Relaxing,well kept property and playgrounds for a neighborly feel…read more No recent pics to post.

Given that I am in a new town for a month, I figured I would explore my surroundings. My pup was…read moredue for a much needed long walk filled with sights and sounds to stimulate her senses as I was kind of cooped up in the house I was staying in in Saint Albans, Vermont. Don't get me wrong, there was a park or two in Saint Albans, but the major one (Taylor Park) was a bit of a walk aways. It was beautiful with a vast expanse of open land and they held a Farmer's Market there in the Spring, but it was at a distance from where I was, so I didn't frequent there as much. The park I am reviewing now is 9 minute walk from the apartment I am staying at. This park was absolutely amazing and rivals that of AD Barnes Park and Tropical Park in Miami, FL where I grew up but Riley Park is like ten times better! As I entered, I didn't expect much except some large canopy trees, oak trees, birds, and maybe on occassion running into some butterflies, and following down a winding path. As I kept moving forward, I first cane across some very well kempt tennis courts and it wasn't like one or two only but like 7 or 8 and on top of that they offer free tennis cardio classes on Sunday to the community. That was like the first tally mark in my mind in terms of Yelp checkmarks. The park itself continued to seem very clean. There wasn't a surplus of dog poo everywhere or debris or litter of any kind. I then happened upon some more greenery and then what I came to learn was a bike park. This was thee coolest thing I have ever seen at a park. Guests can practice for free I assume on the turf. What made it so sppealing to me was that the gravel itself was super new and dark and also well kempt. Whoever the custodians are for this park deserve to be recognized because this park is at least 40 acres I read online! So the bike park/ramps weren't the only astonishing thing abiut this place. As I made my way around, there was also this bridge that connected to another more elevated area of the park (so please be mindful if you are someone that has trouble walking up steps or hilly areas to be careful). It was a beautiful red bridge kind of like one you would see in the woods somewhere in New England. It sat atop a bumbling brook where moss, ferns, and probably some other creatures one can't see would traverse. Once yoh make your way across the bridge, there was an acquatic park, yes, an actually water park with a pool. If I recall correctly it is named The Kathy Dowling Acquatic Center but don't quote me on it. I didn't get a full view of it as I didn't know if I could bring my dog to that area, so I refrained as I wanted to abide by park rules/policies. I walked paat it but I could see a few large colorful closed tube water slide. The kid in me would have totally gone on one of those lol but I wasn't in proper attire to do so. Plus, I aas walking my dog. What made the walk more fun were the woodland type creatures I encountered along the way like the squirrels my dog would try to chase, some ducks floating in the pond, and dragonflies (as well as beautiful butterflies of course). I had to get a better view of the ducks because I love ducks, birds, penguins, blue jays, etc. They were all huddled and congregated together and I didn't wish to disturb them but it's been awhile since I have seen a majestic Mallard. There were some pretty tall trees in the area as well near that pond as well as a Rock Garden. I liked how they had descriptions of the various landmarks or designated rest areas as you mKe your way around the park. So by this point, I had almost made my way around the park. There were some playground areas for kids with swings and slides that seem like perfect play areas for birthday parties. I am sure they probably have some covered shelter areas to host parties as well or other types of gatherings. I am not sure if they would be free to use or cost money to rent. I passed by a basketball court as well. Another cool area that I had to take a photo of was the skate park. I couldn't believe they have one to use, and for free. Now I myself don't skateboard (I tried to many years ago as a kid but failed lol) but I just was so amazed that these places were available to use for free! My jaunt continued to another brook/pond area as my dog insisted on sniffing around there . She is mighty persistent and she must have really loved the park as she urged me to take her around it again for a second time This time though, I got to see things I didn't notice the first time and yes this was all on the same day. It was probably about a 45-60 min walk tops but I didn't mind as it wasn't super hot or raining and I needed the exercise. I used to walk around parks or grassy areas or jog a lot more and have stopped in recent years, but it was so nice to be in nature, I obliged. I noticed they had these signs with stakes in the ground called "postcards" where they would highlight a major milestone in the parks history. It was a nice added touch.

I love when I pull up a place on Yelp to review it, and see that the only other review is from my…read moregood buddy Ken N. (RIP). It makes me feel nice to think about my friend, who has transitioned to writing Yelp reviews in heaven. Brandywine Park looks like it mostly functions as a sports park. There are soccer fields, softball diamonds and walking trails. The fields are beautiful and lush, which seems unusual considering we're just now entering spring. They really take care of the fields here, apparently. There's also a snack bar, which was closed when I visited. The playground is fine and does the job of giving kids something to do while their siblings are playing soccer or softball. I wouldn't go out of my way and bring my kids to visit this playground, but if we were here, my kids would have a good time. One thing to look out for is that the only two slides on the playground are made out of metal, so I'm sure they get super hot and unusable in the summer. There are also swings and a little playground structure for young kids. Lots of parking here, but not lots of shade! Probably bring your own shade if you're coming here to see a game. Also, there's a gaga ball court, but you need to bring your own ball.

This park is best known as a large baseball and soccer park. There are so many practice fields…read morethat I wasn't able to count them all....I think some are temporary. Anyway, there is a shelter and a small playground area. There is also some caged area that looks like it might have been a tennis court, but there are no signs of pavement within the fencing. I am not sure whether it may be some sort of community garden or if some new construction is going to fill the area. Good place for kids on athletic teams. Otherwise, there are plenty of decent options elsewhere. Review #787

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

I'm really starting to appreciate nature and hiking. This park is a nice spot for a peaceful walk…read more I visited with my son to enjoy some quality time and nature, and it's conveniently close to our home. It wasn't very busy the day we came. The park has shelters and multiple walking trails, which gives you options depending on how far you want to go. I noticed people taking family pictures at this park. One of the highlights was the water along the trail which adds a really pretty, calming touch to the scenery. The weather was decent temperature but a bit gloomy the day we went, and there were a lot of leaves on the trail. We didn't check the map and just kind of winged it, so parts of the trail were hard to follow because the leaves covered the path, but it wasn't an issue. Overall, we enjoyed the walk, the quiet surroundings, and the chance to bond while taking in what nature has to offer.

Southeastway Park is a hidden 188 acre treasure in the southeast corner of Marion County. The Park…read morehas trails through sycamore filled woods, picnic areas, a large playground and a naturalist center. Best of all, the park is free. The park maintains several natural habitats including a pond, wetland, prairie and Buck Creek. The setting is perfect for bird watching, hiking, running, walking the dog or enjoying a sunset. The six shelters can be reserved (rented) for parties, meetings, picnics for $135 for residents of Marion County or $160 for non-residents. The naturalist center/classroom can also be reserved during certain months. There are lots of picnic tables available on first come basis. There is a bathroom facility available in the warmer months. The naturalists run special educational programs throughout the year including summer day camps for the kids, a bug festival, maple syrup tapping in late winter and hayrides in the fall. The Park will be hosting eclipse viewing on April 8. I was visiting the Master Naturalist Class, a but also took my dog on a nice walk. The park is open dawn til dusk and worth a visit. Plan on spending a couple hours. Be sure to bring your bug repellent.

I haven't been to this park in years since it was redesigned. I visited with my 3 year old and 1…read moreyear old. It was fun and safe for both of them. We will be back!

Doesn't look like much as you're driving by. But it's a great space for kids to play. There's…read moreoutside playground equipment for all ages. There are bathrooms and drinking fountains on site. There's also a covered gazebo with picnic tables open to first come first serve. The parking lot small but this is a fun hidden gem.

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

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

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.