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.

I've been spending a lot of time on Indy's westside and particularly in Speedway, Avon, Danville,…read moreand Coatesville. One day, I decided to venture around Speedway a bit as it's an area I grew up close to and I was feeling nostalgic. Meadowood Park is a 13-acre park on Speedway's north side. It's adjacent to Wheeler Elementary. It offers a densely wooded area along with a .75 mile walking trail, baseball/softball diamonds, sand volleyball courts, 3 shelter pavilions (all can be rented) - $75 for residents and $150 for non-residents, Ziegelmueller Pavilion, (can be rented), 2 playground spaces, and an interactive climbing rock area. There's a public restroom, though it's only open April-October. The playground, newly updated in 2010, targets ages 2-12. This is a safer residential area. I always kind of laugh because in a town known for the Indy 500, speed limits tend to be either 25 mph or 30 mph across town. However, that definitely helps keep things safe. The pavilion, or gazebo, has power outlets and can be rented - $100 for residents and $175 for non-residents. Tables are not included. A good number of local concerts are hosted here. Speedway tends to take care of its town. It's an important town since it hosts the Indy 500 and they take that seriously. This is an attractive and well-kept park and a great place where parents can allow children to play while keeping an easy eye on them. The ground of the playground is nicely padded and the park feels welcoming and safe. While I wouldn't consider this a destination park, it's a wonderful neighborhood park and one I'd easily visit when in this area and need a break.

In the shadow of the Speedway water tower sits a lovely little community park that is filled with…read moremajestic trees. The park offers several climbing structures and swings for young visitors to play and a soft matting so they are safe. Parents can sit on benches that surround the playgrounds and watch their kids. The park offers nicely paved pathways making it easy to push strollers or wheel chairs. There is a picnic pavilion and a lovely gazebo on the park grounds. The grounds are nicely maintained and manicured. There is a lot of natural shade from the large trees. It's a great place to read a book or walk the dog. There is a parking lot that holds about 20 cars or people park in the school lot that is adjacent to the park.

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.

This place is amazing! We don't take classes here -- we come for the free play time during the…read moreweek. Every Wednesday and Thursday from 10-11:30 a.m. is the drop-in time for young kids, ages 0 to 6. It's $5 per child. Kids are free to try everything that the gymnastics studio has to offer: trampolines (there are several in several sizes), foam block pits, swinging ropes, balance beams, uneven bars, soft mats, ramps, balls -- it's all so fun. It's a great place to come when the weather is cold and your child needs to run around and burn off energy. The drop-in time is especially great for toddlers and preschoolers. This is a pretty big gymnasium, so there's lots of space to move around. It can get crowded at certain times (like during Christmas break and spring break), but there's plenty of space and it never feels super crowded. They play fun Disney music, too!

Never been here before but my bonus son had a 1 hr gymnastics session to go to. Not much to say…read more Seems like a typical gymnastics gym. They offered snacks for some change for parents. They had bleacher style seating with a few regular chairs. Mats to tumble on, high beams, foam pit, and trampolines.

Beautiful modern playground…read more Better suited for older kids who can play more independently, but younger kids have options also!

A very modern playground is always nice but I miss the nostalgia of the simple slide and swings…read more Speaking of swings- they have none so that makes me dock them. They have swinging benches but that's not the same to a kid. They have a bigger kids area and a little kids area. My toddler enjoyed the little kids area. The playground is close to the little creek area so keep close eye on the kiddos.

We love this park! It has lots of different types of climbing sets and slides. It is located under…read moreseveral shade trees. Beautiful landscape and perfect photo opportunities. Located near the water park and several ball fields. There is a walking trail and a large common area that would be great for frisbee.You will not find it difficult to find a parking spot because there are plenty scattered throughout the park. Directly by the play sets there are several picnic tables.

With the recent illness of a family member, I've been spending more time in the Hendricks County…read moreand Putnam County area. On a recent visit, I found myself needing some down time and fresh air. I stopped by Ellis Park, a key park in Danville, Indiana and a park where I used to spend quite a bit of time in my young adult years. Ellis Park is directly off U.S. 36 right as you're getting into the main strip of Danville. It's a 49-acre park with a history tracing back to 1913. At that time, the 49 acres were set aside to protect the wells that provided Danville's water. In 1971, the park was renamed for longtime park superintendent Harve Ellis. Ellis Park is along the White Lick Creek. It's perhaps most known for its historical swinging bridge, however, it has quite a few amenities - shelters, playgrounds, sports fields, restrooms, Gill Family Aquatic Center, an amphitheater, and a "train station" that also can host meetings/events. Ellis Park is a rather nice weaving together of history with quite a few contemporary upgrades. It's incredibly wooded and it's super easy to take some time and just chill out here. The park is also adjacent to the nearby Blanton House Conference and Retreat Center. I definitely love Ellis Park, though every time I visit I can't help but feel like I wish it could be spruced up even more. It's really a centerpiece for Danville and it's definitely well utilized. I've always seen quite a few people here whenever I visit, however, it definitely does still have a bit of an aged feeling. That said, it's my favorite park in Danville and it has been a nice place to decompress during my family's recent challenges.

This park is a good size for Southport area. The parking lot has plenty of spaces. They have a…read morecovered picnic area. Some of the playground equipment is older and some of the newer stuff is missing belts. They have a basketball court and a softball/baseball area. My toddler is a simple guy and enjoyed picking up the sticks and running around. So I'll give it 4 stars,

This is the definition of a traditional park. It is a small park with its own private parking lot…read more It has a medium sized shelter with picnic tables under it and a couple of grills next to it. The shelter has seen better days. There is also a field with a kickball backstop. The field does not have any markings, base lines, or mounds. It is just an open green space with a back drop. So, it can be used for other field activities such as soccer, football, frisbee, flying a kite, or playing catch. The playground equipment is in decent shape for the most part, but could probably use an upgrade soon. There is a set of monkey bars, a merry go round, a huge spiral slide tower, a metal slide, a bank of 3 see-saws, an expression swing, a hilly balance beam, a metal climbing pyramid, a bank of traditional swings, and a bank of toddler swings. Behind the swings are a couple of picnic tables and some benches. It looks like there is a merry go round that has been fully taken over by dirt and weeds and looks more like a garden The park has a full basketball court that is decent. The court is a good shape and the rims have nets. The court has benches along the side for resting or spectators. and there is a set of bleachers over there that it shares with the field. This park is alright. It is not like the new mega playgrounds, But it is one of the better ones in the area. I may not have the flash or pizzazz of the newer ones, but it can provide fun for a couple of hours.

After eating a heavy lunch, a walk sounded perfect, so I ended up here. This park was exactly the…read morevibe I needed. The trail made for an easy breezy walk, and today's weather was perfect because it was not too hot and not too cold. The ambiance is super green and nature-filled with water and bridges, making it a peaceful spot to unwind and reset. There's convenient parking near the trail along with shelters that have grills and picnic tables, which would be great for a family cookout or chill afternoon outdoors. One thing I really liked was that parts of the trail have little off-path areas carved out so you can walk closer to the creek/water, which added to the relaxing nature vibe. I was able to walk through it, but since it's been raining, it was a little more muddy than I cared for. If you're looking for a simple but really enjoyable spot to get outside, clear your mind, and enjoy some fresh air, check this spot out.

Great walking/biking trail with books along the path for parents to read to their children. Be…read moreprepared as there is one semi difficult hill. Shaded biking/walking path. Picnic areas with shelters throughout park. Bridge that is popular for photo shoots! Creek and benches alongside. There are bathrooms located at the top level. Two water fountains that I saw as well as a dog fountain to drink from.