This is another park on the near east side that started off as a five star park with lots of work…read moreand effort put into transforming a vacant lot into a place for peace and serenity. And with some love and attention, the park could return to a more inviting place. Labyrinths are places that visitors go to wind their way through a spiraling path while unwinding their anxiety and fears. The park is surrounded by flowers and contributions from local artists that make the place visitor friendly. But the landscaping needs some help. Though the labyrinth is mowed, the grass is really spotty and some of the path's spirals are blocked by shrubs that have popped up. Stepping around the shrubs requires exiting the spiral you're on and that defeats the process. Hopefully, the park will get some neighborhood or park assistance in returning it to its full benefit. Review #2712

If you spend much time with me at all, you eventually learn that I have a passion for labyrinths…read moreincluding a sort of "in development" plan to develop my own memorial labyrinth project as part of my Indy-based activism. I've long been a fan of labyrinths, though surprisingly few of them are truly wheelchair friendly. Indianapolis is actually home to quite a few labyrinths, though they are for the most part not well-publicized and often times are either not in permanent locations or easily accessed locations. Rivoli Park Labyrinth is the rare labyrinth in Indy to be established in a truly urban location. Established with seed money by Peace Learning Center, the Rivoli Park Labyrinth was first established on October 10, 2013, and is considered an outdoor walking labyrinth and reflective space. The Rivoli Park area is on Indy's Near-Eastside and the labyrinth is located about a half-block away from what used to be the Value World thrift shop. The labyrinth itself is of a triune-focus design and was designed by John Ridder of Paxworks. The labyrinth includes several stumps located right next to it that allow for sitting - as a fun fact, they were decorated by children from the nearby "Love Your Neighbor" house. Multiple artists also donated their time toward beautiful of the area and a log book utilized to record visits, though during my visit not long ago I did not see the logbook. As is unfortunately all too often the case, and as noted by fellow yelper Ken N. during a recent visit to the labyrinth, the Rivoli Park Labyrinth's care is rather inconsistent. Depending upon when you visit, the Rivoli Park Labyrinth may be somewhat overgrown and certainly not reflective of the peaceful ground it was intended to be. As a project that is only a little over six years old, it's rather sad how quickly the project has declined and how inconsistently it receives appropriate care and attention. If you visit at the right time, you can experience a more user-friendly labyrinth. This is especially true on World Labyrinth Day in May. However, on the best of days, this is a more difficult labyrinth for wheelchair users, such as myself. It's a wonderful project, an urban project located in the heart of what is known to be gang territory, yet it's a project that appears to not really be fully embraced year-round and if you're truly looking for a labyrinth to use that is outdoors there are more peaceful, positively maintained labyrinths available throughout Central Indiana. In doing a little bit of research, I learned that a non-profit organization started to support the labyrinth has since been voluntarily dissolved. One can only hope that such an inspired idea finds an appropriate organization to provide the care and nurture it needs to be a shining light for Indy's Rivoli Park neighborhood.

Do you have a child who loves pretending to be an animal? Then you need to check out Grassy Creek…read moreRegional Park! Huge nature-inspired playground with endless opportunities to climb and explore Giant climbing area that's perfect for pretending to be a spider Butterfly tunnel Cute animal play features including an ant, turtle, frog, and more Owl-themed play structure with slides Two tall climbing towers--one shaped like a bird's nest and the other like a treehouse Lots of different types of slides and swings Lily pad obstacle course for hopping and balancing Small indoor nature center with live animals, hands-on activities, bird watching, and books Con: The long zipline was missing a piece during our visit, so it wasn't in use. If your kids love climbing, pretending, and exploring the outdoors, this is one of the most unique playgrounds in Indianapolis. You can easily spend a whole morning bouncing between the playground and th

I love that Indy is stepping up the park game around the city. This park is on the far east side of…read moreIndianapolis. It was a pretty hot day when we came out. There is an old grassy creek park that I went to first, I had to keep driving east to find this spot. The kids enjoyed themselves. They have an area for littler kids, not much shade in this area. They have a treehouse that has a slide. My kids enjoyed the zip swing and had fun pushing each other. They have swinging benches, shelter with charcoal grill, and the floor is turf. It is a pretty cool looking park.

The Jacob Schramm Nature Preserve is a 31-acre mature woods in Hancock County close to New…read morePalestine. It was originally protected in 1999. It is owned by Hancock County Community Foundation and the Central Indiana Land Trust helps manage the stewardship of the property. For those who like trails but prefer a shorter one, Jacob Schramm offers a fairly easy .6 mile trail that is pretty much all natural with some bridging and some markings for trees. A pergola, bench, and boardwalk area was added in 2009. Because this is mostly natural, it can be a little difficult (or a lot) during inclement weather. As a wheelchair user, I most definitely could not wheel even the short trail during rainy weather because it gets fairly muddy. During good weather, it's a pretty delightful little preserve. I'm always torn with how to rate preserves. As a wheelchair user, I get frustrated at the lack of access. However, I also respect the desire to keep the nature preserve in its natural condition. It's a difficult dilemma. I think active wheelchair users could handle most of the preserve during good weather days, though there are natural obstacles periodically and even with a largely flat trail I'd hesitate to call it anything close to actually accessible. That said, I love the work of the Central Indiana Land Trust and this is an under-appreciated gem in Hancock County. While I don't get to Hancock County often, when I do I most always stop here. I should note, of course, that this is not a "park." There are no activities here other than the pergola and bench where you can relax and enjoy nature. You will discover a wide variety of trees, flowers, birds, and occasionally other wildlife while here.

This little gem of a nature preserve is found about a mile south of US 40 on Mt Comfort Road (CR…read more600 W) in Hancock County. The preserve was established in 1999, and the pergola, bench, and the board walk areas were added in 2009. The 31 acres are mostly woods but contain a small pond area within the woods and small tributaries that meander towards the nearest creek. The local boy scouts have done a good job of building crossings for the widest/wettest spans of the trails. However, the majority of the 0.6 mile hiking loop is foot worn with leaves as the main buffer between your shoes and the dirt/mud. What I really like about this otherwise run of the mill wooded area is that there is a small kiosk at the entrance to the trail area which has park pamphlets inside. The pamphlets have numbered items that are either tree descriptions or instructions for observations. Along the trail, you will see numbered blue posts that correlate to the pamphlets. For example, #12 is a Sycamore tree that grows from 60-90 feet, has triangle shaped leaves with alternating leaf placement, and bark that is pale white which often peels. I like feeling smarter after a good walk, exercising my mind at the same time I exercise my body. The ground is mostly flat, but footing can be a little slippery after rains. They could also use a trash can near the parking lot to help keep the preserve clean. Review #781

Thompson Park is such a beautiful, modern playground! I love that there's no mulch--the playground…read morehas a soft, rubber-like surface that's comfortable to walk on, and everything was very clean and well maintained. There are so many different activities and play features for kids to choose from. I was especially impressed by the sensory-friendly and inclusive features throughout the park. They have a communication board as well as a large basket/nest swing that provides more space and support than a traditional playground swing. I really appreciate parks that think about children with different sensory, communication, and mobility needs while still creating a space that's fun for everyone. Thompson Park definitely did that. Such a great park for families, and we'll definitely be back!

This park recently went through a remodel, and it has been a hit ever since! The playground…read morereceived a complete renovation and now features one of the tallest attractions at an Indy park. There are slides, swings, climbing areas, and plenty of fun options for kids of different ages. Right next to the playground is a shelter area that we rented for my son's graduation party. The rental was around $150 for the day, and we booked it easily through the Indy Parks website. One thing to note is that some people may not realize the shelter is reserved, so we had a few people try to use it during our event. We printed out our reservation confirmation to have proof that it was paid for and reserved. The shelter has four large picnic tables and a grill, which worked well for our gathering. The biggest downside is that there is no electricity and no restroom nearby, which was disappointing considering the rental price. Having those amenities would make the space much more convenient for larger events. The park also has a remodeled basketball court and a trail area for walking or enjoying the outdoors. There is a smaller parking lot, and during busy times some visitors park along the grass. This was a decent venue for my son's grad party. I just wish the shelter included electricity and closer restroom access for the price.

At a recent Yelp Event held at Garfield Park, I had the pleasure of listening to Mark Bowell…read moreprovide an informational tour. Although we didn't get to see it that evening, Mark mentioned that there was a new children's park on the east side of the conservatory. The park was created in honor of Mark's beloved son Blake who passed away (I believe it was 2017) due to cancer. So, I made a point of stopping by about a week later to visit the children's garden and pay my respects. After parking in the lot next to the conservatory, I could see the arched entrance with "Blake's Garden" cut into the black metal. The park is arranged with a central paved area that features a pergola, some concrete seating, and a tribute sculpture called "Divine Light" by Kenzie Funk (2019). The concrete is surrounded by plantings arranged into unique themed gardens. There is an alphabet garden that has a planting for every letter. There is also a sensory garden that has plantings selected to represent the five senses. There are other gardens and small trees planted to the area. The overall effect is a spacious, yet welcoming place for children to look at a variety of plants and still have room to move about without getting muddy. If you are in the area, make time to check out this special place in the park. Review #2861

The Overly-Wormsn Park is a hidden gem in Zionsville. The park is a fabulous tribute to the Worman…read morefamily. The Worman's were civic minded contributors to the town and schools of Zionsville back when my kids were in school. It is meaningful that their farm was converted for park use. The park has a number of unique features. Most notable are the bike trails including mountain bike trails. The trails run from easy paved to challenging rock covered. Trails are well marked. A nice playground was built with climbing structures, slides, swings and more. Soft matting is under the structures in case the kids fall. Benches and covered pavilions with picnic tables are nearby so parents and kids can be shaded. I saw a bbq by one of the pavilions. A trail south features a disc "golf" course that winds through trees and other obstacles. The trails run is lovely to follow with mature trees and occasional wild flowers. North of the playground is a picturesque fishing pond. Decks overlook the pond. Fishing is catch and release only. The park borders the Big 4 Rail Trail to the northeast. The trails are suitable for walking, running or biking. We found parking near the playground with accessible space nearby. Bike parking was also available. Restroom facilities appeared to be limited to portable potties. I saw a water fountain near the playground. It took me about an hour to walk the entire paved trail and take photos. I recommend bringing water, bug spray and sunscreen. Worth a visit, especially for people that like to mountain bike.

Cute little park by our house. My boys love stopping while they're walking on the trails. Equipment…read moreis pretty basic but enough to keep them busy for a bit (when they're not satisfied simply playing with the water fountain). Park is safe and clean and the equipment is great for their ages (3 &5).

I visited Martin Luther King Memorial Park in early April 2026, right after they finished…read morerenovating parts of it. They expanded the outdoor exhibits, including the Landmark for Peace Memorial, an art piece depicting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy with outstretched arms. They also added lights to the basketball court area and new walking paths, and reopened the Visitor Center, although it was closed when I visited. The playground at MLK Park is still relatively new, even though it wasn't a part of the remodel. It has fun things for all ages, like musical instruments, swings, a huge netted climber, a merry-go-round, and a small playground structure for little kids. The ground is that rubber padding that cushions falls. If you like murals, then come on over to this park, because it got it some murals. There's a mural of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy (of course), but also a mural depicting the "Masters of Disaster," a student chess team from IPS 27 that became national champions in the 1980s. How cool to be good at chess, and also get your mug on a wall in a park!

MLK Park is undergoing a major upscale renovation. I stopped by last week to monitor the progress…read more The park is home to a fabulous sculpture depicting Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King reaching out to each other. The sculpture sits on the ground where Kennedy delivered a moving speech on April 4, 1968, after the assignation of MLK. A nearby historical marker describes the importance of the speech. Many visionaries contributed to the Park and Memorial conception, including the Simons Brothers, The Pacers, politicians and artists. The sculpture was designed by Indiana artist, Greg Perry and cast by Daniel Edwards. I find the sculpture exceptional and moving. A modern Memorial Center is under construction just north of the Statue. The Center will house Park staff and exhibits about MLK and civil rights. An MLK quote is inscribed on the Center wall "Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that," Several contractors were working during my visit and the Center is behind closed fences during construction. It is hard to say when the Center will open, but I would guess Spring of 2026. A modern and colorful playground is also on the park grounds with climbing structures, swings and more. The made of the playground is soft matting material to improve safety. A swimming pool and basketball courts are also contained on the park grounds. Lots of green space is maintained on the park grounds. Landscaping efforts are in progress between the statue and Center with new walkways and signage. There is free street parking surrounding the park. Park use is free (not sure about pool use though). Several interesting murals of MLK surround the park. I look forward to visiting with my granddaughters when the Center opens. This is a moving Memorial and fabulous resource for the city.

Brookside Park is one of Indy's oldest and largest parks. Founded in 1898, the 108-acre park is…read morealso one of the last to have its designated funding from the American Rescue Plan put to use. The park's crown jewel may very well be its 20,000 square foot Family Center that was built in 1928. It features an auditorium, gymnasium, and classrooms - all of which can be rented. What else can you do here? There's a disc golf course. There's one of the best sledding hills around and rolling hills throughout. There are shelters for rent, basketball courts, an outdoor pool, a winter warming center, and playgrounds that continue to be under renovation. During the summer, Brookside Park is well loved. During the winter? I'll admit it starts looking a bit rough. I was driving through it today on my way to work, and I was a little dismayed by its condition. However, it's nice to see playground enhancements in process along with improved trail work. The people I meet here are almost always friendly, though the surrounding neighborhood can be a bit hit-and-miss. The family center has a nice concrete ramp into it. There's accessible parking around the park. Overall, Brookside Park is a good but not quite great park for me. It's one of Indy's legacy parks, however, I'm hoping once its upgrades are done it'll get the love it really deserves. I drive this way a lot these days as there's far less road construction to get downtown. Between this and Spades Park just a bit further up the road, it makes for a peaceful, easygoing start to my work day.

This will be a great park once the ground surface is completed under the playground. We will keep…read morewatch.