Little Green Thumb at Garfield Conservatory…read more We tried a new-to-us program today and it was honestly SO cute! This peaceful, hands-on story time was such a sweet way to spend the morning with the kids. The kids got to: Feed & pet the chickens Read stories about the sun Use the sunshine to melt crayons into cute animal shapes Pick peppers Check out dried sunflowers & their seeds Have a little dance party Plant beets Explore the garden It was such a calm, down-to-earth experience that combined story time, gardening, animals, crafts + outdoor exploring--perfect for little ones! Garfield Park Conservatory -- Indianapolis Ages: 2-5 $6 per child Registration required Next Little Green Thumb: September 16 | 10-11 AM Join them in Blake's Garden to learn about gardening and help plant, grow & harvest in the vegetable garden. There will also be a story, craft + time to explore! Definitely adding this one to our list of sweet Indy activities for little kids!

The conservatory offers a variety of plants, flowers, and serene views of the waterfall. The…read morewaterfall and fish pond was definitely my favorite view out of everything offered at the conservatory with their scenic views and decor. The sunken garden was an okay view, the fountains were beautiful but there wasn't any other foliage, flowers, or scenery out there to enhance the view. The garden definitely has potential to be better than it is.

I found myself with some time to kill and stumbled across this park. This is a small pocket park…read morelocated behind LA Fitness. being that it is behind LA Fitness, it shares it huge parking lot, so their are more than ample spots to park. The park is relatively small and is purely a nature park. You will find a pond and a nature trail that runs along Little Buck Creek. There are also some benches, some having a more scenic view than others. A few are along the creek and one overlooks the pond, and another has a nice view of the parking lot. Talk about the short end of the stick. There are no restrooms, playground equipment or shelters here. There was a bunch of trash on the ground in the front of the park. I visited the park after a snow. It was nice because I could see all of the animal trails. The trails are not very long and either loop or end in a dead end. The trails are pretty well defined, at least during my visit. It may be a little different with spring blooms. The park is not very far off of busy Southport Road, but it still finds a way to provide a level of peace and tranquility. This is an interesting park that does not have much to offer outside of nature. I still found this a nice place to walk around and kill some time.

Please be careful my friends... I came here to walk my dog with my boyfriend and my walk ended very…read morequickly. The trail is pretty short but what looks like a the rest of trail is cut off. There was this very tall person with a mask and a hat behind me, once the trail ended I turned around and they also turned around and started to walk very quickly. They seemed to have different intentions if I had gone beyond the path... please don't go to parks by yourself. please be cautious of your surroundings. I'm not sure what would have happened if i wasnt walking with my boyfriend. this happened a couple of years ago but it still crosses my mind. I wonder if this has only happened to me or if someone else has experienced this.

I wish I could be arsed to find out why this park is called Wolf Run Park. I can't, though, so I…read moreguess it will forever remain a mystery. Because the name of the park has "wolf" in it, I kind of thought it would be a bit more bad in the good way (like Michael Jackson's Bad), but instead, it was just good in the bad way (like boring). Kids will love the playground, though. And that's the point of visiting this park. The playground has a big structure for the older kids, and a small structure for the younger kids. There are saucer swings, regular swings, a rope climber, slides, musical instruments, a merry-go-round and other fun things to play on. The whole playground is padded with wood chips. The playground looks like it is relatively modern (no metal equipment), but there isn't anything that stands out about this park. It has a run-of-the-mill playground, and it does its job. There are basketball courts a ways away. There's a big, grassy field to enjoy. One thing to note is that there is zero shade on the playground. That was fine when I visited, because it was an overcast day. But I imagine that this playground can be insufferable on a hot, sunny day. Another thing to note is that there are restrooms at Wolf Run Park, but on the day that I visited, they were closed for the season. So I guess if you visit this park during the fall and winter (and maybe even early spring), the restrooms will be closed.

My nieces love this park and it's become one we visit fairly often. The playground has equipment…read morefor a variety of ages to enjoy with swings, spinning spots, play houses, climbing materials and plenty of slides. The ground is a wood chip base, so sneakers are better than sandals and slides for shoes! There tends to be a lot of bugs, little tiny flys of some kind today, so something to be aware of. They did just add a bathroom recently, and I used it for the first time today. There was no toilet paper or soap. The toilet and sink water worked fine, and there was a changing table. One of two water fountains worked too. I'm hoping that all improves soon, but I'm still grateful they put in bathrooms here! It was a problem before. The trail is nicely paved and there's a little break to the left when you turn down the trail. If you follow it, you'll find a little spot to see the creek. Not really enough to play in, but we like to go take a minute to see it sometimes.

I was in Ellenberger Park recently and had the opportunity to spend some time on the underrated…read morePleasant Run Trail. The Pleasant Run Trail is a 6.9-mile trail that has Ellenberger Park as its north point, Garfield Park as its south point, and it also goes through Christian Park. The trail also connects to the Red Line at the Garfield Park station. The trail mostly runs through residential areas other than its park connections. You will pass by the Kin Hubbard Memorial, Howe (which I believe is becoming a middle school now), the conservatory at Garfield Park, and a few other familiar features. The trail is almost completely paved, though I would say a handful of curb-cuts were a bit difficult in the wheelchair. The trail is also well-marked with clear signage for directions. There's generally good visibility on the trail, though I do know there's been some crime issues on the southeast side of the trail. There's quite a bit of greenery. I'm not quite sure why, but I've never spent a ton of time on this trail. I typically head to the nearby Pennsy or the Fall Creek Greenway farther north. However, this really is a lovely little trail that is for the most part well-maintained. The Pleasant Run Greenway continues to grow and I believe the plan is to connect to the White River Greenway (another underappreciated trail). Parking is readily available at all three parks and wheelchair users can easily access the trail at any of the three parks.

This is a very nice trail. It spans almost 7 miles and runs from Ellenberger Park to Christian Park…read moreto Garfield Park. You can access the trail at either of the tree parks. They all have their own parking. I accessed it from Garfield Park. The trail is well marked, paved in most areas and pretty wide. There are other paved trails that branch off from it, but it is pretty well marked to keep you on the right path. The trail is good for walking, jogging, biking, and skating. It was a nice day when I was out on the trail and there was not a lot of traffic. I think this trail gets overlooked a lot for some reason. This trail is not circular; its linear which means you have to come back as far as you go out unless you have prearranged transportation at the other end. You have have to cross some streets while on the trail. The trail is relatively peaceful and well maintained. This is a nice trail just outside of downtown. It gets it name from Pleasant Run, the roadway that it runs along. It also gives you the sights and sounds of a creek and some neighborhoods along the way. I enjoyed the trail and I believe that it feeds into longer trails such as the Pennsy and Cultural Trails.

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.

They did construction on this park semi-recently and it is so nice! The playground is full of…read moreslides, climbing areas, musical stations, and more. There are accessible areas for wheelchair users as well. The swings are best for small kids--they're low enough for those with little legs to get on and push themselves back--but no swings for older kids unfortunately. There's a nice court with low nets. I'm not sure if it's meant for pickleball, tennis, or something else. But it's bright and new with benches inside and a fence with a gate. Basketball courts are across the parking lot. There's an obstacle course section that has some adult-sized workout stations--elliptical, a stationary bike, and a step-swing thing that's name eludes me at the moment. Plenty of shaded seating for picnics and a grill under the shelter. My favorite was by the large chair -- individual seats of four around some nice tables under a pavilion. Around the playground, there are stone seating areas and benches, plus the larger shelter is right off to the side of the toddler playground area. The big drawback for me is there is no bathroom. Not even a port-a-potty. This is easily a playground that you could spend a few hours at, but without a bathroom, that becomes difficult. I hope they put one in soon! All in all, this is a great park with a little something for everyone. My mini BFFs and I will be back! Next time, I think I'll walk the trail too.

Totally revamped as of fall 2025! So, any reviews of Franklin Township Community Park before…read moreOctober 2025 are not accurate or relevant. (Sorry, dear Ken and Tank!) This park has an incredible playground. It has playground equipment for young kids and older kids, slides, a net climbing structure, swings, a wheelchair-accessible ride called an Innova Rocker, musical instruments, and lots of places to climb, explore and parkour. The playground area has a rubberized surface on the ground to cushion falls. There are benches around the playground at which to sit, plus a shaded picnic area just off of the playground. A little ways away from the playground is a paved walking path that will take you to a bridge that goes over a stream and down near Franklin Central High School. There are also new outdoor pickleball courts and basketball courts. Altogether, this park is 99 acres, which sounds like a lot of acres to me! Franklin Township Community Park is the second-largest park in Franklin Township, and it also features soccer, baseball, softball, and football fields located in the southern portion of the park. One thing I did not see: a restroom or water fountain! That would be great if these things were on the docket to add to the park, but in the meantime, you'll need to plan accordingly.

NEW TRAILHEAD IS NOW OPEN!…read more The Hannah Wilkinson Moffitt Trailhead is officially open on the newest section of the White River Greenway! It's a great new spot to get outside with the kids, go for a walk, ride bikes, or just enjoy some fresh air and beautiful views of the White River. A few mom-approved details Easy access to the greenway Bathrooms WITH changing tables Scenic overlook with views of the White River High Top Tables + chairs to sit and enjoy lunch A spot where you could even get a little work done while the kids enjoy the outdoors 14001 River Rd. Adding this one to our list of places to explore around Hamilton County!

The homeless have taken over the trail south of the zoo all the way to Raymond and made it unsafe…read moreto ride, walk or run. When they reopen the trail, it will be good until it gets past the Elanco HQ and then all bets are off. It is a shame because that stretch used to be a great ride but it is no longer safe. Hopefully, the city will enforce the "no camping on public property" law and clean that atra up.

Nice place for kids to play and walk the cannal, and spend family time. It is a little hard to find…read morebut worth the look

Our older two (4 and 6) loved the climbing structures, but there wasn't a ton for a toddler to do!…read moreThe canal view is nice though, and she was entertained by the ducks! There was a bit of trash throughout the park, and we did end up leaving a little earlier than planned after getting a strange vibe from a homeless man sitting at the swings.

I live not far from Indy's Ellenberger Park, an Irvington landmark designed by George Edward…read moreKessler and opened in 1909. This makes it one of Indy's oldest public parks. The pool opened in 1930 and in 1962 an ice rink was installed. The park encompasses 42 acres and includes two playgrounds, sand volleyball courts, tennis courts, football/softball/baseball areas, and has played host to the popular Irvington Farmer's Market. It's also a popular spot for Indy Parks concerts. Those into geocaching should note the park actually is host to multiple individual geocaches. The park is actually surprisingly undeveloped. It has rolling hills, a popular spot for winter sledding, and a good amount of the park doesn't even have sidewalks. It's remained quite natural over the years with lots of mature trees. As a wheelchair user, of course, this can be somewhat frustrating given that a certain amount of development is needed to be accessible. While I love Ellenberger Park as a place to visit, there are geocaches I can't reach and places where I risk tipping over if I venture to them. Trust me, I've done it more than once. The park is close to most Irvington area restaurants along with the adjacent Pleasant Run and nearby 10th Street. The Park is named after John Ellenberger, whose family owned much of the land in the area and who'd been generous with the community and had often let residents use the land. In fact, there was controversy when the park was "officially" established as it required a tax hike. People couldn't figure out why they were being asked to pay taxes for something they'd already been using for free. But, they did. The park temporarily changed names, but residents again protested and it returned to Ellenberger Park as it has been since the early 1920s. Ellenberger Park lacks sheltered picnic areas and public restrooms. There was talk of creating more parking, but it would have cost the sledding hill and that was too steep a price to pay (Sorry, couldn't resist). The ice rink was closed in 2009 due to needed repairs that were deemed too expensive. Even the ball fields don't have seating with them. Ellenberger Park is that rarity - a rather large park more focused on nature than activity. While I can't quite go a 5-star because of accessibility issues and some general upkeep concerns, it remains a place I visit often.

This park is huge covering about 42 acres. It dates back to the early 1900s. It is a nice park,…read moreespecially for walker/joggers. There is adequate parking, especially by the pool. The park has a very nice paved trail to run. It trail is pretty flat and is rock/dirt. There is also more woodsy trails available to hike if you so desire. That trail runs along a small creek. Additionally, You will find benches and picnic tables scattered across along the trail across the park. I did not see any restroom facilities around the park. I did however, see a few porta-potties. The park's tennis courts (2 sets of 4) are in need of repair. The nets are decent, but the courts themselves are ragged. It has a unique set up, The fence is tall in the back and short on the sides. It makes it easy to watch, but I can imagine some balls sailing over the fence. The park is home to a huge green field that is well maintained. There is where you will find a football field, or at least two opposing goal posts and two baseball/kickball fields. Those fields are the pure basic and they do not offer many amenities or features. The field can be used for activities such as playing catch, frisbee, soccer, kite flying, and field hockey. It was surprised to see that the park had an aquatic complex, however, it is not operational and was empty. It does look like it has a lot of potential though. There is a small playground at the park that consist of a swing set with an older set of swings and an accessible jungle gym that has parallel bars and slides. The ground is lined with wood chips. The park is also home to a sand volleyball court and some of the most bold squirrels I have seen. They are not afraid of people at all. The volleyball court is decent, nothing special. The Irvington Farmers Market, day camp, community water gun fight and some concerts are hosted here. It is a nice park to play sports or workout. The playgrounds are a bit lacking and would probably not be as fun for kids.

I finally checked out Idle Park on the south side of Indy. I knew it was a community park where one…read morecould sit in stadium seats and watch the highway. It was all that. However, I wasn't prepared for the sweet path walking up to it, the signs, benches, and the bins of bricks. It also made me sad as people have added graffiti and broke some of the chairs. I wish it could have been cleaned up and then maintained. It has potential to be a better place!

A spot we had the pleasure of visiting during my time in Indy on our morning walk. We took a step…read more"inside" the area and this was a beautiful park exhibit on display. I'm sure any public park is hard to upkeep but I did notice a good amount of graffiti in here. Still definitely worth a visit, especially if you're on a detour for your walk, and a great spot to sit and watch life happen.