This park has a little better than average number of amenities, but having a playground lower than…read morelawn level makes me wonder if there are puddles around all the equipment after it rains. (I didn't see any drains built in.) The park is located to the west of downtown. The easiest way I found to get here was to drive along Washington Street and continue three streets further on Washington beyond where White River Parkway angles north. When I got to Koehne St, I turned north until I reached the intersection for Ohio St. I took a left and headed to the end of the street with the park on the left (south) side of the street. Residents park across from the park on the north side, so I turned around at the dead end and was able to park along the park property. The equipment for the park seemed in good condition. There was a large climbing and sliding piece centered in the playground. There were some retro pieces that gave a unique feel to the park. There is also a shelter with picnic tables, a permanent restroom building (open seasonally), and a basketball court on the west end of the park for older kids. I did not see a grill for use at the shelter and the trash bins had been knocked over leaving the place in need of attention. Hopefully, once spring arrives, the place will be in better shape than on my visit. Review #525

At first glance, Lt. Graham Edward Martin Park seems like a relatively small park. As you drive in,…read morehowever, you begin to realize just how big it is (65 acres) and you can't help but notice that major improvements are in process. The park was established in 1979 and named after one of the first African-American offices in the U.S. Navy. After the Navy, he went on to coach varsity football and baseball from 1947-1982 at Crispus Attucks High School. Prior to its current life, it was known as 16th & Fall Creek Park. The park is definitely experiencing significant upgrades right now. The downside to that is that it looks pretty darn awful right now. It has shelters, basketball courts, softball diamonds, tennis courts, and playground equipment. It has a lot of green space. There are significant playground upgrades coming, and the plan on file includes paved, walkable pathways. When I was at the park today, there were a couple IU Health vehicles. Others would join in. It kind of seems like a weird location for a park as it's just west of the Methodist Hospital and it's mostly an industrial area. However, I drove to the back of the park and noticed a pretty decent residential area not far away. If upgrades weren't in the works, this would easily be a 2-star park. Here's hoping the upgrades make a big difference for this promising but seemingly neglected space. In terms of accessibility - there's not much here. Everything right now is pretty faded and worn. There aren't really workable paths, so a wheelchair user would struggle here. Again, however, the upgrades will help and will offer some improved accessibility. I did not see any public restrooms here, however, I didn't wander a whole lot.

The park was originally known as Fall Creek Park. It is over 100 years old and was renamed 10 years…read moreago to Lt. Grade Graham Edward Martin Park after one of the first African Americans who became officers in the United States Navy.  This seems to be the park that time forgot. The park is surprisingly big, covering about 67 acres, and has covered pavilions, basketball courts, playgrounds and lots of grassy field area. There is a fair sized parking lot near the basketball courts and a gravel area to park near the playground. There is also free street parking available. The tennis courts need some severe TLC and are barely playable. The fields are not very well kept either and are in need of some grooming. The park has a full and a half basketball court. They are very nice. They are the best thing about the park. There are benches on the side of the court that you can sit and watch games. The playground is accessible and is a bit worn. There is a swing set, and a decent sized jungle gym. There is also a very metal merry go round there as well. There are two covered pavilions with picnic tables under them at the park. However, grills were noticeably missing. This park is in desperate need of help and really needs some maintenance, grooming, and upgrades. There was no one there while I was there, except for someone playing in the field with their dog. This park has so much potential, but I it is now, I would probably not visit here if I did not live in the adjacent neighborhood.

MLK Park is undergoing a major upscale renovation. I stopped by last week to monitor the progress…read more The park is home to a fabulous sculpture depicting Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King reaching out to each other. The sculpture sits on the ground where Kennedy delivered a moving speech on April 4, 1968, after the assignation of MLK. A nearby historical marker describes the importance of the speech. Many visionaries contributed to the Park and Memorial conception, including the Simons Brothers, The Pacers, politicians and artists. The sculpture was designed by Indiana artist, Greg Perry and cast by Daniel Edwards. I find the sculpture exceptional and moving. A modern Memorial Center is under construction just north of the Statue. The Center will house Park staff and exhibits about MLK and civil rights. An MLK quote is inscribed on the Center wall "Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that," Several contractors were working during my visit and the Center is behind closed fences during construction. It is hard to say when the Center will open, but I would guess Spring of 2026. A modern and colorful playground is also on the park grounds with climbing structures, swings and more. The made of the playground is soft matting material to improve safety. A swimming pool and basketball courts are also contained on the park grounds. Lots of green space is maintained on the park grounds. Landscaping efforts are in progress between the statue and Center with new walkways and signage. There is free street parking surrounding the park. Park use is free (not sure about pool use though). Several interesting murals of MLK surround the park. I look forward to visiting with my granddaughters when the Center opens. This is a moving Memorial and fabulous resource for the city.

I started my 2021 Martin Luther King Jr. holiday with a visit to Indy's Martin Luther King Memorial…read morePark, a park that marks the spot where Indy residents had gathered to hear Robert F. Kennedy make a campaign speech but instead were informed that Martin Luther King had been assassinated. Kennedy's speech has long been acclaimed and credited as a key factor as to why Indy remained peaceful in the hours and days after King's assassination while other large cities nationwide experienced riots. The park is home to the Landmark for Peace Memorial, a tribute to both King and Kennedy that was funded by the Indiana Pacers Foundation with a design concept by Indianapolis writer Greg R. Perry and sculpting cast by Indianapolis sculptor Daniel Edwards. The memorial is in my estimation one of Indy's finest examples of both memorial and public art, a meaningful gathering space in a 14-acre park that also, as it did for me this morning, serves as a place for reflection and gratitude. There is such tremendous power in walking, or in my case wheeling, between these figures of Kennedy and King outstretched toward one another sitting on nearly the exact spot where their lives became so irrevocably intertwined in Indiana history. This park is part of Indy Parks. The park itself does also have a pool, though it has been closed during 2020 due to the pandemic. I think the weaving together of practical and aspirational help to make this such an extraordinary park and one of the true gems of Indy Parks. There are, of course, other places you can visit in Indy in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, including my own alma mater Martin University (which was actually named after both King and St. Martin de Porres). However, a visit to this park and the Landmark for Peace Memorial is essential and I'm glad I was able to start my day here.

The secret is out: Eskenazi Sky Farm is the perfect spot for a stunning skyline view of Indy…read more How to get there: Drive to Eskenazi Health, park in the parking garage, ride the green elevator up to floor 7, turn to the right, and BOOM. You're on the roof. Not just a roof, but a roof covered in plants that the hospital actually uses (very cool). There are benches up there that you can sit on and you can even bring food up there to enjoy. Why not?! It's free for the best view in Indy.

Such a precious hidden gem!…read more My bosses made me aware of the sky farm earlier this week. We brought lunch from Duos to the farm in the sky. There are so many little plants growing on the farm. Rachel is the director of the farm and she was able to show us some plants and explain what the space is used for. She let us know that people undergoing treatment are able to take the veggies grown to their own homes. The dietician staff helps to show those checked into the hospital healthy ways to prepare the food picked from Sky Farm. So grateful that I was able to enjoy this hidden gem! Check it out for sure!

This park is......YAWWWWWNNNNN!!!!. This park seems to be a low priority for Indy Parks. It only…read morehas a play area and basketball court and spans about 2 acres. There is a lot of street parking available, but not too many people would be traveling to this park. This is more of a local neighborhood type place. It is not very well maintained, has old equipment and trash all over the place. The trash can there was over flowing. The playground area is lined with old wood chips and has a set of traditional/toddler swings, a jungle gym with some slides and a tunnel, and a see-saw. There are a few benches on the outside of the area that parents can sit and watch their little ones play. The park also has a full basketball court that has seen much better days. The court has some enormous cracks and is uneven in some spots. This is a park that you would probably want to skip, unless you live within walking distance and have no other options. The city either needs to put some money into it or let it go. It seems like they already chose the latter though.

This park has a really nice basketball court for day play as well as plenty of shade and a…read moreplayground. Like many of the smaller city parks, parking is dependent upon street availability. Here, you can only park facing south, so if you come to the park from Washington Street, you will need to turn around somewhere to find a space. The park is located on the north side of Washington Street about half way between White River Parkway and Belmont Street. The basketball court looks like it has had a recent makeover and appeared to be in great condition. The playground had the standard climbing, sliding, and swinging features. The actual park is rather small and doesn't offer restrooms, running water, a grill or shelter. So, if you come here, be prepared. Review #526

During a recent visit to the Haughville area, I stopped by this six-acre park located on Indy's…read morenear westside. This park has existed since 1922 and gets period upgrades. Currently, it's got a splash pad, playground, shelters, and basketball courts. This is the definition of one of Indy's more residential parks. You'd never drive out of your way to visit Haughville Park, however, it's settled well within this neighborhood and serves the neighborhood well. There's an obvious section great for play, however, there's also a nice section where adults can relax with mature trees. There's also a restroom facility that is fairly well maintained. While the park has seen some issues with crime, it's near a police station and this does help amplify the safety factor. All the way back to Mayor Hudnut, plans have existed to really upgrade the park. Generally, it seems to be a popular space for neighborhood groups to help out. You can also see the work of Lilly employees in upgrading the park (including the photo with a mural I included with this review). This is your usual "dawn to dusk" park. Police at least try to enforce that pretty consistently. Overall, this is your fairly average neighborhood park. Parking is decent and it's well situated in the neighborhood. There's zero reason to go out of the way to visit here, however, for those who live in the area it's a solid if unremarkable neighborhood park. While i often wonder about the name origins for Indy's parks, in this case it's super obvious as Haughville has existed as a neighborhood since the 1830s with parts of the neighborhood on the National Register of Historic Places.

This park has many cool things to do. From the moment you pull into their paved parking lot off…read moreMichigan Street, you can see a lot of colorful options for the kids. A couple nice basketball courts are on the west side of the park near the police station. Just north of the lot is a splash park and permanent restroom facility. Farther into the park are shaded and lawn areas, a nice sized playground area, and the for north end has some mature trees for those who would like a little more peace and quiet. Review #656

I've been going to this gym for a few years now so I can say I have a pretty good ethos for my…read morereview and as to why I appreciate this gym. I am only a basic member, so I can't vouch for the extra features like the pool and the sauna and the other classes. I go mainly for the weightlifting equipment and the open spaces. I like how there are two fitness greens in the gym which both offer plenty of room to exercise. The variety of weightlifting equipment is also pretty good, with a lot of different machines and cable stacks. The free weights are also pretty well stocked. My favorite area is the Olympic weightlifting area, which has four platforms and six squat racks which also have platforms. This area has a lot of mirrors so it's easy to keep your form in check. I have never used any of the class spaces but they all look really well kept from what I can see. They even recently updated one of their studios for weightlifting classes! I've been going there so you know I'll be back again!

Ok.. I realize this gym is VERY busy, but it sad to see rules aren't enforced and how far downhill…read moreit's gone over the years.. Everytime I go, there are guys working out without shirts, shoes and lugging/grunting excessively making it a bit uncomfortable to get my reps in. People are rude and inconsiderate, but the issue I mainly have with this gym is the state of the men's locker room. The showers look like they have never been cleaned as a thick layer of black dust is caked on in all areas. The water smells like sewage, soap is constantly out, paper towels scattered across the floor, but at least sometimes that soaks up the urine! The bathrooms are FILTHY. Toilets don't all have seats and there have been literal feces and urine in puddles all over the floor. Because of this, I'll do whatever I can to avoid using the bathroom and I refuse to shower here anymore. I want to love this gym, because it's got a lot of recovery options!! But the bathrooms haven't gotten any better and it's been months.

I just signed up for a YMCA membership and enjoyed checking out this location close to work. They…read morehave clean women, men, and family locker rooms. A spacious program pool, lap pool, sauna, and hot tub. A massive fitness area with treadmills, Ellipticals, stair climbers, weights and more. A indoor track for walking and running. Three full size basketball courts used for programs such as pickleball & more.

I LOVE THIS PLACE. Clean, plenty of equipment, diverse group of patrons, so many options for…read moreworking out, great parking, conveniently located. Thank you, Irsay Y for being such a hospital and welcoming place downtown.

I am starting to see a trend with Indy Parks. They build parks by elementary schools so that they…read morecan use them, I guess. This is another city park that has been commandeered by an elementary school, in this case Stout Field Elementary School. The playground was packed with students from the school while I was there. I think it was actually worked into their schedule. Anyway, the park is relatively small and has a small parking lot. The park is about 14 acres. There is also a half decent full basketball court at the park. I have seen better and I have seen worse. The park has a small restroom facility as well. There is a huge green space with a picnic table on it there. The green space/open field can be used to play catch, soccer, football, throw a frisbee, or other outdoor activities. There is also a single shelter with picnic tables under it. The best part of the park however, is its nice paved walking trail and playground. The trail is a decent size. The park does has what appears to be a very nice splash pad. It is small but has a lot of colorful parts and things that shoot water. However, I visited the park off season and the pad was already shut down. The playground has a couple of saucer swings, a futuristic merry go round, a set of traditional swings, and an awesome jungle gym with ladders, slides, rock climbing walls, and monkey bars. It is very nice. There is a small jungle gym for the smaller kids that is shaped like a truck and has a cargo net and a couple of slides. You will find benches that parents can sit and watch while their kids play in this area. The playground is lined with wood chips and as an added bonus they have a musical instrument piece of equipment with blue congos, shakes and other instruments There is also an electronic game (NEOS) that kids can play that has them running around chasing lights. It is programmed with 8 different game modes. The park has some gym equipment by the playground area. There are a few pieces, not much, like an elliptical, chest press, and a lat pull. It is a decent park, especially when the neighboring school is out. It is well maintained and the grounds are well kept. The littles really enjoyed it. It is very accessible an open.

This park has a lot of fun equipment for the kids. My children thoroughly enjoyed the trip…read more However, I picked up tons of trash upon arrival - nasty used masks, water bottles, ink pens, soda cans. Yuck. That was a little disappointing to see. I'd recommend showing up with rubber gloves and a trash bag if you don't like you're kids playing around a lot of trash. The restrooms were locked. That's disappointing since it's well after May 1 when they should be open. Also, note the park is located next door to a public school, so it's constantly inundated with classes at recess. My kids love that, but it's worth noting if you're looking for a quiet spot to play. We will go back, but when schools aren't in session, and prepared to pick up trash in a sanitary fashion prior to playing.

The Denver Park has a fair number of amenities. There is a shelter with a grill, a basketball…read morecourt, a nice playground with several pieces, and lots of green space. There are some shade trees around the edges, but not much shade in the play areas. However, the condition of the park needs some attention and hopefully, once spring has arrived, the parks department will be able to give it a thorough cleaning and bring the park back up to a destination for the neighborhood. Review #655