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    Paul Ruster Park

    4.0 (15 reviews)

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    I found several broken condoms in the woods near the entrance of the park, as well as I found several syringes which were dirty and used. I feel this is an attack on my children as they could've touched all of these things, and gotten many different sicknesses.

    The pond at Paul Ruster Park.  You will see a lot of people fishing but my two Labradors like to get a swim in while we're here.
    Charlene S.

    We come to this park every single day of the year. Not kidding! This park is very well kept and the views are beautiful. The people I have met here are very friendly especially if they have dogs. The hiking trails are awesome and I see a lot of people enjoying the pond to fish. There are always families in the playground area having a good time and probably to wear the kiddos out. Lol! The only downfalls to this park is that there are no drinking fountains and only one port a potty.

    Dog entrance area

    Driving cross country and stopping at dog parks in so many states has been an amazing way to experience our country. We were so disappointed to find that this was the first dog park that required a passcode and/or badge to enter. Fortunately there is a lot of green open space in the park itself where we could run our dog, but we couldn't use the dog park itself.

    Ken N.

    This huge park (82 acres) has so many amenities that I am already looking forward to my next return. The appeal of the park is more as a nature and activity site than as a standard park. Sure, there is a dog park and a playground, but the park is divided by a creek and has lots of trails that you can hike if you bring the right footwear or wait until the trails are a little more dry. There are a two shelters on site and a paved parking lot well into the park so that you aren't stuck at the south end. There is a lot of lawn space on the higher ground so visitors can engage in activities they may not have room for at home. And one of the coolest features is the steep (!) hill that is next to the parking lot. After a heavy snow, this becomes a great hill for sledding. It has a nice level are at the top so that everyone can line up where they want to launch from. I guarantee your can get a great workout from climbing the hill a half dozen times! I like that you don't have to worry about hitting anything at the bottom or worry about traffic like when I was a kid and we used the streets to sled. Review #632

    Simone W.

    This park is beautiful! Plenty of open fields for activities, a trail, shelter, and even a dog park make this particular Indy Park multi-faceted relative to use. I like to come here and work the hill - it's perfect for resistance cardio. Police often patrol the area however, I've never felt unsafe. The people who frequent the park are always friendly. The shelter is a nice size as well. Very nice park!

    Plenty of space!
    Larissa B.

    My favorite place to take my dogs, or even just by myself when I want to take a walk. The park includes a fishing pond, a playground, benches, tables and shaded areas as well as a huge hill (sometimes athletic teams use the hill for running exercises) and plenty of walking trails. The park closes at dusk everyday and ideal for birthday parties, reunions, etc. The best part of it is, even when events like this are going on, you can still pick a trail and be alone if you want to. My dogs love to play in the creeks! Love love love this park. The only reason I didn't give 5 stars is because there aren't any water fountains, which sucked the couple of times that I forgot to bring water.

    Frozen pond

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    7 years ago

    This park is pretty nice compared to others around. He has a nice little pond in the back and there is a soccer field close.

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    Review Highlights - Paul Ruster Park

    Very nice park during the summer and spring, but the best park on the East Side for sledding and snowboarding!

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    Garfield Park Conservatory and Sunken Gardens - Dragon for the castles  and dragon theme this year.

    Garfield Park Conservatory and Sunken Gardens

    4.6(150 reviews)
    9.7 mi

    This is a great spot for locals and visitors alike! We stopped by from out of town thinking it…read morewould be a good winter activity for our little one while it's too cold to walk much outside. The conservatory exceeded our expectations! Admissions is affordable at $5 per person, but it was free the day we visited because of a reptile show! We got to see tortoises, skinks, salamanders, tarantulas, snakes, and more! Inside the conservatory, there are fish and a couple other critters permanently on display. The signage around the gardens is informative and interesting- and the plants are simply beautiful! So well cared for and healthy. I could have walked around the loop 5 times and noticed new things each time. There are several places to sit and relax throughout the gardens (we fed our baby on one of the benches). There is a restroom and coat racks- which you'll need because the gardens are quite warm! What a great find for the afternoon! Bonus that it's located right in a park, by a library, several cute places to stop and eat, and public art. The only downside I can think of is that there wasn't a ton of parking- probably more accessible when there isn't a special event going on!

    There is something about plants and nature that brighten up my mood. I came here on a gloomy rainy…read moreday, and it was the perfect decision to lift up my spirits. It's close to the highway so easy access and near my house - double plus. The admission to get in was $4 per person, and they take card - another plus for being inexpensive. They have plants for sale and host events/activities, the lady working was friendly and explained all of that. They have brochures in the front as well. Inside is so astonishing, there is so much to see. It's so beautiful, I adore and admire all of it. I love how things are labeled and have informational tidbits about the plants. They have ponds with live fish and waterfalls around. They have a restroom and it had a window so of course there is a plant inside, I love it. I'll have to take note next time I go here that it was very warm inside, I felt very hot so dress accordingly. There is parking available. Check hours before coming, holidays vary.

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    Garfield Park Conservatory and Sunken Gardens
    Garfield Park Conservatory and Sunken Gardens
    Garfield Park Conservatory and Sunken Gardens

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    Holliday Park - Bird at the ruins

    Holliday Park

    4.7(149 reviews)
    13.3 mi

    This place was cute and a nice stop on our vacation. We showed up just after a couple had gotten…read moreengaged which was cute. Let them sit and take pictures while we waited to go explore, luckily my son was patient :P we were going to dinner after this so we didn't stay to long.

    It's been a decade since my last review of Holliday Park, so it's time for an update. I've been…read morevisiting this park since I moved to Indiana more than 10 years ago, and it had stayed reliably the same, until recently. Now, there's a brand-new playground! The playground at Holliday Park has been completely redesigned as of November 2025. The new playground is nature-inspired, with lots of wooden elements. My favorite part of the playground is the loose parts area, where kids can make teepees and build forts with the collection of natural elements that are there: sticks, tree limbs, stumps, rope, wooden crates, straw and other things that allow kids to use their imagination to create. The playground is designed for all ages, but to me, it skews slightly in favor of younger kids. Which is nice for parents of younger children, because most playgrounds seems to be built for older kids. But there are some elements for older kids here, like the huge rope climbing structure. A niggling thing: There is zero shade on the playground now. None. Which isn't a big deal on overcast or cool days, but once summer comes around, this playground is going to be insufferable. They got rid of some of the trees that used to be where the new playground is, which is a shame. One cool thing, though, that I've never seen in any other playground: hammocks! There's an area near the trees with a bunch of hammocks that kids can lie in and just relax under the trees. The rest of Holliday Park is the same. There's still a splash pad by The Ruins during the summer. There's still a nice nature center. There are still lots of trails to explore. This is one of the best parks in Indianapolis, in my opinion.

    Photos
    Holliday Park - It's hard to beat their nature center.

    It's hard to beat their nature center.

    Holliday Park - Squirrels on trail 2 along the river

    Squirrels on trail 2 along the river

    Holliday Park - Statue at Holliday Park

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    Statue at Holliday Park

    Indianapolis Canal Walk

    Indianapolis Canal Walk

    4.5(206 reviews)
    10.8 miMile Square

    Goodness, have I walked the canal about 50 times now?!…read more It's such a unique experience for Indy to have some water space in the middle of the city. This 3 mile loop will take you from 11th Street down to White River State Park to access the green space and extra trails down there. The canal water itself is not super cute, where there can be litter, and the water is rather opaque. They do drain the canal every so often to keep it from getting too uncute. The sidewalks are kept nicer, though a few spots in front of apartment buildings could use some TLC. There are also a few spots where the sidewalk is not level, so take caution if that is an issue. It's mostly stair access to the canal, but I *think* I've seen an elevator around the Ohio street basin. The canal has a few businesses along it for your merriment. Notably, there is Fresco on the Canal (I have a separate review for this) which is open March-October. Eiteljorg museum cafe is open daily around the lunch hours (11-3) and can be accessed through their patio gate. Entertainment wise, there is more going on. I've done the swan boat rentals, where you can pedal around on the canal. This is quite a workout! Rental of swan boats and kayaks is near the Ohio Street basin. There is also the gondolas, where your gondolier can sing, and they've always sounded marvelous. There's also a few stations for the Pacers Bikeshare around the canal, which is free for Marion County residents. Any time the weather is right, you can find me getting my steps in!

    Nice river walk nearby center city area. It's refreshing looking at the water flowing through…read more We saw some fishes so definitely clean water for the city. Love the greens, bridges, arts around it. It would better with warmer weather for sure. I couldn't walk far because of the cold. But overall I love the scenery.

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    Indianapolis Canal Walk
    Indianapolis Canal Walk
    Indianapolis Canal Walk - Look for this tall colorful mosaic to start your canal adventure!

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    Look for this tall colorful mosaic to start your canal adventure!

    White River State Park

    White River State Park

    4.7(109 reviews)
    11.0 mi

    White River State Park is one of the most popular parks in the city, and for good reason! The…read morenickname for it is Indy's backyard. With riverfront and canal-front trails, a pedestrian bridge to the zoo, proximity to the city, and the amphitheater, so much goes on down here. Over the years, my favorite special events have been the food truck festival and the solar eclipse festival. The area is kept to be pedestrian friendly, with parking being underground to the park and wide walking and biking lanes. During warmer weather, I often see a hotdog vendor for a nice and easy lunch. There's lots of sculptures around the park too, which helps to keep things scenic. There's also a huge lawn space for running around.

    This park is such a gem! As I write this review while listening to "Here Comes The Sun" by The…read moreBeatles, I feel like I'm right back walking through the beautiful pathways and taking in skyline views. From the canal and trails to the open green spaces, there's something here for everyone to enjoy. Plenty of smaller festivals and walks/runs are held at this park, and it truly seems like the perfect spot for them. My favorite festival that happens here is the Taste of Indy, which takes place in the summer and the MS Walk is always a well organized event here. I also really enjoy walking the paths behind the zoo, especially in the spring when the cherry blossom trees are in bloom. Absolutely gorgeous! Ps - As beautiful as it is, be sure to stay alert while on the pathways!

    Photos
    White River State Park - Finish by Terrence Karpowicz.

    Finish by Terrence Karpowicz.

    White River State Park
    White River State Park

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    Colts Canal Playspace - Outside

    Colts Canal Playspace

    4.3(24 reviews)
    10.8 mi

    If you're looking for a great park to take the kids, get a walk or run in, or even hop on a bike,…read morethis spot is perfect! The playground equipment is super nice--you can definitely tell they put some money and effort into making it great. It's right next to the canal, so once the kids are done playing, you can head out for a walk or rent a bike and ride along the water. There's even a dog park area, which is a huge plus if you want to bring your pup along. They have poop bag stations stocked and ready, so no worries if you forget yours. The whole place was really clean too--I didn't see any trash around, which shows people actually care about keeping it nice. The only downside is that there aren't any restrooms by the park. So definitely make sure you (and especially the kids) empty your bladders before you get there, otherwise you'll end up leaving to find a bathroom nearby. Parking is mostly street parking, and yes, you'll need to feed the meter. But if you go on a Sunday or a holiday (like I did), you're in luck--free parking! And honestly, who doesn't love free parking downtown?

    This place is really dang cool. Tons of things for the kids to climb around on and explore. The…read moresurface was pretty spongy so if one did fall it would most likely not be too bad. I took my family here to get them amped up before heading down the road to goto the awesome Childrens Museum. This is a must visit park if your kids love climbing on EVERYTHING!

    Photos
    Colts Canal Playspace
    Colts Canal Playspace - The motor bike rental by the canal

    The motor bike rental by the canal

    Colts Canal Playspace - Posing in front of the playground

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    Posing in front of the playground

    Paul Ruster Park - parks - Updated May 2026

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