You will find 2 very nice full basketball courts. The rims are lower than regulation, which I am cool with and the court is nice and smooth. The park also has a huge field with uprights on both ends, so you can host football games, soccer games, play catch, work out, fly a kit or do other field activities. There are also a few other pockets of green space around the park to do activities as well. There is decent paved walkways around the park hat can be used for jogging or walking. The park also features a small lake. That was very popular with neighborhood fishermen. The park is somewhat well maintained but there is pockets of areas that are trashed. The parking lot had a lot of burned candles and disposed food containers. There is also an excessive amount of goose poop all over the park and especially under the covered shelter and on the paved walkway. There are 4 decent small tennis courts there and they would be very nice if they had nets. There are benches behind the courts and on the basketball court's baseline. The highlight of the park has to be its playground. It has two colorful large jungle gyms with slides and rock climbing walls. There is also a unity teeter tunnel see-saw, a bank of traditional swings, some little kid cars, a ski like thing, a mulitspinner carousel, a forest giraffe and stand & spin. The play area is lined with wood chips and the equipment is in good repair. This park has recently been in the news and has had its safety called into question. The candles in the parking lot, are from what I am assuming was the vigil held there. But that was 2 months ago. Anyway, I felt pretty safe while I was there, but I was not there long. This is a nice park. I think the issue that it had in March is an outlier. Outside of people fishing, I was the only one at the park. I had it all to myself. If you can get past the security issues, it is a nice park and definitely worth a visit.