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.

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.

This park definitely has potential. Whenever I come, no matter the day, it's usually pretty empty,…read morewhich is nice because I can walk my dogs around freely. Most of the area is uneven grass, though it's usually cut, and there aren't many good walking paths within the park itself. I've listened to live music at the amphitheater and really enjoyed that! I've also longboarded here; the main path along the road seems newer and usually clear. I've played tennis on the courts too, but they could use just a little TLC. Really, the whole park could. Still, it's a peaceful spot with room to grow.

Riverside Park has amazing potential but is in need of major love. The sprawling Park sits on prime…read moreriverside real estate and is lush with trees. But the grounds are overgrown and weedy, equipment fading and in disrepair and my encounter with staff was not uplifting. The pool is locked and empty. I inquired about the status at the front desk. The clerk did not look up from her computer but said the pool was being serviced and they had no idea if and when it would be fixed. I didn't see anyone working on the pool. Since they have a summer camp in session, it would be great if the pool was operational. There is a really nice set of tennis courts (12ish). There is green space for football and a baseball diamond. A nice set of workout equipment from the Colts seems in need of a good cleaning. I was excited to find a boat ramp with parking area. This area needs to be cleaned and patrolled. The River access site is beautiful. The park offers free daily lunches to those in need and also provides summer camps. I found these resources valuable to the community. I was really surprised to find the park not pristine and vibrant for 4th of July holiday. The flagpoles were even empty.

The city has really invested a lot into this area. It is booming with interactive murals and…read moresculptures. I like this area. It runs along the Monon Trail and is home to the amazing sculptures Sails and Love at First Ride. There is also an interactive selfie mural in the area on the reverse side of a big screen. You will find a decent small play area on Monon Blvd that has a small rock climbing wall, a slide, a luckey climber, a colorful ping-pong table, a spray plaza, bocce ball courts, and a shuffle board. The play area is lined with green artificial grass and is very clean and trendy. You will also find some tables and chairs with umbrellas out in this area to sit and eat along the street and in the plaza. You can also sit on the area's benches, if you so choose. But wait, there's more...there is also hand sanitizer stations. There are a lot of trendy restaurants and business located in the plaza such as La Margarita, Java House Coffee Bar, PI and Sun King Spirits. It is an awesome place to hang out. I really like this area. They host movies there every Monday and live music every Tuesday as part of Midday at Midtown. They have been also known to host events like Midtown's Got Talent. There is free street parking all along Monon Blvd and a garage is available to park within a very short walk. I cannot stress enough how nice the area is. The trail is awesome going through there. One of the better stretches. The equipment, furniture, and landscaping is world class. You will have to see it to believe it. It is amazing. I wish I could give it a 6th star. This is a really nice spot that the city should really be proud about. I visited during the winter when it was not really happening. I cannot wait to come back during warmer weather.

Midtown Carmel is a great area for families. There is so much for young kids to do, and it's all…read morefree, and it's all well-taken-care-of and thoughtfully planned, and the vibe is just very chill and relaxed. There's a playground with a climbing structure and rock-climbing feature built into the Astroturf. There's a big slide, and lots of things to climb on. There's a bocce ball court, and ping pong tables, and shuffle board, and corn hole. There are two small splash pads that are perfect for toddlers and babies, because the water just barely bubble up. There are lots of tables and places to sit. There's public art everywhere, and an outdoor big-screen TV that shows family movies on certain days, and sporting events on other days. There are great places to eat and drink, namely the Sun King food hall. I'm trying to think of all of the things that make Midtown Carmel great, and these are some of them, but I know I'm missing a lot. Just visit and you'll see. Carmel has really made this area a great destination, and a big reason to visit Carmel.

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.

Perfect spot for a laid-back family adventure!…read more Flowing Well Park in Carmel is a hidden gem for families looking to spend time outdoors without a big production. The open space, fresh air, and scenic creek made for a relaxing, fun-filled afternoon. Our kids had the best time splashing in the water, exploring the trail, and collecting cool rocks along the way. It felt like a mini nature escape right in town. Major parent win: there's a foot wash station at the entrance--so helpful when little feet are muddy but happy! There's also a picnic area to grab a bite to eat. We'll definitely be back for more sunshine and creekside exploring. Towels would probably be a good idea to have on hand.

Lovely little park besties between neighborhood. Very easy walking trail if you are not looking for…read moretoo much intensity. It would be a great spot for kids to play in the shallow creek or for dogs. We enjoyed our morning hike!

The ArtsPark borders the Indianapolis Art Center in Broad Ripple. The Park and gardens are natural,…read morefor the most part, with meandering paths through natural wooded and open area. The trail is Certified Sustainable by the Indiana Wildlife Federation. We visited on a beautiful Memorial Day morning. I would not have known the garden was here, had I not been looking for the Twisted House sculpture. The park contains 13 sculptures by artists with Indiana ties. In addition, 37 garden features located throughout the park were gift by various benefactors. The art is interesting. There are a mix of concrete walkways and gravel paths. Benches provide seating at various points along the walkways. Free parking is available on the east side of the Arts building and there is no charge to walk through the trails. The park is a hidden gem and worth a visit.

I love the ArtsPark. It's a free, outdoor space that's on the grounds of the Indianapolis Art…read moreCenter. I would often visit when my children were young when we needed a place for them to roam and explore outdoors, so this place holds a special place in my heart. This park is super kid-friendly. The park is contains several art displays, statues and exhibits all throughout the grounds, all set among beautiful landscaping and trees. It's like a gallery without walls. It's also right by the White River, which you can see from a boardwalk that overlooks the river. It's also right by the Monon Trail, so it's easy to get to by bike or by foot. There are a couple of art displays that my kids would play at a lot, and they were the more hands-on pieces. One of them is the "Twisted House," which is a wooden house that's twisted and turny, but kids can go inside. It also makes for a super Instagram-worthy backdrop! "Circle" is another piece in the ArtsPark that my kids gravitated to. It's a Zen-like sculpture composed of a 10-foot ring of black granite with a sand garden on the inside. You can't miss "Crescendo," a bright blue sculpture composed of 6,000 tiles. If you look at the tiles closely, you'll see little uplifting quotes and sayings written on them. I can spend many hours just sitting at ArtsPark among all of the art and nature. It's a beautiful place in the heart of Broad Ripple, and a genuine hidden gem of Indianapolis.

Just a short drive from the State Fairgrounds is a block-sized park with a nice sized hill and some…read moremature trees. Apparently this park is a haven for birds. It looks like just about any other bare lot with trees. It may be a place for bird watching, but with a title like this, I expected some information kiosks or some thing useful to people stopping by the park. Frankly, I'm not sure why this block is named this way. It still is a nice place for the neighborhood. Who doesn't like a calm and shaded woodland within walking distance? But it isn't a destination for anyone else. No benches, no shelter, no playground, no information. Oh, well. Review #720

Hidden away on a quiet little side street, near the Fairgrounds & right off the Monon Trail. Set…read moreaside in 1925, it remains one of the very few urban bird sanctuaries in the US. At first glance, it doesn't seem like much. But get out of your car or off your bike. Look at the interesting varieties of trees, both young & old. Walk the uneven dirt path, concentrating on the uncut native flowers, grasses, & bushes in the interior of the preserve. Suddenly, you're not in the city anymore. You hear the birds, you feel the breeze, the sun filters through the leafy branches. This is the way I like it, mostly undeveloped & undisturbed. Surrounded by a charming neighborhood with well-kept houses, it's a lovely little oasis in the middle of Indianapolis.