This park definitely has potential. Whenever I come, no matter the day, it's usually pretty empty,…read morewhich is nice because I can walk my dogs around freely. Most of the area is uneven grass, though it's usually cut, and there aren't many good walking paths within the park itself. I've listened to live music at the amphitheater and really enjoyed that! I've also longboarded here; the main path along the road seems newer and usually clear. I've played tennis on the courts too, but they could use just a little TLC. Really, the whole park could. Still, it's a peaceful spot with room to grow.

Riverside Park has amazing potential but is in need of major love. The sprawling Park sits on prime…read moreriverside real estate and is lush with trees. But the grounds are overgrown and weedy, equipment fading and in disrepair and my encounter with staff was not uplifting. The pool is locked and empty. I inquired about the status at the front desk. The clerk did not look up from her computer but said the pool was being serviced and they had no idea if and when it would be fixed. I didn't see anyone working on the pool. Since they have a summer camp in session, it would be great if the pool was operational. There is a really nice set of tennis courts (12ish). There is green space for football and a baseball diamond. A nice set of workout equipment from the Colts seems in need of a good cleaning. I was excited to find a boat ramp with parking area. This area needs to be cleaned and patrolled. The River access site is beautiful. The park offers free daily lunches to those in need and also provides summer camps. I found these resources valuable to the community. I was really surprised to find the park not pristine and vibrant for 4th of July holiday. The flagpoles were even empty.

This park has a lot of potential. It is not a very well visited park. I saw a few people come there…read morewhile I was there, but they did not stay long. It has a modest, but adequate parking lot for visitors to park. You will find a couple of very nice full basketball courts in the front of the park. The court is well paved and the rims can be raised and lowered. Even I could dunk on them. just behind the basketball courts, are two tennis courts. They are in pretty good shape too. The park is home to two shelters. They are in fair condition, but have a very limited amount of picnic tables under them. There are also grills just outside of the shelters. The park features a decent playground area that is on a bed of wood chips. The area has benches on its perimeter for caregivers to sit and watch their littles. The playgrounds equipment includes a bank of traditional/infant swings with a nest saucer swing, a small and medium jungle gym with slides, bridges, tunnels, and a sliding pole. a large pebble bridge setup with a climbing wall and Jacobs ladder, and a spinning net climber. The equipment is in pretty good shape. Other park amenities include a nice paved trail and a decent path of green space that is suitable for activities such a picnic, playing catch, flying a kite, a football or soccer game. The park is poorly maintained, or I caught it on a bad day. There was trash all over the place, trash cans were knocked over. On a positive note, the grass was cut. This is a nice park to visit, if you are in the area. They do not have any restrooms, but they have just about eveything else that I look for in a park. I would not label it a destination park, but still worthy of being a place that you spend some time.

First time visiting this with my 3 and 4 year olds. Super clean park. One broken slide but it's…read moreclosed off. It's in a quiet area and has a huge area to play or run in also. The basketball court seems good and kids were playing on it. My kids loves how different it is from other parks and how much things there were to climb and jump off of. Definitely a nice park and so close to where we live. The giant merry go round was also a huge hit.

This is a nice nature park with a vast amount of green space. It is located well off of the main…read moreroad which gives it a bit of calmness. It spans 82 acres and dates back to 1970. The park has a shelter with picnic tables under it and a few tables and a grill just outside of it. A large portion of the park is a dog park area. They have 2 large fenced in areas with benches and dog ramps and jump bars. It is a nice dog park and requires a permit where dog owners can purchase a day or annual pass. There is a decent sized parking lot to park in and just off of the parking lot is the entrance to the park's nature trail. It is a very nice trail that is well defined and wide. You are never too deep in the woods being that it borders a neighborhood. The green space is vast and well maintained. You can do just about any field activity here including flying a kite, playing soccer, playing football, throwing a frisbee, having a picnic, batting practice or playing catch. There is a huge hill in the midst of all the green space that would be awesome for hanging out, working out and sledding after a snow. Some people use the green space, instead of paying to use the dog park to walk their dogs. I think that is acceptable by the park, as long as you clean up after it and keep it on a leash. The park's playground is ok. It has a bank of traditional swings, a bank of toddler swings, a geo dome, a see-saw, a spiral slide, and a large accesible jungle gym with a bunch of slides, monkey rings, pull up bars, and track ride. The area is on a bed of saw dust and the equipment is in fair condition and you can see signs of weather and wear. I know that money does not grow on trees, but it would be nice to upgrade this area. I will caution you that the park can get muddy after some precipitation, so dress your feet accordingly. This is a nice nature park that has a dog park, hiking trails, green space, a playground, and picnic area. There is no restroom facility, but they do have a porta-potty available by the parking lot near the dog park area. Definitely worth a visit if you are looking for a park and are in the area. I enjoyed my time there.

Paul Ruster Park is an 82-acre park that sort of rides the South and East corridors of Indy. It's a…read morelittle gem, though not particularly a wheelchair friendly one given it maintains a lot of its natural setting rather than having a lot of actual "features." The park was acquired in 1970 and is part of Indy Parks. It has beautiful, winding trails, a small fishing pond, and a playground that has some nice equipment but I sure wouldn't consider it to be top-notch in that area. I sort of stumbled by Paul Ruster Park. I was on a therapeutic drive after work and happened to make a turn and instantly saw the park sign. As I knew this was not a park I'd ever visited before, I had to stop and check it out. As I was driving in on a winding road, I saw one guy pulling out his fishing equipment. I love that. Paul Ruster Park does feature a bark park. You can buy a pass for it at the Post Road park. There's also a 1.5 mile trail in the park that I tried out - it's relatively gentle with some inclines and has some lakeside features. Dogs can go on the trail, though they must be leashed. The trail is pretty good for wheelchairs and is certainly paved. Paul Ruster has a really good sledding hill, though that's obviously not wheelchair friendly. It might be interesting, though! There is a path that leads to the playground equipment, though I certainly would not call the playground area an accessible area. I'm always curious about how parks get their names. So, I did some research since Paul Ruster doesn't really ring a bell. Ruster was a 1964 graduate of Warren Central High School who died on December 10, 1978 of Hodgkin's Disease. He was a longtime Eastside presence and had a brother who had been a Warren Central baseball star and would become a P.E. teacher. Paul Ruster himself went to Ball State and returned to Warren Township where he taught for 10 years before his death. He was a beloved child advocate and the park was named after him in 1979. Another fun fact about the park - it's reportedly haunted by the ghost of John Kitley, a 12-year-old harmonica playing boy who was killed along train tracks in 1864. The park is close to the Washington Square area and yet is nicely set apart from both the retail and residential areas that are within minutes.

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?!

Oh gosh! This park is completely different than when I last reviewed it eight (eight!) years ago…read more River Heritage Park underwent a complete makeover in 2022, and it's so much better. We used to call this "the bee sting park" because this is the park where my son got stung by a bee. But River Heritage looks so different that my children forgot all about "bee sting park" and have fully embraced this new park because it's so much fun. What I especially love about River Heritage Park is that it encourages walking and exploring. There is a fun playground right off of the parking lot, but the magic lies beyond this area as you walk deeper into the park. A little ways away, you'll find another area with playground equipment like a netted swing and other fun things. Walk a little farther down the path and you'll see even more playground equipment, including two ziplines. Each of these areas have benches for parents or caregivers to sit and enjoy watching their kids play. If you walk even farther down the path, you'll find an area with a few picnic tables set among the woods. Walk even farther, and you'll find a secret (OK, not-so-secret) fort made out of big logs and branches! I'm proud to say that my children helped build it, and it's really cool. The walking path goes in a loop all around the park. The path is wide and smooth, and can easily accommodate strollers and wheelchairs. It's also made of a rubberized material and is a little bouncy, which I've been told is easier on the joints. If you visit this park during the off season (approximately November through mid-April), the restrooms will be locked, but there are port-a-potties available. The parking lot is still in a state of transition. The parking lot is dirt, and I imagine it would be messy when it rains.

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.

This 11 acre park open in 2019 and is in excellant shape. It has pretty much everything that I look…read morefor in a park. There are 2 very nice tennis courts and 2 pickle ball courts. There is also 2 very nice full basketball courts. The park also touts a large sledding hill and handball court. The sled hill is huge and is located behind the play area. The handball area is on the backside of tennis courts. You will find 4 picnic shelters with picnic tables under them here and an awesome bathroom facility co located with the large shelter. Near the front of the park next to one of the shelters are 3 very nice and well maintained sets of corn hole boards. They are very impressive. The park has a fenced in splash pad that looks pretty cool. They have benches around the perimeter for parents to sit and watch the littles. In the warmer months it is open daily from 9 AM to 7 PM. The center piece of the park is it playground area. It is lined with rubber matting and turf. It also has shade awnings and some new age equipment. There is a bank of swings that has a traditional swing, a toddler swing, and an expression swing. There are a couple of saucer swings, a universal carousel, a bunch of net climbers, a couple of slides, a 4-square course, a see-saw, some percussion instruments, and a whirl and twirl. I must say, the equipment looks straight out of an Ikea catalog. There are a few benches in this area for parents to sit and watch their kids. The park's paved fitness/jogging trail is awesome. It is well paved and has dog poop stations placed along the route. There is a huge parking lot for the park and they have even added a little bridge that connects the back parking spots with the park, crossing over a little prairie area. In addition to all that, the park has a few green space pockets that are suitable for playing catch, a pick up football game, a soccer match, flying a kite or other similar activities. The park is one of the nicer ones that I have visited and I like that the play are does not have dirt or mud. It is very well maintained and in good shape. I hope to make it back to this park when the splash pad is operational and get the full experience.

Hidden gem of a wonderland in Whitestown. Amazing climbing structures, swings, slides, splash pad,…read moretennis and pickle ball courts, corn hole, merry-go-round and much more. There are many many sensory and musical structures for learning. This is the nicest playground I have ever visited - hands down. My granddaughter did not want to leave. The playground is about two years old and is kept immaculate by the park service. There is a soft mat under all structures incase the kids fall. There is parking for about a hundred cars, but we were here alone today in the early morning. The facilities are open dawn til dusk. All facilities are totally accessible and stroller friendly. There are swings designed for special needs visitors. There are structures for all ages groups. A number of canopies are arranged across the structures to provide shade. There are awesome unisex and family restroom facilities and four picnic pavilions. There are plenty of benches surrounding the park for parents to relax. There are also plenty of strategically place trash receptacles. Courts and pavilions appear to be first come first serve. There is a nice sidewalk-running path around the park with amenities for dog clean up. Covid guidelines are posted and the park is smoke free. We will be regulars. Well worth the trip.

Large park with multiple areas for recreation. They also have event spaces and different sporting…read moresections. The have a dedicated parking lot too. Beautiful trees in the fall.

I had attended an event here at this park which the organization had rented the pavilion to host an…read moreevent at. This park is very nice because they have a lot of things for you to do. There is playground area for the children. They have a tennis court and a baseball field. There is a public bathroom out there. The park was clean and no trash flying around from people littering. The only parking by the pavilion was the street parking which was in front of the residence of the neighborhood or there was a parking lot further away from the pavilion.

Simon Moon Park got a MAKEOVER!…read more It's still the perfect toddler park, but now there are some upgrades for older toddlers and elementary-aged kids too! Start off learning to rock wall climb with the cutest metamorphosis-inspired climbing structures Meet Ichabod the Crane with more advanced rock wall climbing and even more climbing features Small toddler-friendly playground with a slide Rope climbing structure with a slide for older toddlers and elementary-aged kids 4 different types of swings Merry-go-round and other spinning equipment Soft turf throughout 2 pavilions Bathrooms nearby A few things to know: It's brand new, so some areas are still under construction There isn't much shade yet And there's SO much more coming! Sledding hill + warming shelter Amphitheater Kayak rentals + piers The trail around the lake is already open and currently includes a mix of gravel, paved paths, and boardwalks. This park is going to be AMAZING once everything is finished. Add it to your list now so you can watch it grow!

A really good park for nice weather days. There's a nice kids play area, a clean shelter spot, a…read morenice flat concrete hike by a little lake almost behind the park. There's a small parking area right at the park but a bigger spot about 20-30 steps away. Clean and well maintained, dogs are allowed. My family and friends had a lot of fun and enjoyed visiting Simon Moon park.