Calling all nature-loving families…read more If your kids would rather play with sticks, logs, and their imagination than a traditional playground, this spot is for you Little play hut with a table and two chairs Hopscotch and balance beams Lots of tree logs, sticks, and natural elements for open-ended play Encourages creativity, imagination, and nature-based exploration Completely covered by trees, so there's plenty of shade Multiple walking paths nearby for a family nature walk ‍ This is one of those places where kids can slow down, get creative, and connect with nature. No flashy playground equipment--just all that Mother Nature has to offer #coolcreekpark #nature #natureplayground #carmel #hamiltoncounty

What a great nature center and park! We visited to check out for our granddaughters. The Nature…read moreCenter has a nice bird watching deck, a selection of live turtles and snakes and much more. We found the bird collection particularly useful in helping us identify some of our backyard birds. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. They were preparing for a school group during our visit. After the nature center, we walked on one of the nature trails. Some flowering trees were in bloom. The trails are wide and well marked (but not paved). Strategically placed benches along the trails make perfect spots to bird watch. Nearby, is an outdoor amphitheater with a large grassy area for seating. I'm not sure what programs they host, but the space is nice. Near the front of the park, is a modern playground with several colorful climbing structures, swings, slides and the usual equipment. A pavilion is available to get shade or feed the kids. There is a water fountain to keep the kids hydrated. Behind the playground, adult exercise equipment is available. We also saw a soccer field perfect for local practice. There is dedicated parking with handicapped spaces and restrooms on site.

Local Mom Meet-Up Spot Check out Carey Grove Park ‍…read more Padded ground Playground for all ages with separate sides for younger & older kids (split by a fun music section ) A couple slide + swing options to keep everyone happy Workout equipment on both sides for parents Features a Pulse Tennis interactive game Small walking trail + open field for extra space to run Shade available around the sides Such a great, easy spot to meet up with other moms while the kids all play

This is an amazing park. It was originally opened in 1998, but was "fully reimagined" in 2020 and I…read morelove everything about this park.There is ample parking and a bike rack for those that ride in from neighboring houses. It is a very modern park that is lined with the rubbery surface that most of the new parks are using. It has a half basketball court with an adjustable rim. The court is in great shape and has a bench along the baseline for spectators to sit and watch. You will find a very nice paved walking/jogging trail that goes around the perimeter of the park, as well as trails leading to the park from nearby neighborhoods. The bathroom facility at the park is very well maintained and is one of the better ones that I have seen in a park. They serviced the restrooms and trash while I was there. The park has two picnic shelters with tables under it and one has a couple of grills just outside of it. The playground is awesome. It has top-notch modern equipment. One side of the playground area has a very nice large jungle gym with a couple of slides, one of which is a spiral slide. There is also a bank of swings with traditional and ADA swings, a spinning net sphere, a pull up bar, and an interactive light game. This side is intended for 5 and older, but my 3 year old spent most of his time over here. On the other side is play equipment for smaller kids. There is a bank of toddler swings, a small jungle gym with a tunnel and slides, a couple of see-saws, a modern merry-go-round, and an expression swing. In between both area is some picnic tables and percussion musical instruments. Both play areas have benches on one side of it for parents to sit and on the other side (outer perimeter) are some workout equipment between some more benches, under a nice shade bearing awning. The workout equipment is intended for those over 14 years old. The equipment happens to face the respective playgrounds, so parents can get their workout on while keeping an eye on their littles. On final feature of the park is its green space. There is a patch of grass that can be used for playing catch, soccer, football, or flying a kite. It can also be used for working out or having a picnic. The only downfall of this space is that it is like in like a little crater. So, it gets very soggy after rain and snowfall and takes a while to dry. I really like this park. My littles and I spent about 2 hours here. It is not very big, spanning 5 acres, but still has a lot to do. This is definitely a destination park and was well worth the 40 minute ride for me to get here.

Looking to try creek stomping for the first time? Grand Junction Plaza is a great…read morebeginner-friendly spot! It's not as "in the woods" as most creek stomping locations. Instead, there are paved sidewalks that run alongside the creek, making it easy to get in and out of the water whenever you need. Kids can still splash, search for treasures, and look for fish, crawdads, or other little creatures without hiking through the woods or navigating a large creek. The shallow water and rocks are perfect for little ones to explore at their own pace. If you've been wanting to try creek stomping but weren't sure where to start, this is a great family friendly spot.

This park I feel is geared more towards kids 4+ There is a…read morelot of climbing and even 4yo struggle once they get to the higher areas. Otherwise it's a very cute park and full of challenges

This is such a lovely space with so many things to offer. I've visited the park before to board…read morethe Nickelplate Express. You will also find an aquatics center, picnic areas, playgrounds, a merry-go-round, Tom Thumb mini golf, a disc golf course and tons of wide-open green space. It is adjacent to a golf course, as well. On this day, we were going to visit the pool area but found that the majority of pool chairs had already been claimed, so we opted for a picnic instead. We stopped by the nearby KFC and grabbed some chicken and sides. I keep folding chairs and blankets in the trunk of my car for just this sort of occasion, so we laid out a couple of blankets and enjoyed some fresh air, vitamin D directly from the sun, and literally touched grass. It was nostalgic, calming and peaceful. There were several other groups of people present. There were parents with young children on the playground. There was a group hosting a baby shower underneath one of the picnic shelters. There were several young ladies and women enjoying the swings. There was a group of teenagers/young adults listening to music and tossing a ball around. We also observed several young men enjoying the skate park (I forgot to mention the skate park earlier) and riding e-bikes and bicycles around the park as well. There were several barbecues/cookouts taking place as well. There is, indeed, something for everyone to do and enjoy here. I was happy to see such a mix of people of all ages, ethnicities, and sexes present to enjoy this beautiful space.

The park that truly has it ALL? Check out Forest Park…read more It has my FAVORITE playground for kids who are just starting to walk It's the perfect place to let toddlers safely explore and gain independence while playing. Bonus: kids get the added excitement of seeing real-life trains nearby They have the perfect 9-hole golf course to teach your littles--no water hazards, super beginner-friendly, and it's actually Hamilton County's oldest golf course I CANNOT wait for the pool to open!My favorite time to go is Tuesday and Thursday mornings for Tiny Tots They have such a great fenced-in toddler area and splash pad, plus a diving well and long course pool. They even do movie nights in the pool ‍ But seriously... you NEED to try the mini golf here It's ONLY $3 per person and feels like stepping back in time in the best way. The holes are fun, unique, and old-school with moving features you just don't see anymore The second playground at this park is the newer one--and it's such a win for all ages The third playground at this park is such a fun old-school option for older kids There really is nothing else quite like this around here. Pack snacks, bring the kids, and plan to stay awhile

We took our 3 year old granddaughter to play at the Bluff Road Park today and she loved it but…read morethere is only one thing we didn't like is that we were there for about an hour before she had to use the restroom so we had to cut our time short because there is no restroom or portable restroom. I would suggest that you install a restroom or put portable toilets in so that the kids can stay longer and play. Other than that we had a great time.

Bluff Park is a decent park. It does not have the standard sign with the name of the park on it,…read moreso you may miss it. There is ample parking for the park, but the parking lot could use a resurfacing. The park has the basics. It has a huge field that is split among 3 baseball fields. The baseball field is ok. Nothing to write home about. The field itself is decent and can be used for flying a kite, playing football, playing soccer, or playing catch. There is an unpaved jogging/walking/running trail that looks like it is a quarter of a mile that goes around the field. There is also a have court basketball goal that is ok. The goal is in good shape, but the court itself could use some TLC. Still a decent spot to make it rain though. There is a covered pavilion with a grill and picnic tables under it. It was well maintained as well as the fields. There is a small playground on the park's grounds. There you will find some older model swings, a see-saw and a jungle gym with a slide. A more accurate rating would be 3.5 stars, but I went with the higher end. It is a nice park and there were a few people there while I was. Some were on the playground, a few were running the trail and there was a guy doing pitching practice on the field. I admit that there are better parks in the area, but this serves it purpose and is a decent alternative.

Reasons we LOVE Finch Creek Park…read more The park feels safely contained thanks to the hill banks--less worry about little ones wandering off Separate areas for everyone: toddler section, big kid playground, music zone & splash pad So many slides! Open, closed, straight, curved, and different thrill levels Soft padded turf instead of mulch Plenty of seating for parents--swinging benches and picnic tables Swings for all ages: mommy & baby, big kid, chair swings & a swaying bench A walking path all around if mom wants to get her steps in Bathrooms are actually pretty clean (which matters ) This park checks ALL the boxes for an easy, fun outing!

Very mediocre park, lots of things are broken or just dirty.. looks nice from the outside but not…read moreso great. Lots of better parks near by!

I'm a definite fan of Carmel Parks, however, I'd also definitely place Hazel Landing Park on the…read morelow-end of the Carmel Parks system. Hazel Landing Park was reopened on October 20, 2025 with the debut of the new, and quite wonderful, Bur Oak Bridge. The bridge connects directly from the park, though if you're parking on the paved area you'll have a little bit of a walk and a gravel path you'll have to use to access the bridge. The bridge, easily my favorite thing about this park, spans 500 feet across the White River. It's 14-feet wide and is great for pedestrians, bikers, or wheelers like me. It connects Hazel Landing Park to Heritage Park in Fishers. Heritage Park is definitely a more traditional park with a quality restroom and more traditional amenities. Hazel Landing Park was originally developed in 2003. It's a 41-acre park with its only other main feature being an 18-hole disc golf course. It's set against the river - kind of cool. There's also a canoe and kayak launch, picnic tables, a grill, and lots of green space. That said, it also has a bit of an industrial feeling as it's backed by parts of Carmel's utilities and the concrete companies and a gravel pit. If you know Hazel Dell Parkway, you will know what I'm talking about. The other major negative is that the driving path is significantly rough with major potholes. It's definitely not a park you want to pull into quickly. This isn't a bad park by any means. The Bur Oak Bridge is exceptional. While there's an incline to get on the bridge, it's a gradual incline and I had no issues handling it in my wheelchair. I do know this is a park that tends to flood in poor weather (it is next to White River), though it wasn't particularly bad today. I wouldn't recommend this park for wheelchair users, though someone with assistance or someone particularly able to handle gravel could at least enjoy the bridge. With so many other park options in Carmel, this would probably be one I'd mostly pass on other than those days when I want to take in the beautiful White River.

1st impression: tiny park but with very nicely placed picnic tables and a little landing from which…read moreone could fish or launch a kayak. BUT, 1) In a couple months a pedestrian bridge will connect it to Heritage Park in Fishers, which has really nice paved woodsy walking trails; & 2) If you bring a lawn chair & sit on the landing in the shade a few feet from the White River, you will (hopefully) feel perfect peace.

I've been spending some time in Beech Grove over the Memorial Day holiday this year, and I realized…read moreI'd never really checked out Don Challis Park. This is a 14-acre park named after a longtime Beech Grove resident who was devoted to improving the community and the area's parks. If you visit the city's website, you'll even see a letter from the Challis family on the parks department page. The park is adjacent to South Grove Intermediate School. It's accessible from 9th Avenue, and it features a picnic shelter, playground equipment, a volleyball court, and a good amount of green space with mature trees. From May-October, the shelter can be rented for $65 for Beech Grove residents and non-profits. Non-residents pay $100. The park has experienced some upgrades in recent years, though in 2022 there was a shooting at the park during a vigil. To my knowledge, it was targeted (during a vigil) and I've never seen the park have any other issues. I've always felt safe around the park and in Beech Grove. Don Challis Park does have parking available, and there's also a public restroom (I think the restroom might be seasonal, though I'm not sure). Don Challis Park is a solid community park. I wouldn't call it a destination park, but it serves the community well. For a relatively small city, Beech Grove does well with its parks.

This is a nice little park in Beech Grove. It was originally named South Grove Park, but was later…read morerenamed to Don Challis Park, after a man who diligently worked for 29 years to make the parks in Beech Grove a wonderful place for children and adults to enjoy. The park has its own private lot. It appears to be going through some type of renovation. Maybe a paved jogging trail or something. It is relatively small, sitting at about 14 acres. It has a a covered pavilion with picnic tables, a playground, a sand volleyball court, and a little green space to play or sit and have a picnic. The park also has a huge restroom facility. The playground is lined with wood chips and has a jungle gym with some slides and a long row of swings. The sand volleyball court is in adequate shape and the park's grounds are well maintained. This is a decent park to spend some time. You can hang out with the little ones or just relax and watch cars go by. It looks like they are set on improving this park and making it even better.