There are several small parks all over town that are great for kids and families in the summer…read more They are clean, and have several kid activity centers such as swings, slides, and jungle gyms to keep kids busy. Plenty of shade trees and close parking too. The parks dept in town does a good job of keeping all their parks looking very nice.

The Gilbert J. Munchel Memorial Park in Oldenburg, Indiana is a picturesque little park with a…read moreplayground. I visited on a beautiful spring afternoon on Sunday. The trees and flowers were just starting to bud. The pristine park has several climbing structures, a colorful spiral slide, a set of swings and a small pavilion. Pea gravel surrounds around the equipment. A pergola holds an inviting bench to relax and enjoy the day. The beautiful spires of the convent are prominent from the park. I was curious about Gilbert J. Munchel, so I looked up his obituary. He was a much-loved local history buff and grocery store owner in Oldenburg who passed away in 1981. Munchel was known as an ambassador of Oldenburg, frequently giving tours of the town to visitors. He was instrumental in founding the Oldenburg Preservation Association. The park is a true testimony to his impact on Oldenburg. There is free street parking across from the park. Don't expect phone connection as there is zero reception in town. There are no restroom facilities (anywhere). The park is a perfect spot to unplug.

Maybe it was my timing coming early in the year, but with a bit of maintenance, this trail could be…read morereally nice. There is a small parking lot on the higher ground, picnic tables and a really small shelter (no restrooms), and a really helpful map carved in wood near the entrance of the trails to show you the multiple loops that provide a mile long hike, but with lots of short cuts if you want to keep your hike brief. The trails have a grit base and are easily followed. The higher ground paths are wide and in generally good condition. However, as you get nearer Sand Creek, the trails get narrower and suffer from more fallen obstructions and the occasional low spot with water. Yes, mosquitoes are out even in April, but they weren't too bad yet. The trails do have some simple benches to sit on and there was a picnic table near the water's edge for anyone who wishes to sit there. Note that you are expected to clean your area since there weren't trash cans down there. There is a very modest elevation change on the trails, but they are not very challenging for folks without mobility problems. Once the pile of grit near the entrance gets redistributed and some trimming takes place to remove some obstructions along the creek trails, the park could easily be a more pleasant place to visit. Review #2446

A nice stop and a walk in the greenery, this was my stop to drink my coffee off the highway. There…read moreis a picnic shelter and a small playground. It's a decent park though I really wonder if this is the best they can do and name it as "Veteran's Park." Parallel street parking on the street. There is no gate or fence around the park. [Review 20513 overall - 59 in Indiana - 1494 of 2023.]

Normally I give an extra star to Veteran's Memorials/Parks out of respect for their purpose, but…read morethis one isn't even the best memorial in Batesville (see Liberty Park). Formerly the South Street Park, it has been rebranded with a flag pole and some naming bricks on the west side of this small park. Beyond the memorial, there is a single shelter with picnic tables and a grill, but no restroom facilities. The playground is limited to some swings (they do have some mats underneath), a slide, and a climbing piece with a mulch base. Parking is limited to parallel parking along the street. Review #2456

This seems like a good neighborhood park. It was clean and had a shelter with a grill, a picnic…read moretable, and trash can (but no restrooms). There was some open space for running and playing games in addition to the multiple playground pieces on the south end of the park. Those included lots of climbing, swinging, & sliding pieces, teeter totters, and a fort type piece. During my visit, there were flowers blooming near the sign too. It was obvious that this park was being maintained better than some of the other smaller town parks in the area. One detriment though is that there was no clear spot to park. I was able to pull along the street, but wasn't sure if that was the best option. Not a bad place, just a spot targeting families with smaller kids or in need of an outdoor space with a shelter. Review #2452

Harrison Ridge Park is one to keep an eye on. Located southwest of Columbus and tucked away in a…read moreneighborhood, the park is undergoing a transition over the winter months. During my visit, the playground was absent, but a new concrete foundation with drainage was placed between the handball court and the shelter. I'm guessing that once it warms up, some type of base will be placed over the concrete for a soft spongy surface and the playground will go there. I checked the website and didn't see any clues, but it does list a playground. So, I'm assuming this will be updated in 2019. In the meantime, there are some amenities including a small parking lot for 2 or 3 cars. There are basketball and tennis courts that look to be in good condition. There is also a shelter, but it is not one you can reserve....first come, first serve. There is also a U-shaped construct that I assume is a handball court, but since I don't play, I'm not certain if it is that useful. Overall, there is a lot in transition, like the lawn needed to be resown after the construction. But since the quality of what is in place has been maintained and the construction appears new, I have a feeling this park warrants watching to see what upgrades it achieves. Review #2060

The park in New Point seems more like a 3.5 than a 3 star facility. It has a really nice baseball…read morefield and basketball court, a small parking lot, and two shelters, with picnic tables and grill for the smaller one. The playground has a wide variety of pieces for smaller kids to play on as well. There are a few mature trees around for some shade, but mostly, the grounds are open with a some lower ground beyond the playground. The park seems well maintained though the is some wear and tear on the grass around the equipment. Seems like a good spot for the neighborhood. Review #2453

Shelbyville has a variety of settings for all types of events during the entire year. There are…read moremany banquet halls, lodges, clubs, and outdoor settings that can accommodate a wide variety of events such as; weddings, graduations, retirement parties, birthday's, and much more. The town has many well kept parks and recreation centers, including a large public pool with huge curly slide. The small town is about 20 minutes south east of Indy, and easily accessible via i74. The rural area offers many great backdrops during all 4 seasons for photographers to capture those special moments such as; old barns, wide open fields of grass, wheat, corn, etc, old tractors, 100+ yer old elegant homes with original charm, a beautiful limestone courthouse, as well as all the modern scenery of a small town mixed with the old slower moving lifestyle of the citizens living here. The town is overall pretty safe, with low crime rates, as many locals have lived their lives here, know each other, and are willing to even help a stranger in need. During the summer months the downtown public square offers many events, and during Christmas time it is decorated with lights and boasts a Santa's workshop. Plenty of local mom-n-pop businesses as well as most of the major national chain restaurants and stores are located here. Stop in for some great food and friendly conversation with the locals.