Bear Creek Park is still in the beginning stages of development, as of this writing (September…read more2021). The parks department recently opened the park to visitors on Saturdays and Sundays, so people can explore the land and give input on what they'd like in the park. So my review is about the park in its infancy. I'll definitely be back when the park is done and do another review! This park is located in a neighborhood on the northwest side of Carmel, near Westfield. There are lots of native grasses and plants everywhere, and wide paths for hiking around the park. There are four trail loops right now, each a quarter mile or so. The hiking trails are short enough for even the most whiny, reluctant hikers (aka one of my children). Pretty much, the only thing to do at this park right now is walk around and look at all of the beautiful scenery. There is a single picnic bench by the port-a-potties, but other than that, it's just you and nature. And the park is not accessible to the public during the week days, only the weekends. But it's a beautiful patch of land, and I'm excited to see what Carmel Clay Parks & Rec does with the park.

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.

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!

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.

This is a very interesting park. It is a nature/sports park. It spans 66 acres and has a decent…read moreamount of parking available. The is a restroom facility, and port-a-potty available if you need it. You will find a huge patch of green space that have a couple of pair of uprights that could be used for a football or soccer field. There are a few small bleachers that overlook the field. There are also 4 multi-purpose fields with backstops that can be used for baseball, kickball, or softball. However, a permit is required to use any of the fields at the park and the Carmel Dad's Club gets first dibs, from what I gathered. There is also a playground at the park, that is inspired by the area's archeological background. That is where you will find a tree trunk chopping play set, a sand pit, a small fort built on a hill with a slide, ropes and rock climbing, and a small play gym inspired by the rattlesnake effigy. There is a very nice interactive display in a small building over in that area as well. You press a button and the displays inside the building come to life, somewhat, and a narrator provides some details and background. I have never seen anything like this at a park. It is educational and very nice. The park also features a few trails. There are natural trails, near the playground area that wind through the prairies and a large paved trail that goes around the parks fields. That trail is a fitness trail and has a few pieces of equipment, with instructions place along the circular route. The park is very well maintained, especially considering its size. because of the tons of green space, this park is popular among people who want their dogs to free roam and run around. I really like this park. Even though, I did not see any picnic shelters, it still has a lot to offer. I just won't picnic there. It is emaculate and very well maintained. I highly recommend checking this park out.

After a long week at work, I decided I would spend some time today inside area parks. I focused…read moremost of my time in Fishers and Carmel and tried to visit some parks that I've either never actually visited or never actually really experienced. One such park is River Road Park. It's a park I've driven by many times, but I've never actually stopped and enjoyed it. River Road Park is a 62 acre park. Right off the bat, River Road Park presents a bit more uniquely as most area parks because in learning the history of the park we end up going way, way back. In fact, we go back to 8,000 to 6,000 B.C. when the park area is noted as having been inhabited by what we call the Moffitt Village. It was home to the Early Archaic and Early and Late Woodland people and then later occupied by other prehistoric and historic Native Americans. Woodland people were characterized by ceramics, food production and mound building. Hunting became less main stream and the use of plants for food became more popular. The park has really been developed as a way of acknowledging this history. Moving toward modern times, the park was purchased from Kosene & Kosene in 1992. The River Trail was constructed in 1998 as a joint project between Carmel Clay Parks and Hamilton County Parks. The park's ancient history is captured in an award-winning interpretive exhibit created in 2002 along with a complementary historic play area. The exhibit really covers pre-historic Native American culture from about 700 years ago. Today, the park includes paved trails, prairies, a White River overlook, wetlands, soccer and softball fields, and lots of green spaces. River Road also has one of Central Indiana's most unique playgrounds. The playground is equipped with slides and a handicap accessible sandbox with artifacts and rock climbing structures. River Road also features an interpretive building designed to educate visitors about Native American life hundreds of years ago and the historical significance of the local area. They are in the process of adding a canoe launch (signage is already up). There's a bike trail, nature trails, and the park does have public restrooms. While the park is certainly not one of Hamilton County's fanciest parks, River Road Park is unique in that it combines education and play quite beautifully. It also allows for children with disabilities to join in for some of the fun (not every feature of the playground is disability friendly). Being close to the river, the trails here do have some gentle inclines/declines, but they are for the most part quite manageable. There's also plenty of parking here, though a nice job has been done in balancing convenience with maintaining a certain rustic quality within the park's grounds. If you haven't been here, it's certainly worth your time. While smaller children may not stay busy for long, children who can really embrace the educational aspects of the park will have much to appreciate.

Who knew these trails were tucked behind the Riverside schools? Judging by the fact we were the…read moreonly people there, apparently no one. But there are in fact several trails on the property with a variety of settings: woods and hills, flat open prairie, and canopied trees. Nice to get some nature in on a nice day where there aren't a ton of people -- or in this case, any.

Tucked behind Riverside Intermediate and Riverside Junior High School is a little trail, next to…read morethe school tennis courts, that opens up into a larger park that Fishers recently established. The two baseball fields might need a little work to meet the standards our kids are used to, but it's ready for play! Get your hiking shoes on and come on out. There are also adjacent trails around the perimeter that are available for hiking.

This park is what it is. It has tons of parking available in a few different set at lots. To get…read moreto the park, you take a sort drive through a wooded area. At he front of the park you will find three shelters with picnic tabes under them and grills just out side of them. The entrance to the park ends at the Monon Community Center and the Waterpark. The park's bread and butter by far is its trails. It has mile and miles of trails that are interconnected, some paved, some gravel and some dirt. Some through the woods and in the open. There is a storybook trail near the front of the park by the shelters. The trails are awesome with a capital A. They are well maintained and go for miles. You can walk, bike or run them if you so chooses and if you don't have a bike, don't worry. They have a kiosk that you can rent bikes. near the walkway leading to the water park. There is also a restroom there. You will find another restroom structure at the front of the park by the shelter area. The park itself has 3 miles of trails that wind through a variety of ecosystems including native prairies, wetlands, and woodlands. Its trails also connect to the Monon Greenway (it runs through the center of it, and has pretty much adopted it), which gives you more room to roam. Additionally, this park is connected to one of the most futuristic and best all around playgrounds that I have been to. If that was not enough. it has a community center and waterpark located on its grounds pretty much. RIght behind the playground area is a very peaceful lagoon and a boardwalk. It is very nice and I really enjoyed walking it. It has ducks and fish and I found it very tranquil. If you are planning on bike riding, walking, walking the dog and running (why would you want to do that :-)), this is the park for you, even if you have to drive a bit. This park is beautiful year-round, but I find it especially beautiful this time of year, the fall. When the leaves are changing colors and the weather is nice.

2020 has certainly been a year of new park discoveries. This past weekend, my husband and I…read morecelebrated our anniversary by checking out two new parks and grabbing a snow cone. It's the simple pleasures, right? I had visited the Monon Community Center and Waterpark several times before but never the Central Park East Woods that you pass as you enter the overall park. Central Park East Woods features a handful of trails, picnic areas, bathrooms, a community bookshelf and fun themed trails like the Paw Paw Path. I'm always a sucker for boardwalk paths too (what is about the look of boardwalk paths that always gets me to show up?). You'll find this park on the left hand side noted as "picnic area" as you enter the long winding drive for the Monon Center. Everything is within walking distance of one another.

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!

Morse Park and Beach is a lovely park with lots of amenities on Morse Lake. The park is quite large…read morewith beach front, trees and green areas. The grounds are well manicured. My granddaughters loved the upscale playground with lots of climbing structures. The swings are suitable for all ages. Various merry-go-rounds were favorites. There are many nice benches, picnic tables and grills throughout the park. Accessible walkways meander through the park and across the water front. Fishermen were taking advantage of the early morning fishing along the waterfront. There are a number of places to dock your boat or launch your kayak within the park. There are a number of picnic pavilions along with the Osprey Pavilion. The Osprey Pavilion is an air conditioned building that can be reserved for holding meetings or events. There is a deck that overlooks the lake from the building. The deck needs some work. There is a beach that charges $6 per person (under 1 are free) to enter and play/swim in the lake. We had planned on letting the kid's swim, however they do not open if the air temperature is below 70 degrees and it was 68 degrees. The enclosed beach area and fence looks like it needs some updating and care. There are public restrooms that were nice except that there was no soap during our visit. There is a lot of green space to play ball sports and there is also a frisbee course and volleyball court at the park. There is no charge to enter the park (just the beach area). There is plenty of parking in several lots including accessible parking. I'm guessing that the park is crowded on weekends.

Me and my family come at least once a year for a trip with WRCC. We almost always do individual…read morekayaks as they are easier to handle. The buses and kayaks have always been clean and in good shape. The path is clear and we understand where we are able to stop and where the route ends. At the end the employees (usually young boys in HS) are helpful in pulling you onto shore or helping you up out of the kayak.

My family and I have used this company for tubing before and really appreciate that they don't make…read moreyou take the tubes up their stairs when your trip is over. This time as per usual we were told at drop off that at the end we could leave the tubes and just take our life jacket and ties up the long flight of stairs. Unfortunately when we got to the landing, Diego did not get up to help with the tubes and when I asked him if he was going to take the the tubes up as that is what I was told was going to happen, his reply was "oh, well, what did they say" and he didn't move an inch from lounging in his tube and when I pushed back, he kept saying "no, no, they don't take tubes up the stairs"...so this middle aged lady had to haul a tube up the stairs along with everything else. Not Cool

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!