This is a small park that was developed by the Community Caring and Sharing Center and was…read morededicated in 2018. It doubles as a community garden in area that has very limited green space. It has tons of parking available and you will find colorful painted truck tires that are being used as planters. There is also a share a book box, and a couple of pastel colored painted picnic tables to sit and/or eat. The park is a collaboration between the Community Caring and Sharing Center, Palmer Trucks, who owns the lot, the Arts Council of Indianapolis and Keep Indianapolis Beautiful. It was funded by local businesses. The center piece of the park is a sculpture titled Palm that was created by Quincy Owens and Luke Crawley. It is a colorful eye catcher and an excellent addition to the park. The park has gravel walkways and tunnel arbor with a wire mesh roof and alternating green and blue pillars. The park is located off of a somewhat busy street, but could still have some value as a spot to sit at one of the picnic tables and eat. Sadly, the park experiences vandalism from time to time. We just cant have anything nice. Just recently, two of the park's three marble benches were broken and the Little Free Library 's plastic window was busted out. This is a nice, be it small community park. It is a work in progress and has many people that have and continue to contribute to its development. This park is a wonderful project that really beautifies the neighborhood. I hope that more neighborhoods follow suit and create their own community parks. And for those vandals out there, get a life.

This is the spot for indoor and outdoor kid friendly fun. The interior is small, hosting many…read morerescued reptiles, amphibians, and other exotic animals. There's a small play area with lots of opportunities for hands on learning. Outside there's chickens, walking trails, a play set, and giant chess board for good weather fun. This park is free to explore. Staff is knowledge and passionate about caring for the animals. Looking forward to coming back to check out some of the programs.

I finally stopped by Helen Pecar Park this past weekend on my way through Hendricks County to my…read moreparents' home. Pecar Park & Nature Center is a fairly new Avon Park that is a unique balance of primitive meets contemporary. The park has its own naturalist and the nature center offers turtles, tortoises, bearded dragons, and other animals. There's an amphitheater that is primarily used as an outdoor education space. The Nature Center can be rented by the hour or by the day (only between the hours of 10am-9pm). Pecar Park offers 9 primitive campsites, though there is an indoor bathroom and shower to make everything a little less primitive. Rental of a campsite is $15 for township residents, $25 for non-residents. The park also offers a playground, community fire pit, pod, greenspace, GLOW lab, and geocachers should know geocaching is available at this park (and encouraged). Pecar Park still feels like a work in progress. It's one of those parks that's always a dilemma for me - technically, it's accessible. Yet, it's really not. The way Yelp's accessibility questions are phrased, technically this park meets them. However, this park tends to be a place where it's best to have a companion with you, especially if you have mobility issues, as there are places where paths are a bit more rustic and even the playground is a bit more natural in setting. Pecar Park is off the main drag in Hendricks County and seems to be a still underutilized park. It seems to be more about natural activities than just "fun." There's also a bird aviary and a low ropes challenge. Again, this feels like a work in progress but a cool work in progress. It seems like this park has grown a bit since its 2019 opening, however, it remains one of Avon, Indiana's more underrated gems. While accessibility is definitely a bit of an issue here, with a little assistance it's likely one can really appreciate this more natural and relaxed setting. As near as I could tell, the nature center itself was solid in terms of accessibility. I got everywhere I wanted to go here - it just took a little effort.

Versus a super big safety first factor there was like rusted nails everywhere. The concessions…read morenever open and they opened the pool slides for the first of the summer and then when they're about to close, they don't have it open saying there's wasp and they'll kick kids out without any problem. And they are rude as hell

The Center is named after a long-time manager of Garfield Park, Lynda Burrello, who is retired and…read morecurrently serves as President of the Board for Friends of Garfield Park, Inc.The center was opened in 1998 and is a recreation center that has a weight room and gymnasium. Additionally, ping-pong, fitness classes, youth sports leagues (cheer, basketball, flag football, karate, pickleball...), sports clinics, and other recreational activities such as Paws and Claus are facilitated here. They also have an aquatic center attached to it as well. It has it own Yelp page though. The center is not a big facility and it is kind of older, but they have a lot going on and I like it. They have a nice full court basketball gym (that is converted to do other indoor activities. They had pickleball going on while I was there), some break out rooms (that is where they held the gingerbread decorating) and is in the process of building a toddler area. You will find a very nice and well maintained outdoor basketball court in the front of the building and just of the parking lot tooThere is a ton of free parking available in their private lot. The staff there is the friendliest you will find. They were all awesome, from the woman at the front desk to the people that facilitated the activity. I came here for the gingerbread decorating activity. It was well organized and they made it fun. If this was ant indication of how other activities and events are run here then you should be able to come here with confidence in any thing that you chose to do here. This is a fun place with low cost to free activities going on all year round. It is a hidden gem. I had no idea that this was here, and I lived here for over 6 years. It is definitely worth checking out.

While I was pleased to see the October 20, 2025 re-opening of Hazel Landing Park in Carmel, I was…read moreeven more excited with the debut of the new Bur Oak Bridge. While I've had my issues with Carmel, the truth is this is a city that does its landmarks well and that includes bridges. The Bur Oak Bridge spans 500 feet across the White River. It's 14-feet wide and is designed for both pedestrians and cyclists (or, in my case, wheelchairs). What's cool here? The Bur Oak Bridge connects Carmel and Fishers by also connecting Hazel Landing Park (Carmel) and Heritage Park (Fishers). It also serves as a connector for Monon, Nickel Plate, and Big 4 Trails. This thing is honestly beautiful to look at, constructed very nicely, and super friendly to users. The Bur Oak Bridge was reportedly named after input from Native American tribes and reflects the nearby presence of several bur oak trees. The bridge was an $11 million project. It was a collaborative effort between Clay Township, Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation, Hamilton County, Delaware Township, and the City of Fishers. While I'd seen it a couple times before the recent snowy weather hit, I had the chance to stop by this week and check it out even in the snow (and people were still using it). Beautiful bridge and I can't wait to use it again once the weather improves.

It is basically a little island in the middle of an intersection or the center of a large…read moreroundabout, depending on how you look at it. There is a small fountain in the dead center of it with little paths leading up to it from all 4 roads. It's a nice little neighborhood hangout for kids and nature lovers alike. Loads of trees, the fountain, some benches, a bust and a historical marker. Irvington host a few events on this circle, my favorite being the Spooky Hollow generally on Thursday night before the Halloween parade. The winners of a student spooky story contest get to have their stories read. During 'Intermission" you can often see a dance performance of the witches aka Black Hat Society of Irvington.

Irvington Circle Park, which has also been known as Irving Circle Park, has been part of the…read moreIrvington area since 1870 but officially established as a .1 acre park in 1904. In the early 20th century, it became known as a much more wooded area with quite a few trees the park underwent a renovation after it had largely declined in condition by the 1960s. This included improving the fountain and planting more trees. This park exists at the corner of Audubon and University in a neighborhood that housed the original location of Butler University. Now, it's largely adjacent to a 3-location strip center and within walking distance of Coal Yard Coffee. It primarily consists of flower beds, trees, natural sitting areas, and a bust of American author Washington Irving ("The Legend of Sleepy Hollow"), an appropriate author for this neighborhood that is noted for its haunted locations and Halloween festival. There are no true "amenities" here, though if you look closely you will see a brick paver program for people who sponsored the plaza. The park is also right off of the growing Pennsy Trail. It gives trail users a great place to stop for lunch or ice cream (Heartbreaker) or a baked good (Landlocked Baking Company) or a drink (Strange Bird). Friends of Irving Circle Park is a non-profit established to help maintain the park. While it's obviously a small park, it does host small events throughout the year - especially during the summer. This includes concerts. Geocachers should also note that there's a fairly easy to find geocache here. The 19th century Castle House is about a block away (and also has a geocache extremely close to it). Irvington was originally considered an Indianapolis suburb. It was annexed in 1902 and became part of Indianapolis. It was established by Sylvester Johnson and Jacob Julian. The two felt like it looked like Sleepy Hollow and decided to call the area Irvington. The park, as a result, is named after the established neighborhood. This little park is a great place to rest, renew, and enjoy one of Indy's more unique neighborhood areas. You can spend time on the Pennsy and/or visit one of the area businesses. There's lots of history to be found within walking distance and the streets in Irvington are nearly all named after American cultural icons.

My son and I have been going to all the local skateparks since moving Indiana. This park has a…read morelittle bit of everything a skater could want. A great mix between vert and street. My son just recently got a scooter and he really likes carving in the bowl. If you want to bring the whole family the playground is pretty unique as well so it really has something for everybody. We will definitely be coming back.

This park is named after William Willard, founder of the Indiana School for the Deaf, who the state…read morebuilt a school for in 1850. The park is the site of that school. Willard park is an accessible park. It has one of the largest covered pavilions I have seen at a neighborhood park. There is a free private lot, a playground, a walking/running trail, a full basketball court, a half basket court, and an aquatic center. It is not very quiet as it is right by a firehouse and located off of a busy street. The playground is accessible to children with disabilities. There is a long ram that leads up to the top of the jungle gym equipment. It is some older looking equipment that could use some TLC. Kids will still find it entertaining. The pavilion is massive and has picnic tables. The basketball courts are nice for the most part. The full court has a few cracks, tons of trash, some graffiti. It needs a resurfacing. The half court was a bit lower than the standard height (not complaining) and was in better shape than the full court. It also has 2 4-square courts on the end opposite the hoop. The trail is unpaved but pretty wide. Not sure how far it is, but it looked like a quarter to a half mile or so. The park has a lot of space. It spans over 11 acres. It also has lots of trash. I even saw a spot where someone dumped burned charcoal from their grill. There was a city worker there picking up trash when I was there, but they needed a team to tackle that job. The park has a memorial for Sylvia Likens in the back near the fence, a young girl that was tortured and murdered by her caregiver. This is a decent park, even though it is slipping a bit. It has lots of potential and can easily be a five star spot.

I'm embarrassed to admit that despite having a primary care physician directly across the street,…read moreI'd completely missed the development of Indy's 212th official city park. South Street Square Park is located at 315 S. South and was developed by Eli Lilly & Co. and then donated to the City of Indianapolis in a ceremony in September 2019. It's a 3-acre park located almost directly across from the CityWay Development and easily accessible from the nearby Irsay Family YMCA. In addition to donating the park, Lilly reportedly donates approximately $40,000 annually to help maintain the greenspace that is adjacent to their Indy headquarters. South Street is really more an official greenspace than an actual park. There's over 30,000 square feet of concrete walks designed into a circular design with pathways that branch off. There are benches throughout the park and, in a sign of its business location, USB and power outlets readily available. Bricks from Eli Lilly's Brazil, Indiana offices have been relocated and repurposed. There are flowers, shrubs, and approximately 200 trees planted in the area along with extra lights to help ensure safety. In researching, there's apparently either parking available or planned. I was parked across the street at the YMCA, which is paid parking, and my first visit was rather quick during a doctor's appointment but I definitely plan to return. This little urban oasis is definitely more of a place to chill out than actually enjoy park activity, but it's a beautiful and welcome addition to near-downtown Indy and has to be welcome by the growing CityWay population. I look forward to spending even more time at South Street Square Park in the near future.

This is a small but well kept park right outside of the Eli Lily Complex. The park is 3 acres and…read morewas donated and developed by Eli Lily. It is beautiful. They actually donate about 40 G's per year to maintain the park. It is in the backyard of the Irsay YMCA and has an awesome view of Lucas Oil Stadium. The park is well maintained, has its own very small parking lot, and is a what you see is what you get kind of park. There is no playground or picnic tables, no restrooms or hiking trails. There is just a huge green field and some plants, surrounded but a bunch of benches. There are intertwined paths that you can use to walk or jog, I would say it was about a quarter mile around. The park seems pretty safe and is well lit. As I mentioned, it is a simple park and does not get very busy. It is a nice place to sit and chill or walk/jog in a safe loop.

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.