White River State Park is one of the most popular parks in the city, and for good reason! The nickname 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. read more

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This park is such a gem! As I write this review while listening to "Here Comes The Sun" by The Beatles, 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! read more

White River State Park - Parks Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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This is a huge park in the Indy downtown area, sits along the White river bank. Several tourist attractions are in and near the park such as Amphitheater, Indiana State Museum and history museum. There's a parking lot right inside the park. The walkway along the water is very nice. The park is mostly clean. There are several signs around the park with different historical facts about the park and the state. It is a a lot walk to explore the park fully, so be prepared accordingly depending on weather and temperature outside. read more

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This is a nice green space downtown which can be accessed from the zoo and a few museums. Access from the zoo is a bit more complicated with the way they set up the new zoo entrance through the garden but there is still a path from the parking lot. There is easy access to the canal as well from here. I've been to some events here over the years as well, and it's a great location for food festivals and similar events. Some picnic tables might be nice, but bringing a blanket works for a picnic too. read more

White River State Park - November 2025 - Parks Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

The weather was cold the day we went downtown but we still took a few minutes to go to the park. There weren't many people outside since it was so cold but I do know when the weather is warm, a lot of people like to enjoy time there. They have bikes, electric scooters, and paddle boats that you can rent to enjoy. This is a nice place to bring your family, kids, or someone special. It's located in the heart of downtown and is just another example of where you can go and not have to pay a lot to enjoy yourself. read more

White River State Park - Nice walking area - Parks Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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Located in downtown Indianapolis, White River State Park was right beside our hotel, the JW Marriott, and we had a view of the park from our hotel room. From what I could see, it looked like an interesting park, but we were so busy with Gen Con that we didn't get a chance to visit during the convention. However, our flight was cancelled and and automatically rebooked for a day later, something we were pretty happy about, and we finally had a chance to walk through the park on our way back from the zoo. The park is 267 acres and within the park is the zoo, Eiteljorg Museum, Indiana State Museum, the amphitheater, and more. There are also a lot of neat sculptures, and as a Yelper, of course I had to take photos of every sculpture. If you like public art, it's a must see. I really enjoyed walking through the park, and if I am ever in Indianapolis again, I will definitely visit. [Yelp collections: Louisville/Indianapolis 2023; Indianapolis, IN 2023; Parks and Gardens] read more

I have an amazing time at the Taste of Indy hosted at the White River State Park. The views, vendors, food, drinks were all top tier. read more

Beautiful park!! We loved walking around, seeing the art, and enjoying being outside. The visitors center is cashless! read more

White River State Park - Parks Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

I had never been to this park and didn't know there was a multi-level parking garage underneath it until I attended a festival event today. I like how the parking garage has plenty of signage to let you know which exits come out by which buildings. I didn't read my email well enough to know exactly where the event was being held so I ended up walking the perimeter of the park. There was only one handful of people walking in the park and it wasn't until I found a park employee to ask that I learned the location of the event which was Military Park. I didn't realize the park included areas behind all of the various museums. I learned that there were many museums and that the canal walk begins here. There are sculptures and artwork located throughout the park. The amphitheater seems huge at least the roof of it does. There is so much to see and do in downtown that you can't see from driving the streets. You need to walk around to get a better view of the various venues, especially here around this large city park in the heart of downtown. There wasn't much to the gift shop but at least it was open and staffed. There is surface parking available too but I didn't pay attention to the cost. The underground garage is $10 for the first two hours. I didn't realize it was within walking distance of the zoo until I left for the day. read more

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This was such a beautiful trail and park in general. I came out here on a beautiful sunny morning and was just amazed at how pretty it all was. This park just makes you appreciate nature and the water and trees. I walked past the zoo down the trail and is against the canal. I then turned onto New York Street and then passed the soccer stadium and continued to wander through the NCAA greens. This is definitely something that you should seek out if you are in Indy. There are clean trails and beautiful views all around read more

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We love this beautiful park! We enjoy being here so much! The well manicured grass, the lovely trees, the clean pathways I could go on and on! We enjoyed the bike riding there and sitting down and just being with nature! There's close by restrooms, close by parking (for a fee), and some vendors for a little snack if you need one. The park can lead to the canal, the zoo, NCAA, and the museums! We certainly enjoy going! read more

White River State Park - Park time! - Parks Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

White River State Park covers 267 acres. Canal Walk runs through the park. There are many attractions located within including Indianapolis Zoo and IMAX. As we were walking, we spotted a row of blossoming plum trees with the river in the background- picture perfect! read more

White River State Park - Parks Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Over all a great venue. They have booze and food trucks and tents and the prices are actually somewhat reasonable. The only draw back is that the hill slopes down in the back but other than that not a bad seat in the house. Not impressed with Goose. read more

White River State Park - Goose or as I now call them, wanna be Phish. - Parks Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Awesome park and love the art and cannal. I had no idea White River State Park was here. Located in downtown Indianapolis and it's fun to explore on a nice day. We were standing at the Conrad downtown and heard about the canal and walked down to check it out. It was a beautiful day and to our surprise there was all of this green space, art, trails, the river, and the central canal. We even explored around and ended up at the 911 monument. There was a beautiful Old bridge that crossed the that was reimagined as a free space. It was such a good idea and was beautiful. Would love to have something like this in our city. Definitely recommend and worth checking out. , read more

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Lots of water and grass. Museums and zoo on grounds. Take a paddleboat on the canal or bicycle around. Walk along the river or play in the park. NCAA museum borders it. read more

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White River State park is just what you need. Picture sunset, cool weather, epic downtown views and a friendly crowd! First off paid parking (a minimum of a dollar or more) and walk in there are many ways to enjoy the park. Open park, trees for shade, white river right in between. It was a perfect evening! It's pretty easy to just keep walking and not realize how far you are, definitely would suggest looking up one path so you know when to start walking back. It was almost dark by the time we returned, and the moon + street lights were a magnificent combo. While Indy downtown is certainly not the biggest downtown view but it's certainly the best and calming view. read more

Great state park that has miles of trails. I really enjoyed the walk/run/bike trails along both sides of the white river. During spring there is No shortage of blooming trees and flowers around every turn. The trails are well maintained. You'll find a number of spots where you can read about the local nature and wildlife as well as the local conservation efforts along both sides of the river. There's several bridges across the river, especially in the downtown Indianapolis area so you can cross easily. You'll get some great city views as well from the west side of the river. There's an amphitheater along the trail along with several parks. There's really lots to see and do. I really enjoyed my walk here and highly recommended it for everyone. read more

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This is a very nice park located on the outskirts of downtown Indianapolis. It covers 250 acres. I have been here many times and thought I had already done a review on it. Oh well, here I go. This park is home to many nice Indianapolis museums including the NCAA museum, The Indiana State Museum, and the Eiteljorg Museum. There is also an outdoor amphitheater there as well. I saw Kids Bop there one summer. There are many paid parking garages around the park. The best and most convenient one is under the park and you enter through the front of the Indiana State Museum. There is also an open paid lot by the amphitheater that I have parked at many times. The park is picturesque and has nice views of the city, the White River and the Canal. There is some very nice sculptures in the park. One of the most notable is the Tent, a 43 feet tall, bright and colorful sculpture that has reflective panels that wave in the wind. Many pieces of art are located in the center of the large bridge/walkway that goes over the river. The park is attached to the zoo and can be accessed from the side of the zoo. There are many other ways to access the park including the garage, the Indiana State Museum and the amphitheater. This park has a lot of green space for picnic'ers. It is also perfect for runners. I have ran many 5Ks here. The trails are well maintained and can be interconnected to make a track as long or as short as you want. They recently had a half marathon course there that I saw. During warm weather months, there are bikes that you can rent to go around the park. There is always those pesky scooters available to motor around on to, but there are some limitations on where they can go. This park is well maintained and not only has the park, but tons of other stuff to do, museums, walking, the zoo, art walk.... You can actually spend an entire day here and not even know it. read more

White River State Park has so much going on with it that I don't even know where to start. We initially visited the park to try to spot beavers. (Apparently, beavers live in the White River and make their dams around the bridges.) And although we didn't see any beavers, we did see a lot of public art located all throughout the park. It was a fun surprise to walk around and see such beautiful sculptures everywhere, and I can't believe I've lived in Indiana so long, and have visited this park so often, and never saw many of these art pieces. You'll find much of the art around the canal and around the bridges -- Washington Pedestrian Bridge is an especially good place to see sculptures. Because we're living during a time when there is an active pandemic happening, I especially love White River State Park because there is so much open space and grass on which to run around and explore. We weren't around anyone at all, and if we did see people, we had plenty of space to move out of their way. It's nice to have this park in the middle of downtown. I saw that someone mentioned that there was a playground here? I have never seen a playground at this park. If you know where this elusive playground is, send me a message -- my kids (and I'm sure lots of other kids) would love to know. On the grounds of White River State Park is the Indiana State Museum, the Eiteljorg, the Indianapolis Zoo, NCAA Hall of Champions and more. All of these museums require admission to enter, but I would say that you could make an afternoon just walking around the park, looking at all of the art, peeping the canal and enjoying the outdoors for free. One thing you will have to pay for is parking. There's just no getting out of that. There is surface parking and underground parking, but I recommend using the surface parking if you plan to walk around and look at art. It's just closer to everything. read more

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I LOVED going to White River State Park! My roommate and I took some time to take a walk here today for one of my classes! We parked in the lot by the Amphitheater and parking was reasonable. We paid for 2 hours and it was $6. We pretty much did a loop of the entire park. We first stopped at the Visitor Center right by the parking lot. Inside, they had a ton of print materials about Indianapolis and the different areas, along with park souvenirs like tshirts, magnets, and more. They also had some local artist art for sale which I thought was cool! Definetly was a good place for us to start and to just learn more about what the park has to offer! We decided to walk down the bridge that leads from the main section of the park to the zoo. While we didn't go to the zoo specifically, it was nice to see a bigger view of the river and all the different artwork on the bridge too. We continued around by the NCAA Hall of Fame, and went to my favorite part of the park, the canal! I truly think the canal is one of the best parts of the park, as it's so clean and modern, and in the warmer months, it's usually super lively and they even have little swan boats you can rent to go down the canal! While I truly love the park, I think I would go more if there were more things to see or events to go to. I'm sure during the warmer months it is easier ti take advantge of what the park has to offer, but at the time that we went, it was pretty dead and it was just a bunch of people going for a leisurely stroll or such. Although, the park does contain some fun museums as well, we just didn't have the time to go and explore that. Overall, a fun place to go and explore, and it's great that it is so close to the heart of Indianapolis! read more

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This is a very artificial-looking space over not the most amazing river ever, but they did build the heck out of it. It offer a wide area for casual recreation and likely a lot as an event space. The adjoining museums offer intrigue, and the canal which ends here offers a pedestrian route into the city. There are certainly plenty of reasons to be here. read more

White River State Park - Parks Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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Make sure to visit the Urban Farmers Market! Every other Sunday as of May 2, 2022. Hours 9 to 1. The market is easy to access and there is lots of parking near by. Unfortunately the parking garage charges on Sunday but WRP staff were passing out $5 off parking vouchers. This Sunday there were a few food trucks and multiple other vendors. Items include soaps, fresh vegetables, breads, plants, coffees, pastries and pies to start. See the full vendor list online. I couldn't pass up new plants and handcrafted soaps. It's a fun way to spend the morning and walking the canal and museums makes for a nice Sunday. read more

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I don't know how I haven't reviewed White River State Park before. I have been visiting this park since I was a kid partaking in walking it, biking it and even the boat rentals. There is so much to see and do here. Make sure you have your walking shoes on. I have seen many of people walk the whole canal with flip flops on and regret that. I love to start near the zoo and walk through the limestone and then go around the State Museum. It's a highlight for those visiting the city and those who have lived here our whole lives. read more

White River State Park - Parks Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

This review is specifically about watching the Indianapolis Fourth of July Fireworks from the waterfront Pavilion area. The walkway along the river has a lot of seating, separate lookout points, bridge views and much to make this a good spot for watching fireworks. Wheelchair friendly and plenty of parking in the Zoo parking lot. The included pic shows you the location of the fireworks in 2021. Four stars because moving the fireworks changed the look of the show from this location. I think there are probably some epic views for the show closer to the launch site. This location is still decent though. read more

White River State Park - The view of all firework locations from White River State Park, next to the Zoo. - Parks Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

If you are looking for a FREE small wedding ceremony location .. then look no further! We decided we wanted a small intimate ceremony at the Canal. I called ahead to make sure there were no events going on and if we were allowed to do a ceremony on the grounds. The very nice receptionist told me that as long as we are not bringing items in (like chairs, an arch, or other items like that) then it was completely free- just pay for parking. There are so many different options for a ceremony space there. We decided on at the bottom of the mirror tower display right on the canal. There are even big steps for your guests to sit on! The steps face the canal, it was beautiful! I have attached pictures- it was so beautiful and perfect. Your guests will have to pay for parking ($10 ish) but your ceremony is free AND beautiful! read more

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Our visit to this park was first rate. They offer bikes, family style bike and recumbent bikes for rent. Paddle boats are available in a certain area. Scenic walkways along the White River. We only walked through portions of it... approx 2.5 miles or so along IUPUI campus. NCAA museum is close and I wish we had more time to visit. This park is a MUST visit if coming to Indianapolis read more

White River State Park - White River - Parks Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

White River State Park is one of those parks that you simply don't realize "Hey, this is all a park!" until you're actually visiting it, traveling around it, and actually getting kind of tired trying to catch it all. White River State Park bills itself as the nation's only "cultural urban state park." I have no idea if that's true because, well, I have no idea what that actually means. I mean, sure, it's an urban park since it's right off downtown Indy. It's also mighty cultural. I'm just not sure about the "only" part. But, hey, it's a really cool park. I work at the Indiana Government Center. So, White River State Park is easily within wheeling distance, though to really catch it all I'm probably better off actually parking in the park. White River State Park actually includes Military Park, the Central Canal, the banks of the White River, the Indianapolis Zoo, White River Gardens, the Eiteljorg Museum, The Indiana State Museum (with an IMAX Theatre), Victory Field, the NCAA Hall of Champions, and the recently renovated Amphitheater at White River State Park. That's a whole lot of park. You can walk, run, bike, and wheel it. You can rent bicycles. You can rent pedal boats and kayaks. There are other vehicles you can use, as well. While it's a lot of ground to cover, it's all also pretty darn wheelchair friendly. However, I will note the canal does have some exits that are steps only (which is kind of weird). Parking is for the most part paid in garages or on the surface at the park. If you're going to IMAX, for example, you can typically get validation. The park is definitely close to downtown and quite a few other restaurants and places to visit. You can easily make a day out of White River State Park and downtown Indy. Heck, you can easily make a day out of the zoo and probably spend another day at the museums. The Hall of Champions is about the only thing I'd say is a fairly quick visit. There's lots of greenery and places to relax. While all the venues are following current health guidelines, traffic is light these days and even most state employees are still working from home during the pandemic. So, it's a fairly peaceful visit. If you're a geocacher, you'll also find multiple caches within the boundaries of the White River State Park. I know the Indiana State Museum has multiple ones, while the zoo has some and there are other spots around. A good number of them are virtual and fairly easy to snag. Overall, White River State Park encompasses about 250 acres. It was first really begun in 1979, though the first place to truly call it home was the zoo in 1988. The Eiteljorg opened up a year later and before long this park really started growing and it continues to be amazing. If you've never visited, give yourself a day and just explore it. You'll enjoy it. read more

The Amphitheater is done!! Yay! It's nice... We attended the 3 Doors Down/Seether concert after purchasing $20 lawn seats on Groupon. I think the entire city bought the same tickets as it was very crowded. The lawn is nice but still not big enough for our area. And sadly the bright white giant pillars block a lot of the stage from the lawn. They also left some of the trees which is nice for shade, but tends to block the stage. Seating seemed very limited which increased the ticket price of the amphitheater.... They have increased the restrooms which are spacious, well stocked, and clean. They only had ONE (1) merch booth and with thousands of concert goers the line was ridiculous!! They did have multiple booths for alcohol and snacks though so those lines moved pretty quickly. They also had one food truck in the venue - a NY Slice Pizza truck $9 for a slice of sausage, pepperoni, or cheese. $10 for a specialty slice. $5 bottle of water. $4 can of soda. Some things to know before you go... they do not take cash - only cards at All areas. They also had no ATM machines. We were able to bring in an unopened bottle of water. In a nut shell, go for the music but don't expect to see the band and come prepared to spend a lot of money.... read more

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This is specifically about the new and improved ampitheather! I went to 2 concerts here this summer and had the best time! Event parking for $20 is available at the state museum. They take cash or card. The lines to enter can be long so just prepare for that. It is important to note that you have to have a small clutch or hand-wallet. If you bring a purse or backpack they will check it at their lockers for an additional fee. There are chairs available for use for no additional charge. They go quickly! You can bring your own chair or blanket as well but needs to be a low seating/beach chair, not a camping chair. Food options include pizza, tacos, and nachos. Maybe other offerings but that is what was available at the two shows I attended. Beer, wine, and cocktails are also available. Like most concert venues, drinks are spendy at least $15 per pop. The space itself is just beautiful. You get a wonderful view of the city, right on the canal. The lawn is so lush. The theater has two large projecting screens so even if you're in the back of the lawn you can still see the show. It is just such a more special, cozier, more intimate experience than deer creek (never will be ruoff, am I right?). read more

Found this spot by chance. Weather was not ideal was super chilly. The weather allowed us to basically have this place to ourselves. Great for walking, picnics, and just beautiful scene. It looks like during warmer weather you can rent bikes, bike carriages and have food options. I love the water and the works of art. read more

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Ummmm wow. If that could summarize how amazed I was by this place I would let that be all. Anyway, it's an amazing place to be in this city. It's close to a bunch of museums, you can walk around, sit, pedal on the water, or bike around it. Wow. There are also a few murals around and a nice view of the skyline here. We didn't have trouble finding parking. We drove into the lot and paid $3 for an hour. It sounds pricey but I've definitely encountered pricier rates. They do concerts here too. It's definitely a good spot for tourists, to walk your dog, to jog, go on a date, or spend time with family. I'm so impressed that Indy has this. It's such an underrated city, but this was a selling point. There's also an herb garden. Wow. read more

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One of my favorite spots to explore downtown. It's more than just a summer concert venue! It connects to the Canal Walk, spans over the White River (hence the name) and includes the NCAA Hall of Champions, Indianapolis Zoo and more. In particular, I love the large pedestrian bridge that connects the Indiana State Museum/Eiteljorg area to the zoo. Here you'll find a great view of the Indy skyline. Plus, if you follow the path further west behind the zoo, there's a hidden gem of a trail with even better views that I'd like to explore, either on a Pacers Bikeshare bike or a surrey bike. read more

White River State Park - Parks Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

This park is amazing! It's downtown, includes a canal, and has so many great things to look at along the way. There are ducks, picnic tables, a produce garden that my daughter's obsessed with, and tons of sculptures and murals. There are at least 2 if not 3 museums along the paved trail, all of which have some outdoor stuff for you to look at like artwork, humongous steam grandfather clocks that sing, etc. So far this is our fav park to picnic at. There's no fee for admission, but there is for parking. We did however see another Yelper's review mention that State Park pass holders can park for free. I haven't seen anything posted about that anywhere, but I like the way she thinks and have just put my state park on the dashboard each time to cash in on all that great free parking. There are lots of big covered bikes and paddle boats that you can rent. We haven't tried it yet since we always take the stroller with us for picnics, but it looks super fun! Sometimes there are also food vendors that sell hot dogs, nachos, things like that. But we just bring takeout from some fab Indy restaurant to enjoy in the beautiful outdoors instead, and then walk along the canal once we're done with that. read more

White River State Park - Super pretty windmill thing! - Parks Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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White River State Park is GORGEOUS. There are so many activities to do here that I always forget its a state park. Usually I visit the canal and run it, since it's a 5k "track." If you are a runner, I highly recommend trying it! It's 100% my favorite spot to run! Or even if you want an amazing walking path, it's wonderful! There are also multiple restaurants on the canal, which are all delicious. There are activities, such as Segways, paddle board, and gondolas. The Indianapolis zoo is located in the park as well. Concerts are held in the park in the summer. See why its hard to remember this is technically a state park?! Definitely recommend visiting! read more

White River State Park - View from canal - Parks Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Incredible park and even better venue! We love the free lawn chairs for concerts. Last night was HAIM, and we have maybe two more concerts there this summer. I'd recommend everyone check out this park, whether it's for the concerts, walks, pictures or simply to enjoy the day! read more

Whenever I find myself in Indianapolis, I spend at least some of my time at the White River State Park. Whether it is a walk to the zoo and conservatory or just walking around the river area, it is a short and nice walk right from downtown. There is so much to see and do in the park ranging from museums, green spaces, and close proximity to restaurants and sports entertainment. The park itself is large and laid out close to everything. Numerous art pieces are scattered throughout along with a good assortment of seating and picnic areas. There is also an extensive list of events and activities that are done in this area as well. Great place to go and relax with family and friends. read more

White River is a beautiful park to walk through if you're in downtown Indianapolis. It's huge, and has many attractions nearby like the NCAA Hall of Fame and the zoo. Our main reason for coming here was to find the Instagrammable "Indy" sign, which sadly I believe was taken down as we couldn't find it. The park is peaceful and has a beautiful view of the river, along with multiple art pieces and sculptures scattered around. Not to mention a great view of the downtown Indy skyline. read more

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This is a great spot for a picnic, hammocking, throwing a frisbee, or just looking out over the river! There is always plenty of space to move around, and some very cool artwork to be found and enjoyed. There are some places to sit, but I would recommend bringing your own picnic blanket to sit on in case all the seats are filled up. There are some places with shade from trees that you can definitely find if you want. The park is a close walk to the canal, museums, and the zoo! A great place to rest your feet in between all your Indy activities! Very close to downtown as well. Be aware that if you are scootering around your scooters may turn off in this area. read more

Awesome concert venue. Was there for Sammy Hagar show and it was incredible. Only downside/confusing park was the entrance. Not sure if there was more than one way in but the line even 30 min before the show was around the block. Once inside, food and bev service was super and ushers were awesome nice too. Great place to see a band up close and personal and everyone was incredibly friendly. read more

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So much to offer! I finally made it down to the park on a beautiful, sunny day this spring and I'm so glad I did. There is a ton of green space with nice walking paths that border the river, canal, and through the park. There are lovely spots to sit for a picnic lunch, before or after your visit to the zoo, Victory Field, or one of the many museums or other attractions. Interesting art pieces dot the park, and there is one of The Public Collections Book Share Stations. The Visit Indy store is here, with some great merch. The parking situation leaves a little to be desired. There are some limited spots and the payment process is old (they would benefit from some sort of ParkMobile integration). I know there are concerts here in the summer, and though I haven't been there yet, I am looking forward to attending one. All in all, this is a beautiful green space in the heart of downtown, and well worth a visit! read more

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