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    Riverside Park

    3.9 (17 reviews)

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    Tank G.

    This is an huge and amazing old-school park that dates back to 1898. It spans a whopping 860 acres and has a few different parking areas that can be accessed only through their own separate entrances. They are not connected. This park may be a bit on the older side, but has everything. You will notice a couple of community murals adorning the rec center walls. They are very colorful and attracts your attention. You should also notice the water slides of the park's water park. It looks like a very nice water park, but was closed during the season during my visit. There are two playground areas on opposite side of the park and a Colts play space in the front. Both of the playground areas are on a bed of wood chips and fully accesible and have jungle gyms with slides, bridges and tunnels. They are both not very large areas and their equipment is deep into its lifespan I would say. The playground by the rec center has wavy monkey bars and a small rocker car. There is also some outdoor workout equipment, picnic tables and benches out there as well. in the vicinity of that playground area is a shelter with picnic tables under it and a grill outside of it, a very nice horse shoe pit and a small lake. The other playground are is near the tennis and basketball courts on the opposite end of the park. In addition to the jungle gym it has a bank of traditional swings. The Colts Play 60 area is very nice. It is located at the back of the rec center. It is on an artificial grass surface and has a 40 yard dash ramp, a jungle gym and some ninja warrior style apparatus. There is also some outdoor workout equipment right next to it that includes a dip machine, a chest press, arm bike, and elliptical machine. It is a very nice area The park has three multi-use baseball fields with the largest backstops that I have seen outside of Top Golf. They are relatively in decent shape. There are also two football fields there, one of which has a goal post that can be turned into a soccer net. This park really has green space for days. You will find about 12 decent tennis courts, 2 pretty good full basketball courts, and about 6 horse shoe pits on the end of the park opposite the pool and rec center. There is also a rest room facility over here. The park has picnic tables placed all along its vast grounds and many of them are covered by shade trees. There is also a few shelters, about 4 or 5, with picnic tables under them and grills just outside of them that are available to rent. The park is home to one of the most amazing outdoor amphitheaters in the city. It looks like something out of ancient Greece. It just recently underwent a $9 million renovation and is state of the art. The amphitheater dates back to 1931 as is the resident home of the Indianapolis Shakespeare Co. The theater's bowl holds 650 people and its open area holds up to 2,000 event goers. This is an awesome historical park with everything you could want in a park and more. It is pretty well maintained and has space for days. You can play whatever field sport you can imagine here, football, soccer, frisbee, fly a kite, field hockey or have a picnic. The only real improvement that I could suggest is to put some money into and make upgrades to the playground equipment. Anyway, you can easily a full to a half day here. There is so much to do. I highly recommend checking this spot out.

    Taggart Memorial Amphitheatre
    Eddie C.

    The Taggart Memorial Amphitheatre looks great. Prior to its transformation, the area looked rather dated and in need of a refresh. With proper investment, the memorial becomes the centerpiece of a venue featuring live music and performances. There is a main stage and tiered seating that promises good views for any show. The only drawback is maybe too much sun. There is not much of a shade to speak of. Beside the amphitheatre, Riverside Park has a recreation center and pool for residents to use. The park is one component of the greater Riverside Regional Park Master Plan, which re-imagines the westside of Indianapolis and its greenspace. There are plans to leverage the proximity to the White River and turn the region into one of the best amenities the city has to offer.

    Riverside Park is the new home of Indy Shakes!
    Ann L.

    I was here for an Indianapolis Shakespeare Company production of Hamlet. I had never been to this park before and was amazed at the size! Before the show we had the opportunity to hear about exciting work going on in the neighborhood and the park. The long awaited improvements are coming thanks to the hard work of those who live in the neighborhood. The setting was delightful for the show, and admission was free! How fun to watch a play while enjoying food truck treats, and relaxing in lawn chairs or on blankets. The crowd was relatively small which made it easy to move around and exit post show. It seemed we were the only ones who parked in the lot where the signs directed us! It was very dark walking back, and we used our cell phone flashlights to avoid tripping in the field. They were running golf carts out to the parking area as well, but we made it on our own! Next time, I'm bringing a real flashlight. I can't wait to come back after the new theater area is complete, but they did a great job with the temporary stage for this production. The aquatic center looked nice too. I need to come back to explore a bit more.

    Looking good after her restoration
    Tiffany B.

    Love this park and it's getting an upgrade! Largest monument in Indy dedicated to a person, Thomas Taggart, former mayor and "father of the parks system" in Indy. Soon to be home of IndyShakes. So glad to see this outcome. What a gem for the west side!

    Tennis courts
    Christi S.

    Went to riverside to hang out with friends and play pickle ball. A ton of room here and the courts were in fair shape. Lots of activities going on- football practice, softball, etc.

    Brittany S.

    My visit to Riverside Park was less than glamorous but it opened my eyes to a local treasure for the neighborhood. I was visiting the community center for a Park Board meeting and found myself taking pictures of the park both before and after my meeting. 1.) this park is easily accessible from 16th street on the east side.; 2.) Riverside Park is home to a NFL Colts Playscape and outdoor workout area; 3.) The gorgeous Parthenon-looking remains stand in this park (which I believe Indiana Landmarks is currently trying to save/preserve/raise funds); 4.) The Community Center is home to a large gym that was conveniently hosting a lunchtime workout class with at least 20-30 folks working out and dancing while I was there. I found myself smiling and soaking in their fun lunchtime energy and the fact that the park was being used for what it was originally created.

    Ken N.

    I was really surprised by how much there is to do at this park. There are baseball and basketball areas, an aquatic center, a few shelters, a playground on the north end and a Play 60 Colts inspired playground/fitness equipment area. But try as it might to be inclusive, the park needs some capital investment in basics like walkways that aren't broken and sadly, more surveillance in the parking areas. I had been here before about a year ago to take photos of the Thomas Taggart Memorial. Taggart was the Mayor of Indy from 1895-1901, became a Senator in 1916, and founded Riverside Park. The Memorial was built in 1931 and was thought to be a treasure of Center Township, but has fallen into disrepair and has been closed off by fences to prevent further vandalism. A study was done around 2005 to spend $1.3 million to restore the stability of the Memorial, but even now there is little evidence that anything is happening. This could be a great location for all types of events if restored. There is another building that hosts functions, but it seems rather mundane compared to the Taggart. One of the newer additions to the park was the Play 60 inspired playground/training equipment that is on the 24th street end of the park. Colts logos and colors are prevalent throughout the area since the NFL is behind the Play 60 (minutes of exercise/activity each day) program. I will admit that most of the equipment and shelters appeared to be in pretty good shape. But like I've seen mentioned in reviews of other city parks, the convenience of having parking lots away from busy streets can attract adults engaging in inappropriate activities. As I was driving by on a Sunday afternoon, a group of men had gathered in one of the street side lots and their behavior was offensive enough to keep me from stopping. There is no way I would have wanted to take my grand kids to the park after seeing that behavior. I can only hope it was an isolated event, but the fact that none of the other men stopped the offending individual was deterrent enough for me. I truly believe this park has the space and basics for becoming a really good park. But in the meantime, a little more police presence might be needed to make the park a bit more family oriented. Review #714

    Fishing hole at Riverside.
    Ericka D.

    This park doesn't get the credit it deserves. It has a beautiful landscape, fishing and boating on the river, connects to the White River Wapahani Trail, has a summer waterpark with sweet slides, open fields for sports, a fitness space, playground, and memorial. It was once an amusement park built in 1903. I would love to see this area revitalized and used for concerts, fairs and other public events. It definitely has the space for it.

    Lime green car speeding around the parking lot. No muffler. There was another car that was speeding against it.

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    Ask the Community - Riverside Park

    Review Highlights - Riverside Park

    The other playground are is near the tennis and basketball courts on the opposite end of the park.

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    Garfield Park Conservatory and Sunken Gardens - Dragon for the castles  and dragon theme this year.

    Garfield Park Conservatory and Sunken Gardens

    4.6(157 reviews)
    5.4 mi

    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.

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    Garfield Park Conservatory and Sunken Gardens
    Garfield Park Conservatory and Sunken Gardens
    Garfield Park Conservatory and Sunken Gardens

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    Holliday Park - Bird at the ruins

    Holliday Park

    4.7(153 reviews)
    5.2 mi

    I haven't visited Holliday Park in several years, but I was glad I did this week. There is so much…read moreto see and do at the Park. The history of the park is interesting. I was glad to find plaques describing the Holliday family. John Holliday was a journalist who founded the Indianapolis News. The property of the Park was the country home for his family. Holliday donated the property to the City of Indianapolis to serve as a Park. The "Ruins" on the property were formally the entrance facade to the St Paul Building in New York City. Indy Artist, Elmer Taflinger, won the facade when the building was demolished in the 1950's. Taflinger designed the exquisite monument that now stands as a focal point in Holliday Park. The monument includes a water feature that kid's (and I) were playing during my visit. The surrounding garden and fountain are beautiful and provide a magnificent backdrop for photos. The Nature Center in the Park is currently housing summer programs for kids. There are two classrooms and an auditorium. A bird watching room and library are relaxing spaces to enjoy. A nature area on the other side of the building offers interactive activities for children. Trail 3 starts from the Nature Center and meanders through a lovely rock garden filled with perennials in bloom and trees. The trail is a perfect spot to watch birds. The playground is sprawling with multiple climbing features and slides. Shaded benches and lots of mature trees provide shade. The matting is cushy under the equipment to keep the kids safe. I saw a nearby pavilion with restrooms. I saw several parking lots. Signs mark where to find different venues. Bring sunscreen, water and wear bug repellent. Don't leave valuables in your cars according to signs.

    Holliday Park is a mix of nature and joy--once you go, you'll want to stay all day…read more From climbing towers and hillside play to hammocks under the trees, this park truly has something for everyone. Mix of natural play materials: turf, padded ground, rock & mulch Slides built into the jungle gym AND into the hills Lots of swings Open-ended building materials + natural loose parts play Bathrooms fairly close by Lots of trails + open space for exploring Small rock garden + historic ruins Fountain area where kids can splash and get wet Nature center on-site Hammocks + shaded areas for relaxing Plenty of seating for parents + cute little tables for kids This is one of those parks where kids can explore, climb, create, and slow down all in the same visit

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    Holliday Park - Squirrels on trail 2 along the river

    Squirrels on trail 2 along the river

    Holliday Park - It's hard to beat their nature center.

    It's hard to beat their nature center.

    Holliday Park - The Ruins

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    The Ruins

    Indianapolis Canal Walk

    Indianapolis Canal Walk

    4.5(206 reviews)
    2.5 miMile Square

    Goodness, have I walked the canal about 50 times now?!…read more It's such a unique experience for Indy to have some water space in the middle of the city. This 3 mile loop will take you from 11th Street down to White River State Park to access the green space and extra trails down there. The canal water itself is not super cute, where there can be litter, and the water is rather opaque. They do drain the canal every so often to keep it from getting too uncute. The sidewalks are kept nicer, though a few spots in front of apartment buildings could use some TLC. There are also a few spots where the sidewalk is not level, so take caution if that is an issue. It's mostly stair access to the canal, but I *think* I've seen an elevator around the Ohio street basin. The canal has a few businesses along it for your merriment. Notably, there is Fresco on the Canal (I have a separate review for this) which is open March-October. Eiteljorg museum cafe is open daily around the lunch hours (11-3) and can be accessed through their patio gate. Entertainment wise, there is more going on. I've done the swan boat rentals, where you can pedal around on the canal. This is quite a workout! Rental of swan boats and kayaks is near the Ohio Street basin. There is also the gondolas, where your gondolier can sing, and they've always sounded marvelous. There's also a few stations for the Pacers Bikeshare around the canal, which is free for Marion County residents. Any time the weather is right, you can find me getting my steps in!

    The Canal Walk is one of the major attraction in downtown Indianapolis. It is a long walkway that…read moreis right along the water of the canal. Several parks, museums, hotels, and other attractions are situated along this walkway. While walking along the canal, I noticed several tourists and locals walking and running through the walkway. The walkway and surrounding public area was mostly clean and well maintained. In one corner there was a paddle swan boats for rental but it was closed for winter. Some of the canal had scaffolding for construction. Some of the signs around the canal provided historical insight about the canal.

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    Indianapolis Canal Walk
    Indianapolis Canal Walk
    Indianapolis Canal Walk - Look for this tall colorful mosaic to start your canal adventure!

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    Look for this tall colorful mosaic to start your canal adventure!

    Riverside Park - parks - Updated August 2026

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