University Park is a small, classic downtown space that's easy to enjoy on a quick walk-through of…read morefor a longer sit. The central Depew Memorial Fountain is the star of the whole place. The bronze figures and tiered design give it a log of personality, and it adds a steady bit of motion and sound right in the center of the park. The seated Lincoln sculpture is another highlight. Relaxed, thoughtful pose by Henry Hering from 1930, very different from the big formal Lincoln Memorial in Washington. Between the fountain, the monuments, and the shaded paths as well as the general good vibe of the folks here, it feels like a tiny outdoor museum tucked into the city. [Review 1027 of 2026 - 233 in Indiana - 26206 overall]

University Park falls within the Indiana World War Memorial Plaza Historic District. The park was…read moreestablished way back in 1876, though its land was actually set aside in 1821 with the plan that it would become the state university. Instead, it has housed a seminary, churches, and even Indy's first high school. Union troops used it for drilling practice during the Civil War. It was just after the Civil War that a fundraising effort was developed - 10 years later, the park was born. If you live in Indy and spend anytime downtown, you've likely driven by it and even taken it for granted. It feels like an underappreciated park, though lots of organizations do use it for special events. The five-level Depew Fountain is likely the most noteworthy feature. Each tier is decorated uniquely - a bronze fish, children playing, frogs, and even a woman in a toga. Other sculptures/memorials in the park include one of Benjamin Harrison (Indiana's only president), one of Abraham Lincoln, one of Schuyler Colfax (a vice-president under Ulysses S. Grant), and others. The landscaping is nicely done and well-maintained with trees, flower beds, and benches/tables to be utilized. The fountain also has areas for sitting. The park has metered street parking and garages nearby. As others have noted, it is frequently used by Indy residents without housing. It's a more popular park during the day as lighting isn't the greatest, however, I'd still say this is definitely one of Indy's little gems and an important part of the World War Memorial Plaza. In terms of accessibility, it's possible to get disability parking around the park. The sidewalks all have curb cuts and I can easily get to any of the park's statues/memorials or other features. Unless there's a special event, there's nothing here to "do." It is within walking distance of the war memorial and other downtown features and 3-4 blocks from Monument Circle.

The Overly-Wormsn Park is a hidden gem in Zionsville. The park is a fabulous tribute to the Worman…read morefamily. The Worman's were civic minded contributors to the town and schools of Zionsville back when my kids were in school. It is meaningful that their farm was converted for park use. The park has a number of unique features. Most notable are the bike trails including mountain bike trails. The trails run from easy paved to challenging rock covered. Trails are well marked. A nice playground was built with climbing structures, slides, swings and more. Soft matting is under the structures in case the kids fall. Benches and covered pavilions with picnic tables are nearby so parents and kids can be shaded. I saw a bbq by one of the pavilions. A trail south features a disc "golf" course that winds through trees and other obstacles. The trails run is lovely to follow with mature trees and occasional wild flowers. North of the playground is a picturesque fishing pond. Decks overlook the pond. Fishing is catch and release only. The park borders the Big 4 Rail Trail to the northeast. The trails are suitable for walking, running or biking. We found parking near the playground with accessible space nearby. Bike parking was also available. Restroom facilities appeared to be limited to portable potties. I saw a water fountain near the playground. It took me about an hour to walk the entire paved trail and take photos. I recommend bringing water, bug spray and sunscreen. Worth a visit, especially for people that like to mountain bike.

Cute little park by our house. My boys love stopping while they're walking on the trails. Equipment…read moreis pretty basic but enough to keep them busy for a bit (when they're not satisfied simply playing with the water fountain). Park is safe and clean and the equipment is great for their ages (3 &5).

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 remote and isolated if you're looking for a quiet place to explore. I was…read morepleasantly surprised by the colorful and fun children's climbing structure on the playground. A circular trail leads from the parking lot through thick forest. The trail is wide but natural/unpaved. I found the trail muddy in spots. The Westfield Parks and Recreation people are actively managing invasive species in the Park. The Park includes 30 acres, mostly wooded that backs up to Eagle Creek. The land was donated to Westfield by a developer who bought the property from his friend, Raymond Worth. I like to learn about the people and the full story is on the Westfield Parks website. The park is a good place to walk a dog or ride a horse. There are no restroom facilities or water fountains. I saw plenty of parking. Wear bug repellent and bring water.

A great place for a nice leisurely walk. A lot of foliage, alongside a creek, a loop trail, and…read morequiet on a weekend afternoon. It connects to Lion's park.

If you want to get up close to nature and the sycamore trees and not travel too far from home then…read moreCreekside Park is the place to be. This little Zionsville park is located in a former floodplain. Nice trails throughout the park and along the creek now bring you so close to nature that you instantly relax. The park is an excellent place to watch birds or look for native wildflowers. Today we saw a Canadian goose sitting on her nest. There were many people out walking their dogs today. The park offers cleanup bags for your pooch at the entrance. The park also connects to Lions Park through a bridge that goes beneath the highway. There are three picnic tables in the park. The park offers limited parking with only five spaces and one handicap space. The park is totally accessible with nice wide smooth trails.

I've been spending a lot of time on Indy's westside and particularly in Speedway, Avon, Danville,…read moreand Coatesville. One day, I decided to venture around Speedway a bit as it's an area I grew up close to and I was feeling nostalgic. Meadowood Park is a 13-acre park on Speedway's north side. It's adjacent to Wheeler Elementary. It offers a densely wooded area along with a .75 mile walking trail, baseball/softball diamonds, sand volleyball courts, 3 shelter pavilions (all can be rented) - $75 for residents and $150 for non-residents, Ziegelmueller Pavilion, (can be rented), 2 playground spaces, and an interactive climbing rock area. There's a public restroom, though it's only open April-October. The playground, newly updated in 2010, targets ages 2-12. This is a safer residential area. I always kind of laugh because in a town known for the Indy 500, speed limits tend to be either 25 mph or 30 mph across town. However, that definitely helps keep things safe. The pavilion, or gazebo, has power outlets and can be rented - $100 for residents and $175 for non-residents. Tables are not included. A good number of local concerts are hosted here. Speedway tends to take care of its town. It's an important town since it hosts the Indy 500 and they take that seriously. This is an attractive and well-kept park and a great place where parents can allow children to play while keeping an easy eye on them. The ground of the playground is nicely padded and the park feels welcoming and safe. While I wouldn't consider this a destination park, it's a wonderful neighborhood park and one I'd easily visit when in this area and need a break.

In the shadow of the Speedway water tower sits a lovely little community park that is filled with…read moremajestic trees. The park offers several climbing structures and swings for young visitors to play and a soft matting so they are safe. Parents can sit on benches that surround the playgrounds and watch their kids. The park offers nicely paved pathways making it easy to push strollers or wheel chairs. There is a picnic pavilion and a lovely gazebo on the park grounds. The grounds are nicely maintained and manicured. There is a lot of natural shade from the large trees. It's a great place to read a book or walk the dog. There is a parking lot that holds about 20 cars or people park in the school lot that is adjacent to the park.

This is Mooresville's main public park and home to many sporting fields, athletic facilities and…read moreactivities. There are a multitude of hiking and walking paths; some paved others more rustic trails. There is a large public pool and splash pad, with restrooms, showers and changing facilities. The pool area has a large multi story water slide as well as two smaller straight slides for younger children. Next door to the pool is a Zip line with a chair for two people to ride together for only five dollars. It is only open during the warmer seasons. There are seven shelters of various sizes and well as playground equipment near some of them. There are two full size basketball courts or four half courts depending on how you visualize them. There are four complete and fenced in baseball diamonds each equipped with full size backstops to protect spectators and they are well maintained. There are at least five, probably more, soccer fields with goals for community practicing and leagues. Shelter No. 1 is located just to the right of the main entrance and has a permanent volleyball net plus horseshoe pits and some swings. The basketball courts are nearest this shelter and a short walk. Shelter No. 2 is the largest with a large parking lot and is located just to the left of the main entrance. It features the largest and main playground. Shelter No. 4 is on the other side of this huge playground and is located very near the equipment. Shelter No. 3 is also located towards the front of the park, but smaller and has a small single piece of playground equipment with a slide next to the shelter. Shelter No. 6 has its own playground equipment but is within a short walk to the main playground visible across an internal road. There is parking for a half dozen vehicles. Shelter No. 5 looks like a gazebo and is the smallest of the seven but a bit more secluded from all the shelters towards the front of the park. There is parking here for a half dozen vehicles. Shelter No. 7 is double the size of an ordinary shelter and located in the back next to the soccer fields. You can see the wooden bridge leading to the rustic hiking trails in the woods. There are permanent restroom facilities located adjacent to this shelter. There is plenty of marked parking spaces here along the road as well as a small parking lot in front of the wooden bridge. If you like to walk or hike, I recommend parking in the lot by the bridge in the back and starting from there. There is also another open soccer field beyond the trails I have used for kite flying.

I have been to this park a few times and it is a mega-park. It is massive, spanning 150 acres. I…read morelove this park It has everything you could want in a park. There is tons of parking available here spread out between a few different lots depending on what area of the park you are visiting. In the front of the park you will find a 4 shelters that are spaced out. Each shelter has picnic tables under them and grills next to them. The largest of the shelters is by the biggest of the parks playgrounds that has nice equipment that includes a huge jungle gym with slides, animals to climb on, and swings. The ground is lined with rubber matting. Also in the front of the park, you will find two decent full basketballs court that are in good repair. Of in the distance, in the corner close to the main road, you will find three horseshoe pits. The pits are not the best, but will do. You will find a gazebo off by itself and a restroom facility up there in the front of the park too. a little deeper into the park, is another playground area by one of the 4 shelters. It consists of a traditional bank os swings and a jungle gym with climbing equipment and slides. You can take the road further to the back and you will pass a gazebo with seating, picnic tables, and a small shelter on your way to the soccer fields. This is a huge green space that has some small bleacher seating and in addition to soccer can be used for other stuff like playing catch, football or frisbees. Back there you will find another shelter with picnic tables under it and grills nearby and a restroom facility. A little further past that you will find a picturesque bridge. If you cross the bridge, it will lead you to another area of muliti-use soccer fields. The bread and butter of this park is its trails. It has miles of very nice paved trails that go all through the park. There is also a storybook trail and a fitness trail that is just to the side of the bridge. The parks has some very nice trails and are very peaceful as well. I love walking the trails and have done a couple of 5K races there. The park has about 4 baseball fields that are decent. They could use some maintenance though. It is primary used by the Mooresville Baseball League. They have a batting cage, and a snack bar over there as well. There is a zip-line in the park somewhere, but it was closed for the season when I was there. The waterpark look decent, but was also closed. In front of the waterpark and right by the park's maintenance office is another small playground area with a medium jungle gym with slides and another shelter with picnic tables under it. This is a first class park that has everything including horse shoes, shelters that you can rent, green space for days, trails for miles, a water park, zip line, multiple playgrounds, a fitness trail, gazebos, and tons of parking. It is well maintained and very clean. This is one of the best parks in the area and it has something for everyone. I highly recommend this park.

I've lived in Indianapolis my entire life with the weird exception of a few hours spent being born…read morein a Lebanon, Indiana hospital. While Lebanon is my birthplace, Indy is my home. Yet, I have to admit that I've not always ventured out and explored my Indianapolis home as much as I should have and as much as I'd have liked. Lately, I've been trying to really change this and explore Indy. I've been driving down streets I've never been down. I've been looking at neighborhoods. I've been going to museums and I've been checking out Indy's more unique spots. One such spot entered my review yesterday as I joined friends for dinner at the nearby The Iron Skillet. I nearly always arrive early places - partly because I get a little disoriented at times and am afraid I'll get lost and partly because of the unpredictability with my body. The good part of this is that it often affords me the chance to explore. While I won't say this part of town was foreign to me since I grew up in Pike Township, it had been years since I'd really explored it I really enjoyed myself. In fact, I'd never been to this site - the Wilbur Shaw Soap Box Derby Hill. I fell in love with it the minute I saw it. It's May and I love racing anyway. There's something awesome about soap box derby and there's something way awesome about this site. The Wilbur Shaw Soap Box Derby Hill is the longest track in the country at a full-on 1000 feet. It was built in 1953 and has a laser timer, digital weighing system, new scorer's bridge, and a pit area. USA Today has recognized the track as one of the top Soap Box Derby facilities in the country. All racing here is sanctioned either by All-American Soap Box Derby or National Derby Rallies and there is an actual Indianapolis Soap Box Derby Association. While I'd thought I might just check out the place yesterday, they were actually racing. It was honestly thrilling and I loved watching the kids race in the cars. It was one of those times in life when you tap into the innocence and wonder of childhood and I absolutely loved it. I'd have been thrilled if my fun evening had stopped right there. The track is named after Wilbur Shaw, an Indy 500 veteran who also served as IMS president from 1945-54 when he passed away. He was also the automotive test evaluator for Popular Science magazine. Shaw was a Hoosier who was born in Shelbyville in 1902. He won the Indy 500 3 times - the 2nd driver to do so and the first to do so in consecutive years (1939, 1940). In many ways, he was responsible for saving the track shortly after World War II when it was nearly closed to make way for post-war housing. It was Shaw who drew in Tony Hulman to ultimately buy the track and rejuvenate it! This is a magnificent place to visit. It's actually under the umbrella of Indy Parks and if you've never watched Soap Box Derby I highly recommend it.

Wilbur Shaw is the namesake of the longest soap box derby track…read more in the country at 1000 ft. He was born in Shelbyville, Indiana on October 31, 1902 and took an early interest in cars and racing. By 1919, Shaw decided to build race cars for a living, and vowed he would win the Indianapolis 500 someday. He drove in his first Indianapolis 500 in 1927 at the age of 24 and came in fourth. Not one to give up, Shaw won the Indianapolis 500 race three times--in 1937, 1939 and 1940.He was the second person to win the 500 three times and the first to win it twice in a row. During WW2, the INDY Speedway was padlocked and the property dilapidated and became a weed-strewn eyesore. After the war ended, Shaw found a wealthy businessman to bankroll a restoration of the Speedway. Soon, the Speedway was hosting exciting racing events and bringing in enormous crowds, due to the hard work of Wilbur Shaw and financial backing of Indiana businessman Tony Hulman. These two men managed to bring the Indy Speedway back to life after the dark war years and restored the luster of the 500 as the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing." This special Hill, which I visited on the Circle City Tour, was dedicated to Wilbur Shaw as a Memorial Soap Box Derby Hill, and is located at 30th Street and Cold Springs Road in Indianapolis, IN. The Wilbur Shaw Memorial Soap Box Derby Hill is a public park managed through Indy Parks. Yes, soap box derbies are something seen in Little Rascals movies but it is a fun, wholesome family activity. The Derby races are held here-at the longest derby track in the country-- starting in early summer and it is a big deal here in this mid-western Speedway town. And what a wonderful way to honor Speedway savior and race car aficionado Wilbur Shaw for all his many accomplishments. 5 YELP STARS.

This trailhead is located in the small town of Amo. There is a decent sized free parking lot…read moreavailable to park. The Vandalia Trail is s short 17 mile trail that runs through Hendricks County. It is part of Indiana's National Road Heritage Trail, a 150-mile continuous system of trails. The trail is in great shape, easily accesible and well paved. You have the main trail, which is for cyclist, runners, walker and joggers and another trail that runs parallel to the main trail for horses. The horse trail is much shorter though and runs only 3 miles This trail head has benches available to sit and restroom facility to use. There is a share-a-book kiosk, and dog clean-up bad dispensers there as well. I like this trailhead. It is not very visited, even though they have regular events such as a weekly organized bicycle ride. There was only one other person on the trail, at least that I saw, during my Saturday afternoon visit.