This is a very nice softball complex that is home to many Center Grove/Greenwood recreation leagues…read morefrom 4 to 18 year olds. It has been around since 1974. The complex has 10 lighted fields (with score boards) and a decent sized parking lot. There is also two batting cages, three covered pavilions with picnic tables and two restroom facilities there. The parking lot can get kind of full though, especial when there is a large tournament or in between games on rec league nights. Also, be carful, cars are zooming in and of the lot. There is a well stocked concession stand at the park with popcorn, candy, drinks, burgers.... The park is well maintained and a pretty clean. There are a few bleachers at each diamond, but I recommend bring your own chain so that you can be more comfortable as well as spread out a bit more. This is an excellent softball facility that provides opportunities for many girls. If you do visit here, please keep in mind that they do not allow pets.

We've been here a few times to see some friends' softball games and the facility was very nice and…read morewell kept. Their food was very good as well. Their fries and pretzel were very good. They had plenty of salt and pepper packets, napkins, utensils readily available. Staff at the concession stand were very friendly and helpful as well. Parking wasn't too much of an issue either.

I will confess that I'm not particularly fond of reviewing historical landmarks or public art,…read morethough there are certainly places that possess an allure that is undeniable and prove themselves to be worthy of special mention. Spring Valley Cemetery is such a place. Located on the grounds of what used to be Fort Benjamin Harrison, Spring Valley Cemetery actually preceded the military installation and maintained its status as a cemetery when the original farmer who owned the land simply refused to sell it. The Army tried several times to have the property condemned and relocated yet failed. Now, the military installation is gone and the cemetery remains. I love stories like that. The first burial ground in Lawrence Township, Spring Valley Cemetery has also been known as Thomas Silvey Cemetery, its original name, along with Reddick Farm Cemetery, Joshua Reddick Cemetery, and even Fort Harrison Cemetery. This is one of those "blink and you'll miss it cemeteries, though interestingly enough it continues to be considered an active cemetery with a cemetery association secretary who is located in Sheridan, Indiana. I tried without success to locate any type of official website or contact information for the cemetery - while it is listed in the cemetery database run by the State of Indiana, only the individual's name is listed as a contact. Spring Valley Cemetery is fairly easily accessible, though you have to be looking for the entryway. As someone in a wheelchair, I'll note that it's an older cemetery and if you want to wheel around it you need to probably have someone with you as it's not what I'd call an easily accessible cemetery. It's relatively flat in terms of surfaces, so it's possible. As most of the graves in the cemetery are older, the cemetery association's funds are limited and even 20 years ago the association was concerned about future maintenance. Geocachers should note that there's a geocache located in the grounds of the cemetery. Because it's a seldom used, relatively isolated spot you can pretty much search without being bothered other than the fact that you're relatively close to the Lawrence Police Department and City Hall. Fascinating facts include that at least one Revolutionary War veteran is buried here, a Reddick family member, though there's some doubt as to whether the grave actually includes his remains. There are also at least 15 Civil War veterans here. There are quite a few grave markers that are so old the ability to read them has long since faded away. It's not always known that around the turn of the 20th century that this area of Lawrence Township was actually comprised of 5 small towns. Some of the names have stuck. For example, Castleton actually really was a small town even back then. Spring Valley, with about 25 families, didn't even qualify as a small town. It was more like a neighborhood, though a fairly well functioning one. I've always loved older cemeteries. I find them fascinating and sad and mysterious and peaceful. In this time of quarantining, I finally took the time to really explore this one and really fell in love with it so much that I explored its history and, as a result, learned much more about an area that is fairly close to my home. If you're stopping by Fort Ben or Culver's or Cafe Audrey or any other of the fine restaurants or attractions around here, check out Spring Valley Cemetery and learn a bit about the history of this area and its people.

Known as a pocket park with a purpose, this is a small park nestled away in the Hawthorne…read moreneighborhood. It is literally behind 2 houses. It dates back to 2013, and was created after receiving a Project Green Space Grant from KIB.You can find parking in front of one of the houses, but keep in mind that parking is only allows on one side of the street. It is a small art park, that use to be an abandoned lot that was full of illegally dumped trash and furniture and drug paraphernalia. The first thing that yo notice when you see the park is it's bright yellow 1964 Pontiac Bonneville sitting vertical. You will also find bench seating and a picnic table around the car and a fire pit with some stump seating around it as well. The fence is painted with a rainbow version of the city's skyline. In addition to serving as a place to display public art, the park serves as a place that local residents can garden. There are also some fruit trees there. You will also find this home to many species of local native vegetation. Events are hosted at the park throughout the year such as Art in the Park. So, outside of one of these special events, you probably will not spend a lot of time at this park. It is however, a nice place to see and has a wonderful backstory about a neighborhood coming together and doing something positive in their community. And plus you get to see some cool public art (for free) and it provides for some awesome photos.

This used to be an abandoned lot, and now it's a beautiful space for the community. You gotta love…read morethe great things that can happen when residents come together to make their neighborhood better. Purpose Park is a pocket park in the Hawthorne neighborhood. It's on a quiet, residential street, and you would probably drive right by it, except for the fact that there's a yellow 1964 Pontiac Bonneville planted right in the the ground at the entrance of the park. It's a photo op for sure, but also practical: The bottom of the car has been smoothed and is used as a projection screen for neighborhood movie nights. It's a small little park, but it serves the local residents by being a place to plant vegetables (there is a raised bed community garden here). There are also fruit trees and grape vines that surround the park. There's a casita that's used for community performances. There are wooden stumps that circle a fire pit that the neighbors use for summertime campfires. According to Purpose Park's Facebook page, this pocket park is a meeting area for community events, such as Easter egg hunts and other gatherings. I love pocket parks so much, and this little one is a great addition to Indianapolis' amazing community spaces.

The Indiana Writers Center is another one of Indiana's true non-profit gems. In existence for over…read more40 years, it's an organization that has long been a presence even as I've grown as a writer in Indiana. The Indiana Writers Center, as I recall, used to be located in the Broad Ripple area but is now a part of Circle City Industrial Complex. One of the things I love about Indiana Writers Center is that they're VERY proactive about accessibility and even have a strong, uncompromising accessibility statement on their website including assurances regarding accessibility to their offices, classrooms, and event spaces. Bravo. I've had two strong connections to Indiana Writers Center before - original director Jim Powell and Barbara Shoup, a former instructor of mine who continues to be on the Indiana Writers Center staff. I credit Shoup with being one of the first to identify that my writing is a coping skill. The Indiana Writers Center is a non-profit that focuses on building the writing community in Indiana. They believe everyone has a story to tell and it's their vision to help people tell it. From new writers to professionals (Shoup herself has several books to her name), Indiana Writers Center embraces everyone who is on the journey of being a writer. They recently launched a poetry prize with Christian Theological Seminary and sponsor a Jim Powell Writer-in-Residence program. They offer events, classes, and a variety of programs for beginners, intermediate, and more professional level writers. The Indiana Writers Center website is a great place to learn about the Indiana writers' scene including writing opportunities. I've done both creative writing and professional film journalism and I love the Indiana Writers Center. The Indiana Writers Center is a membership organization with an amazing staff and an amazing board of directors. Sadly, I've never been quite as involved with Indiana Writers Center as I've intended - their former offices weren't particularly accessible and it's exciting to see such a positive transformation in this area. If you're a writer or curious about writing, Indiana Writers Center is a fantastic place to start. You'll find talented, enthusiastic, and encouraging people to help you along your wife and to share their tips, ideas, expertise, and lessons learned.

High Frequency Arts was once located in downtown Fishers' Nickel Plate District, but it's since…read moremoved to the new Hub & Spoke building near 106th and I-69. Hub & Spoke is a mixed-use development with a design center, retail showrooms, coworking space and makerspace. High Frequency Arts specifically is an artisan gift shop featuring dozens of local makers. This would be a great place to buy unique holiday gifts - ornaments, coasters, prints, mugs, etc. but I'm not sure how much foot traffic it gets being inside a larger building.

New art gallery and event space in the heart of Fishers. High Frequency Arts provides access to…read morecontemporary artwork to individuals and businesses. The gallery also serves as a space for exhibitions and pop-up events. During a visit to the Grand Opening exhibition, I was impressed by the variety of displayed artwork. There were 13 or so artists that were represented, and the work was curated in a way that they all fall in their own categories and genres. It was a feast for the eyes to be able to see a little bit of everything. The gallery itself is located in a modern space with an industrial feel. There are walls on wheels that provide flexibility on how the space is used. Some events (workshops, dance lessons) are already scheduled to take place at the gallery.

Great spot to do your taxes!! Been doing them for over 10yrs! Didn't know they weren't on the map!…read moreNow they are! Ha.. Luis is the owner great guy! Has his lovely family working with him, super great spot

This greenspace is located behind Cleo's Bodega Grocery and Café and in front of the Flanner House…read more This space was awarded by IPL as part of their Project GreenSpace program in 2018, in partnership with Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Groundwork Indy and the Center of Wellness for Urban Women. Previously it was a vacant lot, that was transformed into the greenspace you see today. It has some information placards, some stone seating, and rectangular shaped garden space. There is also rock paved walkways and a garden pergola. Unfortunately, I visited during the cold months, so there were not plants or blooms. The greenspace was dead. I hope to return in the spring and see this place come to life. The space is intended to be a place where local residents can pick fruit, care for fruit trees, learn about nutrition, and participate in activities such as yoga and community parties. The greenspace has a huge parking lot that belongs to the Flanner House right behind it, so parking is not an issue. I recommend checking this place out during plant season. In addition to being a garden, it is somewhat a peaceful and soothing spot to just sit and chill. Even though it is located right off of a busy street.

This orchard and community garden is open to the public. People are free to gather the food that…read morethey need that grows from this garden, which makes me really happy. I love that the community cares for this garden, and the community is invited to enjoy its bounty. When I visited during the winter, the Flanner House Orchard was covered with snow and didn't have any fruit or vegetables growing. I'm looking forward to coming back to see what it looks like in the summer when things are blooming!

Like a newborn toddler learning to walk and then talk, it's been fun to watch Big Car grow and…read moredevelop over the last few years. I actually believe my first time to the Center was for the Yelp 500 two or three years ago and since then I've been for art shows, film screenings, meetings or just to marvel at their tremendous parking lot gardens and chickens. There's something so raw and edgy that makes Big Car a perfect fit for its surroundings. Nestled between all of my favorite ethnic eateries and stores, the building and staff is very in tune with what is going on in Lafayette and tapping in to the diverse audience of the area. I would have to say my favorite part about the Service Center is the simple fact that it once served as a car repair shop but is now filled with Sun King beer, a screening room, and a calendar packed with classes and events for all ages. Can't wait to see what comes next for this creative powerhouse.

Big Car? Oh, you mean the place with the chicken coops…read more I've driven past this facility several times and I always wondered about what went on inside. (The last time I visited, it was a tire center, lol) I was pleasantly surprised by what Big Car had done with the place. I had the opportunity to participate in the Digital Disconnect event where you surrender your mobile devices for an evening of good old fashioned fun. Think board games, letter writing, and live music. Of course, I panicked when I realized that I wanted to tweet about the event and my cell phone was nowhere to be found. But, wow. How refreshing to remember life before being connected to EVERYONE 24 hours a day. Kudos to Big Car on a great event and on re-purposing an unused building on the NW side. I'm looking forward to returning soon and often.