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    West Commons Playground & Splash Pad

    4.8 (35 reviews)

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    Monty W.

    I don't review playgrounds often...but if I do- this is an extra-ordinary one. Most excellent - it has basically EVERY playground apparatus that you could think of. Splash Pad...The only negative is that the sun shades were faced in the wrong direction - does not really cover anything. At least three picnic pavilions - noticed a couple of birthday gatherings while we were there. The kids had a splendid time. My favorite - no wood chips - foam all over. We spent a good deal of time here. Water fountains to refill your bottles and also clean restrooms. A couple picnic pavilions also had a grill (charcoal self-provided). Great community planning and plenty of parking available - just wish they had an EV charger as well.

    Thama P.

    Honestly, this playground is beautiful! And the structures were new and exciting for the kids to figure out and work through! Very inventive! I knocked a few stars down only because when we were there at noon on a Friday, there was an extreme amount people there. The park its self was lovely but the environment was a little chaotic!

    Brittany S.

    This park is chock full of adventures for all ages. I had visited in the past but had truly only experienced about half of what the park has to offer. The space is quite extensive featuring a variety of trails, aquatic center (inside and out), covered shelters for picnics and parties, evoke rentals, playscapes for all ages, and a pond that features a boardwalk and lots of lovely ducks. We spent an hour or so enjoying the baby friendly play area that featured a great cushioned floor and safe sectional walls from the other age playscapes and walked across the boardwalk. It truly is a serene getaway in the heart of Carmel. As the city continues to sprawl, the end of Carmel's "high rises" are now right up against this property. Can't wait for our next visit.

    Play time
    Erika P.

    Tjis is a great park with bathroom facilities, nearby picnic seating, and so much for the big kids (5-12) to explore. There is a smaller section for toddlers next to it, as well as a splash pad in summer months. The whole ground cover is that soft rubber surface to minimize injuries when they fall. The playground equipment is fun and adventurous, primarily focused on climbing and coordination. We'll definitely be back on warm days.

    Cool climbing structure.
    Colleene B.

    We love this playground, lots of challenging and interesting climbing structures, splash pad, walking trail, lake for fishing, picnic tables, clean restrooms.

    Slide / climbing structure
    Tim W.

    This is a wonderful place to take the family. Our girls played on the massive slide/ climbing structure we walked the dog , ate a picnic lunch then rode around on scooters and hoverboards. It is large enough to entertain dozens of guests and a variety of ages truly expressive. More communities should take note.

    When it's hot outside...you go to a splash pad!
    Kelly A.

    This park has been/is a fave of our kiddos! There is something for all ages and abilities to play on or with at this play park/splash pad combo. The playground and splash pad are separate from each other...which is nice as it may limit sitting on a wet swing or sliding down a wet slide (assuming the run over from the splash pad is enough to dry them off) If you are looking to do a picnic while you are here, there are 4 shelter houses with picnic tables and a couple of them have grills (if the grilling mood strikes you). There is a plea space in each to seat 50-60 people comfortably.

    Splash pad
    Alexis G.

    We visited this park/ splash pad for the first time yesterday. The splash pad is big & has a baby/tot area too. & the playground is huge with so many different features. It's a great park & has a nice big covered area to hang out under as well. The park also has a great walking path to the water. Loved it & plan to return soon.

    Look at all that iron! Nasty.
    Angela J.

    So, yes...this is a really cool park. But I specifically visited here today to take my 1 and 2 year old granddaughters to the splashpad, and I was pretty shocked at the grossly dangerous conditions...and that was before my shock at the gross, visual appearance of the splashpad had even settled in. As we approached, I was shocked at what an eye sore the iron staining was. Like, BAD. I've lived in Hamilton County long enough to know how bad the water is and how crazy high the lime is. But this is insane staining and clearly a sign of neglect on the parks part. There's also green algae all along the back of the splashpad. I have never seen such a thing at any other splashpad. As my granddaughters toddled towards the splashpad, the 2 year olds feet flew right out from under her. The 1 year one fell seconds later, as if she were running on ice. A woman quickly called out to me and came to warn me that another little girl had just been rushed to the hospital by her parents because she fell and busted her head open bad enough to need stitches. No one was allowing their children on to the splashpad without shoes because of how insanely slick it is. Again, this is another thing that I have never encountered at other splashpads. Also, many of the water features were not working at all. More than half of the equipment in the very small baby/toddler area didn't work at all and what did work was so intermittent, that it lost the interest of my granddaughters and other little friends we made. It was such an extreme let down. I had really high expectations for this one, so I was totally bummed with our experience. The only redeeming qualities were the pretty cool playground equipment, the nice shaded picnic area, and the nearby bathrooms that were at least not gross. But seriously, the dangerously slippery splashpad needs to be addressed. That's a mega lawsuit, waiting to happen.

    Katie U.

    You don't need to be a parent to understand the hype behind this park. I come to Central Park (shares grounds with this playground and connects to the Monon Center) to walk the Monon Lagoon boardwalk (one of Carmel's best kept secrets!) and this playground is always packed. Reasons to love it: *Plenty of parking. *This structure is massive and modern but also accessible for varying abilities AND is inclusive for all ages. *Picnic tables under shelters (hooray for shade!), water fountains and bathrooms in close proximity. *Adjacent splash pad opening this summer. *Last time I was there, I saw a frozen ice truck selling treats on a hot day. Understand this park is busy on a nice day, so keep an eye on your kiddo(s). If a child is sensitive to big crowds and lots of commotion, I might recommend coming here earlier in the morning. Make it a day and buy a day pass for the Monon Waterpark across the property - lazy river, slides, surfing simulator, pool, etc.

    Brian M.

    This is my kids (and my) new favorite park. The ground is rubber - never a muddy mess. There is lots of shade. The structures are big due strong enough to support adults. It is usually crowded, but there is keys enough good by on to allow kids (and me) to play. Other greats are: the walking trail, cooking areas, picnic tables, open space for play, fishing (I have not fished, but see it happening), small kid only spaces, splash zone. It is not the closest park to my family, but we make the drive anyway - it is worth it!

    West Commons Playground
    Nicole S.

    Oh wow! This is definitely a new favorite Carmel park. This is the perfect park for children who love to climb, because there are so many walls to scale, and rock climbing features, and monkey bars, and just things to hang off of in general. There are also rope bridges, balance beams, really big slides and slides for little kids, tunnels, a rocking boat, a teeter totter for four, swings, forts, hidey holes to sit in, trampolines ... I'm sure I'm forgetting something because there is just so much fun stuff. It absolutely has something for all ages and abilities. It is awesome. Plus, the ground is made of that flexible tire material, so it's soft under your feet. There is also a splash pad here! It looks super fun, but unfortunately it wasn't open for summer 2016. We're looking forward to playing in it next year! One of the coolest features of this park is that it is right next to the lagoon and boardwalk near the Monon Community Center. You can play at the playground, then take a walk down the pathway and enjoy the lagoon and beautiful meadows adjacent to the park.

    Carmel Creek Loop in the Woodland Gardens
    Ken N.

    I must say this is one impressive park! It is well thought out having room for a huge playground, a splash park, an amphitheater (overlooking the lagoon), a prairie (restricted access), a woodland garden with trails, and plenty of parking! There are multiple shelters near the playground and a larger shelter/pavilion with restrooms between the splash pad and playground areas. Ramps grant access to the upper level towers of the playground equipment and the surface of the play areas is cushioned to reduce the risk of getting hurt from a fall/slip. There is a paved trail that travels the west, south, and east perimeter of the park and more trails that weave through the park. There is even a "Prairie Trail" that can be walked along the northern side of the park to the Monon Greenway and cross over into the Central Park East Woods which extends all the way to Westfield Blvd! The only thing about the park that I didn't like was that you can't drive through the park and get to the east side of Central Park. You have to exit the park and get there via Westfield Blvd. The maps on the website don't show that the only road between the two parks is for authorized vehicles only. p.s. There is a skate park near the aquatic center that I completely missed seeing on my visit. So much to do!! Review #942

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    Nice park. Excellent place for young kids 10 and under. Safe space, but splash park was under maintenance the day we went. Lots of shade.

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    Ask the Community - West Commons Playground & Splash Pad

    Review Highlights - West Commons Playground & Splash Pad

    Huge playground with plenty of things to do, and plenty of space for everyone to play even when it's busy.

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    Oliver's Woods Nature Preserve - Very pretty. I had to lower the exposure to make it a little moody.

    Oliver's Woods Nature Preserve

    5.0(7 reviews)
    3.5 mi

    It's a little bit rare that I discover a spot previously unknown to me, however, this was the case…read moretoday when I visited Oliver's Woods Nature Preserve. I was between tasks near Castleton and decided to do a Yelp search to see if I could snag a review or two during my free time. As is often the case for me, I searched for "parks" and Oliver's Woods popped up along with a review from the always dependable Nicole S. It's amazing to me that I've driven by this preserve many times without realizing its existence. In fact, even while looking for it today I drove by it a couple of times before realizing the place where I needed to turn. It's not particularly well marked from River Road. As it turns out, this is part of its charm. Oliver's Woods Nature Preserve is a 56-acre preserve owned by the Central Indiana Land Trust. It includes 16 acres of woods, 37 acres of prairie-savanna restoration, and a mile of White River frontage. As is true for most preserves under Central Indiana Land Trust, Oliver's Woods is fairly light in development but a fairly nice effort toward some ADA accessibility is noteworthy. It's not perfectly accessible but, let's be honest, nature seldom is perfectly accessible. As Nicole S. notes, this is a rather sublime weaving together of urban and nature. In fact, I really expected this to be more like a pocket park considering it's situated so close to an office park, apartments, and a nearby shopping center along with the highway. Remarkably, this is simply a well preserved area of nature amidst it all. In terms of accessibility, the accessible parking is by the Daugherty house. Oliver Daugherty, who passed away in 2009, donated the property to Central Indiana Land Trust and some unexpected funding received allowed for increased development of it in 2017. The accessible parking spot allowed for access to a .6 mile trail made of crushed gravel. I'm a wheelchair user and had no issues with it. However, it's worth noting that parking in the usual parking lot is more difficult because the gravel isn't quite as crushed. While the preserve is open daily, there are specific times when a volunteer docent is available to give a tour of the preserve. There is a canoe launch available for any craft legally allowed on the water in the city of Indianapolis that you can carry to/from the river from the drop-off area in front of the Daugherty House. The southern half of the Town Run Trail Park also runs through this property with an agreement that was made between Indy Parks and Daugherty himself. Volunteers have helped plant native trees and plants and to remove invasive species. "This special care is allowing native species like wild ginger, Virginia bluebells, waterleaf, wild hyacinth and trillium to flourish," according to the CILT website. Because this is so wooded and you are along White River, seeing wildlife is also a strong possibility. This is not a "recreational" preserve other than the ability to launch a canoe. This is a wonderful preserve for enjoying nature, appreciating White River, and enjoying a short but nicely done trail. There are signs around the preserve explaining the preserve (including at the Daugherty House). Quite honestly, I'd have loved living here. I saw one other vehicle while I was here, though I never saw the person associated with that vehicle. I did hear traffic and the highway, though on a warm and sunny Fall day it all felt really perfect. Now that I know this is here, there's no doubt I'll return!

    Oliver's Woods Nature Preserve is truly an urban oasis. You can see and hear the vehicles roar by…read morefrom I-465, just a short distance away. You walk through tall grasses as you walk past billboard signs. I love the city and I tolerate nature, so this place is a great combination of both for me. There are hiking trails here, but they're not clearly marked, so as we were walking and enjoying nature, we encountered several mountain bikers who raced past us. There must have been some sort of mountain biking thing going on, because there were a lot of bikers at the park. We must have been on the biking trail, because we didn't see any other walkers, just bikers. The path is super slim, so we had to duck into the brush whenever we saw a bicycler, which was every three to five minutes. Eventually, we headed back and found an actual walking path. All this to say: If you find a dirt path that is jutted, it's probably not the walking path -- it's the biking path. Once we found the walking path, it was very pretty and peaceful. The hiking / walking path will take you to the boat launch, where you can take your boat out onto the White River. It will also take you to the Daugherty House, which is a house that belonged to the original owner of the property, Oliver Daugherty. You can't go inside the house, but you can look at the outside, and there are signs and QR codes that give you more information about it. We found a lot of native plants here, including wild raspberries that were ripe and ready for picking. We also saw a beaver (!) and trekked across a stream that fed into the White River. This is such a cool place, and it's a true Indianapolis hidden gem.

    Photos
    Oliver's Woods Nature Preserve - Daugherty House

    Daugherty House

    Oliver's Woods Nature Preserve - Oliver's Woods

    Oliver's Woods

    Oliver's Woods Nature Preserve - Inside the Preserve

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    Inside the Preserve

    Founders Park - Pavilion

    Founders Park

    4.7(15 reviews)
    3.9 mi

    I was recently appointed to the Indiana Trails Advisory Board. We held a meeting at Wilfong…read morePavilion in Founders Park, another Carmel Park I'd had yet to visit. This is a 37-acre park (it feels bigger, but that's according to the Carmel Parks website). I think the reason it feels bigger is that it better utilizes its space over a park like the nearby Hazel Landing. Founders Park has a large shelter, restroom facility, open sports fields (there were kids playing soccer while I was there), walking trails, and a very cool playground that is nature-inspired - swings, a sandbox, climbing structures, and more. Founders Park also has native prairie, wetlands, and a pond. Wilfong Pavilion is a neat facility with a capacity in its main room of 99 people. It also has beautiful views. Founders Park has had multiple upgrades recently including repair of its retaining wall, new fencing, an improved parking lot, and added rubber safety surfacing with the playground. I definitely see this as a very family friendly park. There's a seasonal drinking fountain, fishing, trails, a bike rack, and a seasonal foot wash station that makes me wish I had feet. Carmel is typically good about accessibility and that's definitely evident here. The bathroom had a nice, larger stall with grab rails. I would definitely return and I would definitely consider renting Wilfong Pavilion myself as it has accessible parking and appropriate curb cuts.

    Are you looking for a park to take your little ones to or just a park to have picnic at then look…read moreno further. This park is really nice and has some wonderful activities at it for children to enjoy. There are a lot of picnic benches and plenty of grass here for a nice picnic on a nice warm day. There are bathrooms that looked well kept here. If you are in the area definitely check this park out. I had met my friend and her daughter here and found this park to be very enjoyable.

    Photos
    Founders Park - Swings

    Swings

    Founders Park - Large play area for littles

    Large play area for littles

    Founders Park - Wildflowers

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    Wildflowers

    Central Park East Woods

    Central Park East Woods

    4.4(10 reviews)
    0.4 mi

    This park is what it is. It has tons of parking available in a few different set at lots. To get…read moreto the park, you take a sort drive through a wooded area. At he front of the park you will find three shelters with picnic tabes under them and grills just out side of them. The entrance to the park ends at the Monon Community Center and the Waterpark. The park's bread and butter by far is its trails. It has mile and miles of trails that are interconnected, some paved, some gravel and some dirt. Some through the woods and in the open. There is a storybook trail near the front of the park by the shelters. The trails are awesome with a capital A. They are well maintained and go for miles. You can walk, bike or run them if you so chooses and if you don't have a bike, don't worry. They have a kiosk that you can rent bikes. near the walkway leading to the water park. There is also a restroom there. You will find another restroom structure at the front of the park by the shelter area. The park itself has 3 miles of trails that wind through a variety of ecosystems including native prairies, wetlands, and woodlands. Its trails also connect to the Monon Greenway (it runs through the center of it, and has pretty much adopted it), which gives you more room to roam. Additionally, this park is connected to one of the most futuristic and best all around playgrounds that I have been to. If that was not enough. it has a community center and waterpark located on its grounds pretty much. RIght behind the playground area is a very peaceful lagoon and a boardwalk. It is very nice and I really enjoyed walking it. It has ducks and fish and I found it very tranquil. If you are planning on bike riding, walking, walking the dog and running (why would you want to do that :-)), this is the park for you, even if you have to drive a bit. This park is beautiful year-round, but I find it especially beautiful this time of year, the fall. When the leaves are changing colors and the weather is nice.

    2020 has certainly been a year of new park discoveries. This past weekend, my husband and I…read morecelebrated our anniversary by checking out two new parks and grabbing a snow cone. It's the simple pleasures, right? I had visited the Monon Community Center and Waterpark several times before but never the Central Park East Woods that you pass as you enter the overall park. Central Park East Woods features a handful of trails, picnic areas, bathrooms, a community bookshelf and fun themed trails like the Paw Paw Path. I'm always a sucker for boardwalk paths too (what is about the look of boardwalk paths that always gets me to show up?). You'll find this park on the left hand side noted as "picnic area" as you enter the long winding drive for the Monon Center. Everything is within walking distance of one another.

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    Central Park East Woods
    Central Park East Woods
    Central Park East Woods

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    West Commons Playground & Splash Pad - parks - Updated May 2026

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