While visiting Providence Home+Garden, I went to go check out Rusty's Ranch Dog Park to see what it…read morelooked like and it was a very nice dog park. There were no dogs in the park, but I was very impressed with the landscaping and the structure of the park. There was a very nice walking trail in the back of the park that you could walk on as well. There was a very nice flower garden with a bench near the dog park that you could just sit and relax and enjoy the weather and the flowers. The playground for the dogs was nice and had a lot of obstacles for the dogs to play around in. All in all, Rusty's Ranch Dog Park is very exclusive for dogs to enjoy playing around and having a good time in on a regular basis. It is a good addition to Providence Home+Garden, and I think it will definitely attract more visitors with their dogs to the dog park.

If your canine needs a little exercise with ability to roam free and play with his buds, then try…read moreout the (relatively) new dog park at Heritage Park in Zionsville. The Park is operated by Zionsville Parks and Recreation. But wait, first you need to register your pooch, show proof of vaccines and pay the Zionsville resident fee of $75 (or $120 for non residents). If your pup is over 4 months old and meets the requirements, you receive a fob that allows access to the park. These requirements keep you and your dog safe. The park has a section for small dogs and a section for large dogs. There are watering stations, bone shaped benches, and small pavilions to get out of the sun. There are also a few exercise ramps for Rover. Poop bags are available. The Park is adjacent to a playground. There are a dozen or so parking spaces and a unisex port-o-let. But you cannot take young children into the dog park. The park was not busy during my visit. 3 big dogs playing and no small dogs.

I love all of the great parks and public nature spaces in Fishers. Bee Camp Creek Trailhead is one…read moreof those places, and it is located in a residential neighborhood, just off of Olio Road. You'd almost miss it if you weren't looking for it. There's a playground here, which is important to mention if you have children like mine who might not want to go for a hike or walk anywhere outdoors if it doesn't also include visiting a playground. The playground is located right next to the parking lot, and there are lots of things to climb and jump on. There's also a slide and monkey bars and things, and benches to sit on. As the name of this place suggests, there is a paved trail that winds through the back of a neighborhood, around a retention pond, that supposedly meets up with Geist Reservoir. We didn't make it too far along the trail, but I'd like to come back to explore it a little more.

This is such a lovely space with so many things to offer. I've visited the park before to board…read morethe Nickelplate Express. You will also find an aquatics center, picnic areas, playgrounds, a merry-go-round, Tom Thumb mini golf, a disc golf course and tons of wide-open green space. It is adjacent to a golf course, as well. On this day, we were going to visit the pool area but found that the majority of pool chairs had already been claimed, so we opted for a picnic instead. We stopped by the nearby KFC and grabbed some chicken and sides. I keep folding chairs and blankets in the trunk of my car for just this sort of occasion, so we laid out a couple of blankets and enjoyed some fresh air, vitamin D directly from the sun, and literally touched grass. It was nostalgic, calming and peaceful. There were several other groups of people present. There were parents with young children on the playground. There was a group hosting a baby shower underneath one of the picnic shelters. There were several young ladies and women enjoying the swings. There was a group of teenagers/young adults listening to music and tossing a ball around. We also observed several young men enjoying the skate park (I forgot to mention the skate park earlier) and riding e-bikes and bicycles around the park as well. There were several barbecues/cookouts taking place as well. There is, indeed, something for everyone to do and enjoy here. I was happy to see such a mix of people of all ages, ethnicities, and sexes present to enjoy this beautiful space.

The park that truly has it ALL? Check out Forest Park…read more It has my FAVORITE playground for kids who are just starting to walk It's the perfect place to let toddlers safely explore and gain independence while playing. Bonus: kids get the added excitement of seeing real-life trains nearby They have the perfect 9-hole golf course to teach your littles--no water hazards, super beginner-friendly, and it's actually Hamilton County's oldest golf course I CANNOT wait for the pool to open!My favorite time to go is Tuesday and Thursday mornings for Tiny Tots They have such a great fenced-in toddler area and splash pad, plus a diving well and long course pool. They even do movie nights in the pool ‍ But seriously... you NEED to try the mini golf here It's ONLY $3 per person and feels like stepping back in time in the best way. The holes are fun, unique, and old-school with moving features you just don't see anymore The second playground at this park is the newer one--and it's such a win for all ages The third playground at this park is such a fun old-school option for older kids There really is nothing else quite like this around here. Pack snacks, bring the kids, and plan to stay awhile

Starkey Park is one of the oldest parks in Zionsville. The park is mostly natural forest that is…read morebordered by Eagle Creek on the southeast and housing developments on the west. The park is managed by the Zionsville Parks & Recreation center. There are seven short trails running through hills and dense forest within the park. The trails are less than one mile long each. The trails are ideal for nature lovers, birdwatching, hiking and dog walking. The forest offers cover for many interesting species of birds. In some parts, the trails are rugged and not easily navigated. Many native wild flowers bloom within the park. Unfortunately, the trails are not suitable for strollers or wheels chairs (except for a few short segments) because they are dirt paths. But the Rail Trail that runs adjacent to the park is totally accessible and overlooks the park on the eastern side. There is a parking area on the northwest corner or other parking areas along the rail trail.

Stopped here in early March before things have started to bloom, but I liked it! It wasn't too…read morecrowded, the trees were interesting. Liked the path near the creek. As the weather gets nicer outside will definitely be back. It's really close to a residential area and high voltage power lines at first. So when we parked, I did not have high hopes.. but after you hike down the 5 story staircase and walk a bit, it feels like you are the middle of nowhere.

Looking for a park that feels straight out of a storybook? Check out Coxhall Gardens!…read more This is one of my most magical, dreamy spots in Carmel--and it's so much more than a park. Adorable imaginative play area Water pump and sand play area--be prepared to get messy! One slide built into the hillside Endless walking trails, including a colorful ABC path Beautiful native Indiana plants and gardens Two ponds where you can fish Stunning statues, bell towers, murals, and fountains Whether you're looking for a peaceful morning walk, a place for open-ended play, or the perfect backdrop for family photos, Coxhall Gardens is a must-visit. Trust me--you'll want to bring your camera!

What a great area to do all of the following Walk, Stroll,…read moreand explore. These grounds are beautiful and perfect for celebrations. Whether your getting married or turning 15 lol. The place is great for events. I found it just exploring through Carmel.

Well, this park is gone. They have torn it down and started putting up buildings. The only thing…read morethat remains is the nature trail. There is no easy parking available to access the trail. I had to park in the neighborhood (Walker Farms) that borders the park and walk over. It was about a quarter-mile walk. The nature trail is small, but well defined. Most of it is paved. You will find a few benches along the trail and the trail head borders a small pond. There is also a picnic table over there that overlooks the pond. The trail does not go too deep in the woods and you are never too far from the road. You will always be able to see houses and/or the road while you are on the trail, so you should not get lost. As I mentioned the park's parking lot and playground equipment are long gone, probably due to main Street park being so close. The construction has also affected parts of the trail as well. All you see are most of the trail and remnants of the park now such as a handicap parking sign or trash cans. I am not sure if there are plans to rebuild to park or not after the construction is done. So, as it stands today , the park does not have much value outside of visitors from the nearby neighborhoods walking the trail to get out and get a quick immersion in nature. This is definitely not a destination spot, nor a place I would recommend traveling to visit.

This 11 acre park and nature trail is part of the Zionsville Park system and services the…read moresurrounding neighborhoods of Whitestown. The short nature trail has a hard surface but access is over grass. There is natural prairie surrounded by young trees. Maybe a good place to bird watch. Summer overgrowth of the trail left me feeling somewhat unsafe. The play structure is small with basic swings, slides and climbing structure. Not as fancy as the nearby Main Street Park. The local 4-H donated a small pavilion complete with tables and waste cans. The park features a large retention pond with paved sidewalks and benches on two sides. There are supplies for cleaning up after your pooch. Also, there is a nicely maintained field that can be used for soccer or football. There is parking for 16 cars. This is a good neighborhood park.

This Indy park spans 85 acres and dates back to 1963. It was formerly known as Northeastway, as has…read morea lot of amenities to offer. The park has a golf course across the street but I did not go visit over there. It does look like a nice course and the have a driving range and a small club house there. The park has a decent amount of parking available. I would caution you though, when walking on the green space, be carful. The grounds gets very soggy after some precipitation. I almost lost my shoe in the mud a couple of times. The park itself has a vast amount of green space that could be used for activities such as soccer, football, a picnic, flying a kite, or playing catch. You will find a 18 hole disc golf course near the front of the park. it appeared to be a good course. There were a ton of people playing on it while I was there. In the vicinity of the disc golf course, next to a pavilion is a horse shoe pit. The pit has seen better days, but will do to satisfy your horse shoe itch. The park also has three shelters and a large pavilion available to rent. They all have picnic tables under them and grills just outside of them. The shelters are in mediocre shape and could use some renovating. The pavilion is near the tennis and volleyball courts and is decent. The park's full basketball court was nice though. It almost had me lace up and make it rain. Next to the basketball court is two nice sand volleyball courts that are fenced in and 2 sets of 2 tennis courts, for a total of 4.The tennis courts are in pretty good shape and are both fenced in too, with a low fence being in the center. The park has a playground, but it has old and limited equipment. It is on a bed of wood chips and its equipment consists of a large ADA accessible jungle gym with monkey rings, slides, and a bridge, a bank of toddler swings, a bank of traditional swings, and a ADA swing. My little guy was not feeling it. The park has a nice looking water park attached to it. There is a lot to do in the park from what I see. However, it was closed for the season during my visit so I could only view the empty pools from a far. This park has a lot of potential, but the amenities need to be updated and the grounds need to be a bit better maintained. There was trash all over the place at shelter #3 near the back of the park. They say the park has restrooms, but I could not find them while I was there.

Super nice day out for being the beginning of February so I hit up the disc golf course with some…read morefriends. 18 hole course, mostly in the woods. There's a practice tee. There are 2 tee boxes per hole and the holes have an A and B location that changes. Not sure how often the pins are moved. Nice course! Shot terribly though. I plan to make this part of my regular rotation of courses. Wear boots this time of year, it's pretty muddy in the woods!