I was disappointed in this park. First, it is located near the high school and because there is so…read moremuch traffic in the area, no street parking is provided on any side of the park that I could see. I ended up parking in an outlot of the school and then walked over to this wooded area. The sign suggests that the park is for education, but unless something gets installed with information or someone is onsite to lecture, I didn't see any signs of information. The trails through the park are either grass or leaf based. The only paved trail area is along the street on the west side of the park. The park is not very large and since there is no information about what is in the park, I found it a very brief walk that took longer for me to get from the parking lot than actual time inside the woods. Review #783

Given that I am in a new town for a month, I figured I would explore my surroundings. My pup was…read moredue for a much needed long walk filled with sights and sounds to stimulate her senses as I was kind of cooped up in the house I was staying in in Saint Albans, Vermont. Don't get me wrong, there was a park or two in Saint Albans, but the major one (Taylor Park) was a bit of a walk aways. It was beautiful with a vast expanse of open land and they held a Farmer's Market there in the Spring, but it was at a distance from where I was, so I didn't frequent there as much. The park I am reviewing now is 9 minute walk from the apartment I am staying at. This park was absolutely amazing and rivals that of AD Barnes Park and Tropical Park in Miami, FL where I grew up but Riley Park is like ten times better! As I entered, I didn't expect much except some large canopy trees, oak trees, birds, and maybe on occassion running into some butterflies, and following down a winding path. As I kept moving forward, I first cane across some very well kempt tennis courts and it wasn't like one or two only but like 7 or 8 and on top of that they offer free tennis cardio classes on Sunday to the community. That was like the first tally mark in my mind in terms of Yelp checkmarks. The park itself continued to seem very clean. There wasn't a surplus of dog poo everywhere or debris or litter of any kind. I then happened upon some more greenery and then what I came to learn was a bike park. This was thee coolest thing I have ever seen at a park. Guests can practice for free I assume on the turf. What made it so sppealing to me was that the gravel itself was super new and dark and also well kempt. Whoever the custodians are for this park deserve to be recognized because this park is at least 40 acres I read online! So the bike park/ramps weren't the only astonishing thing abiut this place. As I made my way around, there was also this bridge that connected to another more elevated area of the park (so please be mindful if you are someone that has trouble walking up steps or hilly areas to be careful). It was a beautiful red bridge kind of like one you would see in the woods somewhere in New England. It sat atop a bumbling brook where moss, ferns, and probably some other creatures one can't see would traverse. Once yoh make your way across the bridge, there was an acquatic park, yes, an actually water park with a pool. If I recall correctly it is named The Kathy Dowling Acquatic Center but don't quote me on it. I didn't get a full view of it as I didn't know if I could bring my dog to that area, so I refrained as I wanted to abide by park rules/policies. I walked paat it but I could see a few large colorful closed tube water slide. The kid in me would have totally gone on one of those lol but I wasn't in proper attire to do so. Plus, I aas walking my dog. What made the walk more fun were the woodland type creatures I encountered along the way like the squirrels my dog would try to chase, some ducks floating in the pond, and dragonflies (as well as beautiful butterflies of course). I had to get a better view of the ducks because I love ducks, birds, penguins, blue jays, etc. They were all huddled and congregated together and I didn't wish to disturb them but it's been awhile since I have seen a majestic Mallard. There were some pretty tall trees in the area as well near that pond as well as a Rock Garden. I liked how they had descriptions of the various landmarks or designated rest areas as you mKe your way around the park. So by this point, I had almost made my way around the park. There were some playground areas for kids with swings and slides that seem like perfect play areas for birthday parties. I am sure they probably have some covered shelter areas to host parties as well or other types of gatherings. I am not sure if they would be free to use or cost money to rent. I passed by a basketball court as well. Another cool area that I had to take a photo of was the skate park. I couldn't believe they have one to use, and for free. Now I myself don't skateboard (I tried to many years ago as a kid but failed lol) but I just was so amazed that these places were available to use for free! My jaunt continued to another brook/pond area as my dog insisted on sniffing around there . She is mighty persistent and she must have really loved the park as she urged me to take her around it again for a second time This time though, I got to see things I didn't notice the first time and yes this was all on the same day. It was probably about a 45-60 min walk tops but I didn't mind as it wasn't super hot or raining and I needed the exercise. I used to walk around parks or grassy areas or jog a lot more and have stopped in recent years, but it was so nice to be in nature, I obliged. I noticed they had these signs with stakes in the ground called "postcards" where they would highlight a major milestone in the parks history. It was a nice added touch.

Riley Park is considered Greenfield, Indiana's feature park. It has 40 acres of open grassy areas,…read moreBrandywine Creek, athletic courts, a skate park, the Kathy Dowling Aquatic Center and Splash Pad, picnic areas, a couple of playgrounds, and paved walking areas. It actually houses Greenfield's Parks and Rec. Dept., the Patricia Elmore Senior Center, the Old Log Jail, and the Chapel in the Park Museum. The park is one of nine in Greenfield. You can rent Riley Park Pavilion, Riley Pavilion East, the aquatic center, and the splash pad pavilion. Like most public parks, it's open dawn to dusk daily. Activities include fishing, disc golf, basketball, skating, walking, pickleball, tennis, swimming, a sled hill, water fountains, public restrooms, and programs for all ages. A surprising amount of the park would easily be considered ADA friendly. In 2022, the park's 85-year-old shelter house was destroyed by a fire. It's now being rebuilt in addition to multiple other upgrades. The park has been undergoing multiple renovations in anticipation of its 100th anniversary in 2025. The pavilion has gotten an upgrade along with the restrooms and playground. The Greenfield Baseball Little League moved out of the park - this freed up the space used by five baseball diamonds. There's plans for a dedicated children's zone on the south end and a teen zone on the north end (by the Hancock Boys and Girls Clubs). The teen zone will feature a skate park and multi-sport synthetic playing field. There's also plans for a pump track. Riley Park is, of course, named after James Whitcomb Riley and was dedicated on 10/7/25 - what would have been his 76th birthday. The acclaimed poet was born and raised in Greenfield and the city continues his legacy at multiple locations.

This is an amazing new park in the heart of Greenfield. It was opened in 2021, spans 1.5 acres, and…read moreis open from dusk to dawn. The park is located on the original site of the train depot that once stood in Greenfield, hence its name. It is well maintained and has a stage/amphitheater, some gliders and picnic tables. It has a capacity of up to 800-1,000 people. The park also has a decent amount of green space to lay a blanket down and sit. The green space is some of the best manicured that I have seen. It is actually turf and not grass though, which is cool to me. The glider swings are really cool. They have a railroad them. The picnic tables are on train car wheels on a small track and are cool too. The park is also home to a small fountain and some art including a sculpture of a man painting. There is a lot of free street parking available on the park's perimeter. The park is host to entertainment and a summer concert series called "Live @ the Rails". This park is a nice addition to Greenfield and is an awesome place to listen to music and chill. As an added bonus, there is the Depot bar/restaurant right outside the park and the Pennsy Trail runs right through it. I really like this park. It is a prototype of what other amphitheater parks should be. It has a lot of personality and is a nice chill spot to watch a performance, eat lunch, host a festival or listen to music. The city of Greenfield hit a home run with this park.

Small, but has everything you would want from a park. It is built on a actual train track, so the…read moreentire park is train themed, really neat. Fountains are placed throughout the park which just adds to the wonderful atmosphere. It's also connected to the longest walking path I think I've ever seen. They have a ice cream shop right beside the park (best ice cream I ever had) and a restaurant that is also delicious. Picnic tables are nearby, so you can enjoy your frozen treat, or swinging benches are all an option of relaxation (they are really comfortable and sturdy). And what's most impressive, is that the park has a stage built for live events, how cool is that?!

No playground! Let's just get that out of the way right now. My children believe that all places…read morethat call themselves "parks" should have a playground, otherwise it's false advertising. I don't agree, but you should know up front that this park doesn't have a playground, so you can set your child's expectations where they need to be. What Beckenholdt Family Park does have is lots of walking paths that meander around a beautiful pond. There's also a wooden deck and lookout tower, which when you make it to the top, you can see the whole park. (The lookout tower is also wheelchair accessible, which is cool.) The lookout is what actually caught my eye from the road. I saw it and slammed on my breaks, did a U-turn and headed toward this park that I had never heard of until today. A good portion of the park is dedicated to a fenced dog park called Rovers Run Bark Park. The dog park has a few obstacles, but mostly lots of grassy areas to run. There's also a gazebo-type sitting area for the humans. Next to the dog park is a rainbow bridge -- literally, a bridge that's painted rainbow colors -- called Baker's Rainbow Bridge, for people whose dogs have died. The owners can place their lost dogs' collars, ID tags, photos and other mementos all along the bridge. I have been in my head a lot lately, with my feelings heightened and right at the edges, so seeing this rainbow bridge, with all of the photos and collars attached to the bridge, made me cry. There was just so much love there. It's making me want to cry again just writing about it! What a nice gesture for the community. Luckily, a dog from the dog park sensed that I needed to snap out of it, and ran over to bark at me. I'm so glad I stopped at this park! It wasn't a planned part of my day, but sometimes the unplanned things are just what you need. It was nice to walk around and enjoy the sunshine at this beautiful place.

Sometimes you just need to take a freaking walk…read more I've been on a health journey for the past few years, and I am trying to change different habits and my default ways of dealing with stress, anxiety and all sorts of emotions. I used to stress eat. When the hamsters were running wild and free inside my brain, I would head straight to the fridge. Now, I go for a walk... and it's glorious. Today, I needed a walk. It was the end of my work day and I wanted to clear my head and burn some calories. I work less than 10 minutes from Beckenholdt Park, so I left work a few minutes early and headed to the park. I keep my ruck pack in my trunk, so I was all set. I arrived at the park around 4:00pm. It was cool and overcast, but a great day for a walk. I have been to this park multiple times over the years. I have taken my kids fishing in the small pond and have walked laps around its trails. Today, I threw on my ruck sack, put in my earbuds, and started walking. There is something special about moving your legs and listening to good music. Neutral Milk Hotel danced in my ears as I walked laps around the pond. While this band might not be for everyone, I feel like nature parks like Beckenholdt were made for folksy bands like Neutral Milk Hotel. Listening to folk music and walking in nature-- that's a great way to slow down those hamsters! Beckenholdt Park isn't the largest park. There are no playgrounds. But it is a great nature preserve to take your family and your dog. Or to simply go for a nice walk around the pond.

it's got nice equipment for my 4 year old to play on, which I like, but it's strange. it's just a…read morelot in the middle of a neighborhood that looks questionable. houses have broken windows and there's a house across from the park flying a black flag. I love that they have a box with canned goods for people who need it. I just feel a little uncomfortable and wish I had more information on WHY it's there and are we even welcome??

This park is a small neighborhood park. I like that they do have two sets of playground equipment…read morebased upon kid size, but there isn't much here....including parking. In fact, since there is no lot, I found it very inconvenient that you can't even park along the street during that stretch of the road. I ended up parking on the perpendicular road and hoped I wouldn't get ticketed. Seriously, if this is meant to be a walk up park for neighbors, I guess they can do what they want. But if they are trying to make the park inviting to all the residents of the county, they need to offer a more obvious solution for parking. Review #782

I love when I pull up a place on Yelp to review it, and see that the only other review is from my…read moregood buddy Ken N. (RIP). It makes me feel nice to think about my friend, who has transitioned to writing Yelp reviews in heaven. Brandywine Park looks like it mostly functions as a sports park. There are soccer fields, softball diamonds and walking trails. The fields are beautiful and lush, which seems unusual considering we're just now entering spring. They really take care of the fields here, apparently. There's also a snack bar, which was closed when I visited. The playground is fine and does the job of giving kids something to do while their siblings are playing soccer or softball. I wouldn't go out of my way and bring my kids to visit this playground, but if we were here, my kids would have a good time. One thing to look out for is that the only two slides on the playground are made out of metal, so I'm sure they get super hot and unusable in the summer. There are also swings and a little playground structure for young kids. Lots of parking here, but not lots of shade! Probably bring your own shade if you're coming here to see a game. Also, there's a gaga ball court, but you need to bring your own ball.

This park is best known as a large baseball and soccer park. There are so many practice fields…read morethat I wasn't able to count them all....I think some are temporary. Anyway, there is a shelter and a small playground area. There is also some caged area that looks like it might have been a tennis court, but there are no signs of pavement within the fencing. I am not sure whether it may be some sort of community garden or if some new construction is going to fill the area. Good place for kids on athletic teams. Otherwise, there are plenty of decent options elsewhere. Review #787

While walking along the Pennsy Trail in Greenfield, I noticed this mini park covered in shade near…read moreState Street. There is a small shelter and a mini Japanese garden that can be visited by a gravel path. Several Japanese stone lanterns are also on site. The park gets its name from the "Sister City" relationship between Greenfield, IN and Kukuda, Miyagi, Japan on the northeast side of Honshu Island. Both cities have manufacturing and agriculture as prime industries. Kukuda is also known for raising silk worms used for making silks. The park is a nice acknowledgement of the relationship between the cities, but misses out on the opportunity to tell the story between them. If the goal is bring understanding of another culture to people of your town, there should be some information posted about the relationship and the significance of the ornamentation that has been selected for the park. As far as being a park, there is a small picnic table for someone to rest while at the park. Review #3131