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.

River Heritage Park is a hidden gem in Hamilton County. The Park borders the White River…read more Yesterday, was our first visit and we had a beautiful cool day to walk the trails and explore. The trails are totally accessible with parts of the trail covered with a soft matted material for easy walking/running. Along the trail are a number of colorful play structures with a zip line as a highlight for the kids. My favorite part of the mile plus hike were the scenes and overlooks along the White River. The river was crystal clear and picturesque. We found some evidence of the recent flooding throughout the park. The woods were filled with birds and native trees. We saw large turtles and fish in the river. Benches, picnic tables and information placards are along the trail. A beautiful old silo stands at the trail head along with a picnic pavilion and amphitheater. A playground with plenty of covered seating and a pair of volleyball courts stand near the parking lot. A small set of restrooms are available. Construction by adjacent Citizens Energy is somewhat distracting, but should be temporary. Signs indicate that the Park will begin a new phase of growth after the work is completed at Citizens. We found plenty of parking. The park is well worth a visit and should be spectacular when the leaves start changing color soon.

River Heritage Park in Carmel sits right along the White River and is SO much more than just a…read moreplayground. There's one main playground with: * Swings * Climbing structures * Spinning equipment * An interactive game on a rubber surface * Two shaded picnic tables But here's where this park gets really fun Take the hard, rubberized trail through the park and you'll find three mini play areas scattered along the trail. And THIS is where you'll find the zipline! I've checked out a lot of parks around Hamilton County, and this is one of the longest and fastest free ziplines I've found. There's also a slide just past the zipline, and if you keep walking, you can make your way to White River overlooks. A few things to know: The main playground doesn't have much shade There is shade along the trail Bathrooms are available The rubberized trail is smooth and much easier on your joints than mulch or uneven trails It's basically a playground + mini playground adventure + scenic walk + White River views all in one. And did I mention the zipline is FREE?!

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.

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.

A little bit of New York in Indiana! Theses Ruins are from a salvaged New York City building from…read more1898. This park was beautiful! If you have an hour to burn. This is the spot. Although, I could have hung out here all day. Well maintained and it has bathrooms on site.

I haven't visited Holliday Park in several years, but I was glad I did this week. There is so much…read moreto see and do at the Park. The history of the park is interesting. I was glad to find plaques describing the Holliday family. John Holliday was a journalist who founded the Indianapolis News. The property of the Park was the country home for his family. Holliday donated the property to the City of Indianapolis to serve as a Park. The "Ruins" on the property were formally the entrance facade to the St Paul Building in New York City. Indy Artist, Elmer Taflinger, won the facade when the building was demolished in the 1950's. Taflinger designed the exquisite monument that now stands as a focal point in Holliday Park. The monument includes a water feature that kid's (and I) were playing during my visit. The surrounding garden and fountain are beautiful and provide a magnificent backdrop for photos. The Nature Center in the Park is currently housing summer programs for kids. There are two classrooms and an auditorium. A bird watching room and library are relaxing spaces to enjoy. A nature area on the other side of the building offers interactive activities for children. Trail 3 starts from the Nature Center and meanders through a lovely rock garden filled with perennials in bloom and trees. The trail is a perfect spot to watch birds. The playground is sprawling with multiple climbing features and slides. Shaded benches and lots of mature trees provide shade. The matting is cushy under the equipment to keep the kids safe. I saw a nearby pavilion with restrooms. I saw several parking lots. Signs mark where to find different venues. Bring sunscreen, water and wear bug repellent. Don't leave valuables in your cars according to signs.

I'm always intrigued by the parks that seem to get the most reviews. While some Indy Parks…read morelocations seem to get ignored, we occasionally get a park like Juan Solomon Park on the northwest side of Indy with 10 reviews. The park was acquired in 1971. It's a 41-acre park. I love learning how parks get their names - and Juan Solomon is named after Juan Solomon (I bet you figured that out, eh). Solomon was very active in Indy's African-American community and served as director of the Community Service Council, Indianapolis Urban League, and was on the board of the Indianapolis Department of Parks and recreation. He worked for Eli Lilly for 32 years and led the Mayor's Task Force on Employment. The park is one of Indy's parks that really has some cool features including a covered sheltered, soccer fields, renovated playground equipment, tennis courts, and wooded trails great for nature walks. There's a .8 mile loop. Crooked Creek runs through the center of the park. This is a park with public restrooms and there's an indoor facility with space for rent and a very cool sod roof. Interestingly, there's also a water treatment facility here. Parking is abundant here. While Solomon Park was developed in 1971, it actually didn't become Solomon Park until 1973. Solomon also lived in this neighborhood (across from the park). As I noted, you can book community room rentals. I know on weekends it's $80 an hour with a three-hour minimum (paid upfront). There are flushing restrooms connected to the building (though they are also open to the public). Capacity is 75 people (no kitchen on site). You can rent the shelter for $85/day with a capacity of 40-50. I used to live in this area. I don't get to Juan Solomon as much as I used to, however, I still stop in when I'm on this side of town or if I arrive on this side of town early for a meeting. While part of me thinks this should be a destination park, it even offers pretty darn good accessibility with the playground, I still think it's not quite a 5-star park as it's not always kept up really well and I'll be honest and say I think the community room rental is a bit steep for a public park. That said, there's much to love here and this park serves the Crooked Creek area quite well. It's not a destination park, however, it's definitely a popular park for this area.

I've had this spot bookmarked after driving by nearly a dozen times. We finally had the time to…read morestop by and check it out with our son this last weekend. The thing that caught my eye the most was the beautiful building with a living roof and the trails surround the park. They have a large playscape on a padded floor, tennis courts and a soccer field. It felt like everything could use a little TLC and they are struggling to keep up with trash overflow that seemed to litter the parking lot, etc. (most likely to blame from the visitors not picking up after themselves) Overall, great bones but could use a little loving.

Looking for a park with NO slides? Check out Asa Bales Park…read more Soft padded turf instead of mulch Tons of climbing activities (and not too high off the ground ) No slides--perfect for kids who love to climb instead! Extras include disc golf, a skate park & an easy ~1 mile paved walking trail with bridges (great for bikes + strollers ) New playground set in an older park = lots of nature and potential shade Right across from Westfield High School & next to the middle school Such a fun, unique option when you want something different from the typical playground setup

This park is great for climbers. There isn't much for small kids to do but my 22 month old was able…read moreto climb on some stuff! It had a few swings and some picnic tables. There's also disc golf and a skate park! It's right off the walking trail nearby and easy parking across the street from Westfield high school.

I'm honestly amazed I've never reviewed Arsenal Park. I live just east of SoBro, South Broad Ripple…read morefor the uninitiated, and drive by and/or visit Arsenal Park on a pretty regular basis. It's a 13-acre park smack dab in the middle of the SoBro area. This is a definite residential park with parking that's pretty interesting - it's essentially around the perimeter of the park. This is a very wooded park. It's actually a pretty heavily utilized park and there's very few times that I drive by here that I don't actually see people at the park. This park was purchased by the City of Indianapolis in 1928 (Fun fact: Original price was $19,915). It resulted from a desire for a park in the area east of what's known as Meridian Kessler. Early development came from such projects as the New Deal jobs programs and the Works Progress Administration in the 1930s. Arsenal Park offers a variety of activities including basketball courts, a bicycle polo course, a multipurpose field, a splash pad, playground, a shelter and a comfort station. Arsenal Park was purchased by the City of Indianapolis in 1928 following community interest in establishing a park in the area east of the Meridian Kessler neighborhood. Much of the early development of the 11-acre park was done through New Deal jobs programs like the Works Progress Administration in the 1930s. This park offers basketball courts, a bicycle polo course, a community garden, a multipurpose field, a splash pad, playground equipment, a shelter, and a comfort station. This seems to be a park that's always under some sort of development. There's a current master plan for the park and it's a beautiful setting that I don't feel like has ever lived up to its potential. Another fun fact: It's called Arsenal Park because it used to be on Arsenal Avenue (which became Indianola). At one point, it was also called Haverford Park. If you pay attention to this area, there's a Haverford baseball complex down the street. I tend to agree with most of the reviews here. I love this park. It's also great for those who geocache - there's more than one geocache in this park. It's not the most wheelchair friendly park and there's really not a walking path here. However, the playground is fairly accessible. Overall, this is a solid 4-star park that could easily be developed into a 5-star park with some love, attention, and vision. I typically do feel safe in this park, though the bike area can get a bit congested. It's surrounded by houses and pretty open concept.

This is a neat park. It is a bit older, dating back to 1928, but still has a lot of life left. It…read morewas originally named Haverford Park, after Haverford Avenue which borders it on its West side. The park is home to a garden. I believe it is one of those community gardens that are popping up all over the area. It has a table and chairs to sit and looks nice. The park seems well maintained and has adequate parking available. It spans 13 acres and spans a bit of everything. They have a skate park that has seen better days. It sits on what use to be old tennis courts. It looks like it was put together using items that were found laying around. It has rails, ramps, stairs and other pieces that I do not know the name of. It may be makeshift, but it works. There were people shredding (is that still the word) when I was there. The park also have a restroom facility and a couple of shelters with picnic tables under it and grills outside of them. There is also a very nice water park there. It seems relatively new. There are benches over there that are shaded by canopies where parents can sit and watch their littles play. The park also has a lot of green space that could be used for activities such as football, soccer, flying a kite, or having a picnic. The park's full basketball court has seen better days. It will do for those wanting to just throw up a few shots. The court could use a fresh coat of paint though. Of course the park has a playground. It is on a bed of wood chips and consists of a few pieces of older traditional equipment. It is not a very big area. Some of the equipment includes a bank of traditional/toddler swings, an accessible medium sized jungle gym with slides, and a spinning net climber. The splash pad makes this park a destination park for some. It is a nice traditional park that has a lot to offer.