Columbus knows how to do parks. The location of this park in downtown Columbus has historical…read moresignificance. Two rivers, East Fork White and Flatrock Rivers merge creating a flood plain. During the 1800's, water was diverted to create power for milling, called a "Mill Race". A number of mills operated here. There were tanneries, brick makers and woolen manufacturing to name a few. Various mills operated for decades but faced challenges of periodic flooding. The mills closed over time and only a few foundations remain. The site has been transformed into a beautiful park, complete with sculptures, trails, a historic covered bridge and more. We visited the park yesterday and spent several hours exploring the site. A notable observation Tower is prominent near the river. I climbed the 130 steps to the top to see panoramic views of the river and town of Columbus. Graffiti vandals have left "art" on the tower. There is an elevator, but it was non operational during my visit. Maybe it as just me, but it was a little creepy at the top. A modern colorful playground is located on the north side of the park. Climbing structures, slides, interactive toys and a wide variety of swings fill the area. The equipment is clean and pristine. Benches and picnic tables surround the playground for parents. I saw several pavilions around the park for picnics or meetings. The grounds of the park are tree covered and beautiful. There is a project underway to restore native plants. The New Brownsville Covered Bridge crosses a small duck pond and is a lovely backdrop for photos. The tress bridge is opened to auto traffic. I saw several sculptures including an artistic vine covered tunnel. The sculptures did look like they have endured annual flooding. Fisherman were fishing in small boats in the river. There is a small boat launch in the park. An amphitheater structure is also on the grounds. The setting is an ideal spot for summer concerts. A single basketball court is located on the west side of the park. I did see a set of modern restrooms in the park. Pathways are concrete making travel easy for strollers and wheelchairs. Parking is available at various locations throughout the park. There is no charge to visit the park. Warning: the mosquito population was pretty treacherous during my visit. I would recommend long sleeves, pants and spray. They will carry you away.

We LOVE Mill Race park. Just had my girls' birthday party there yesterday. We love the playground,…read morebut what really draws us in is the beach area where you can swim in the river! Just bring life jackets as there is a current. But if you stay close to the shore, it's no problem! This park is absolutely beautiful, clean and there's something for everyone to do

Nice place, a few little fishing holes. Overall can't complain kids enjoyed themselvesread more

Use to be an amazing place to go with friends during the spring and summer. This place use to allow…read morebeer in cans (if 21+) and no glass bottles, now they tear your car apart looking for alcohol and tell you that alcohol is not allowed. How are a group of adults suppose to enjoy their off day at this business if they can't simply relax and have a beer? I try to go back to this place every year thinking it's fun, but it's just not how it use to be. Staff are always rude as well. Wish I could go back 5 years when this place was at its peak.

A sprawling campground/RV park/sports complex just outside of Columbus. We have only been here for…read moreweekend baseball tournaments but on a Friday the campers are rolling in from EVERYWHERE. Specific to the baseball fields, they are nice enough and situated in a single area. Backstops behind home plate are very short and infields are turf. Probably can host tournaments up to 15u if I had to guess, beyond that hitters will be bombing over the fence. Specific to the camping, they have a lot of amenities and but the looks of the available parking spaces, they must pack them in. Again, not here for the camping.

Too many drunk people for my family's liking. People were loud and rowdy well into the night. I…read morecomplained the next morning to the teenager who was working but I'm sure my complaint went no where.

I love the history of covered bridges and cherish the opportunity to visit one. The New Brownsville…read moreCovered Bridge has endured 185 years of weather, relocation, fire and restoration. The original truss bridge was completed by Adam Mason in 1840 and spanned the Whitewater River in Brownsville. The bridge was the only surviving example of a long truss bridge in Indiana, measuring 182 feet long. The bridge was dismantled in 1974 and moved to Mill Race Park in Columbus in 1985 under the guidance of bridge zealot, Virgil Taylor. The bridge was shortened to 85 feet to span a small pond in the park. According to a plaque on the bridge, the original structure was destroyed by fire and later rebuilt. Today, we were able to drive across the restored bridge. I also explored under the bridge on the concrete walkways that descends under the bridge. The bridge is a beautiful reminder of Indiana's history. There is no charge to visit or drive across the bridge. There is no parking close to the bridge, but I did finding parking across the park.

Located in a quaint little park, this bridge was actually moved here from the Brownsville area…read more Originally build in 1840 , it had to be restored after a fire. They did great work. While it looks somewhat small from afar, it seems to really grow once you are inside. Very photogenic by itself or as a backdrop for your selfies or even important photo shoots. Don't forget to enjoy the rest of the park as well.

This is one of the best parks in Columbus. There is a wide variety of amenities and activities for…read morefolks to engage in. Set on a sprawling 89 acres, there are baseball, basketball, and volleyball areas. There is a skate park on the northeast end. There is a playground and shelter with running water and restrooms. A paved walking path/trail winds around the park too! And on the north end, there is plentiful parking. Review #840

I proposed to my fiancée here. Enough said. Bathrooms were less desirable. If that's what you're…read morelooking for.

Beautiful place to visit, quite picturesque. Wear appropriate shoes when going. Parking available.read more

We spent hours at Young's Creek Park in downtown Franklin with our granddaughters this weekend!…read moreThey had a blast on the colorful and creative climbing structures, slides and swings. My granddaughters really like the "merry-go-round". The equipment is arranged by age group for toddlers up to 12 years old (although I climbed on a few things myself). Everything is clean with a ton of soft surface padding so the kids don't get hurt. There are drinking fountains, nearby restroom facilities and lots of picnic tables. Benches and small pavilions are scattered throughout the play area. The parking lots are huge with plenty of accessible spaces. The splash pad was closed for the season, but looked like fun. There is a paved walking trail that crosses the creek. Pet cleanup stations are available. A pickle ball court with 8 courts is really nice with covered seating area for spectators. A nice stage for concerts is across a large green space. This is a great little community park!

Youngs Creek Park is definitely worth the drive! It's located in Franklin, a little town in Johnson…read moreCounty, and not only is the park and playground amazing, but there are lots of little shops and restaurants around the area, so you could literally make a whole day of the visit. It was a hot day, so the splash pad was going and kids were having a great time. The splash pad has water features that come up from the ground, buckets of water that fall down over your head, and lots of benches (with shade!) for people to sit at. The playground is huge! It has multiple structures for kids of all ages, with a separate area for babies and toddlers. This is a great playground for kids who like to climb and parkour, because there is so so so much to play on. My kid was trying to get from one part of the playground to the other without touching the ground, and he was doing monkey bars, climbing on walls, going through rope obstacle courses and lots more. There are multiple slides, swings (with two-person swings where a grown up can swing with their kid) and musical instruments. The whole playground has a rubberized ground for soft landings. One of the best things about the playground at Youngs Creek Park is that there are lots of places with shade! This was especially appreciated because when we visited, it was a super sunny and hot day. There are lots of clean restrooms located near the amphitheater on the other side of the park. A little ways further are the pickle ball courts.

Nice little park with a fishing pond, basketball, volleyball, and playgrounds for kids. Camping is…read moreavailable at well, and campsites are right along the river.

One of the Bartholomew County parks/campgrounds is located just northwest of the Edinburgh exit 76…read more If you use the frontage road and follow the signs, you will be able to locate the entrance of the park. (Note that the park is not open all the time, so contact the county parks department ahead of time to avoid a problem.) There is a paved road that leads down along the Flatrock River and then over towards an area where 30 campsites can be used. Note that no camping off the approved sites is allowed. They do have running water, a playground, a couple shelters, but I wasn't able to determine if there are electrical hookups. The park does not have a beach or pool. There are some remote picnic tables, but because of flooding, access to those areas can be restricted. It's best to contact the park officials ahead of time to avoid risk and frustration. The park has lots of wooded land and is hilly. Also, the river can be flowing quite rapidly at times. Review #2064