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    University Park

    4.6 (12 reviews)
    Open • 6:00 am - 11:00 pm

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    Lovely in the morning!
    Katherine A.

    I LOVE this historic downtown Indy park. The fountain with the bronzed nymphs takes me back 100 years ago. The little Roman/Greek gods throughout the park are enchanting and a fun place to take the baby for a stroll or a quick jog. There are benches throughout the park and sidewalks that work their way through the park. Lots of nice lighting at night with great views of the city skyline. The indiana War Memorial is in the center of the park - now undergoing some restoration. There is lots of paid parking around the park so we park here for events in the city and a walk through the park.

    Brittany S.

    This park is gorgeous. From shady spots featuring picnic benches to the beautiful water fountain in the center that anchors the park's design, University Park is underutilized and under-appreciated to say the least. This park runs between Meridian and Pennsylvania Streets with the Indiana War Memorial as its neighbor to one side and the Federal Building to the other side. It's also only one bloc from the south start of Mass Ave and two blocks from Monument Circle. Bonus: Croute Bakery by Cunningham Restaurant Group just opened up across the street (pastry picnic, anyone?!). In addition to plentiful shade, benches and picnic benches, you'll also find statues of Abraham Lincoln and President Benjamin Harrison. Fun fact from Downtown Indy: University Park is the oldest portion of the Indiana War Memorial Plaza, once the planned site of a university in 1821. Five stars for design, shade and beauty and four stars for the lack of public activation. I suppose a portion of that problem is on the citizens who could be using it more and proposing fresh ideas?

    Benjamin Harrison by Henry Charles (1908).  The 23rd President of the United States
    Ken N.

    I really like this park. Not only does it have a lot of greenery (both trees and gardens), but it is filled with fountains and statues too! Back in 1821, when Alexander Ralston drew up the plat map of Indianapolis, plat 25 was designated as University Square. Over time, the name has changed slightly to become University Park. In 1887, a statue of the first Vice President of the United States from Indiana, Schulyer Colfax was placed. Colfax was the 17th VP who served under the 18th President Grant (Andrew Johnson was the 17th President after Lincoln's assasination and the VP position was left vacant during the remainder of Johnson's term.) On the side of the statue's base is a relief of Rebecca and Eliezer at the Well in honor of his establishing the Rebekah Degree organization. In 1908, a statue of Benjamin Harrison, our 23rd President and Indiana's only one, was placed. The sculpture was created by artist Charles Henry. In 1914, the park was redesigned by George Kessler (yes, that's the same Kessler that the boulevard is named after). The Depew Memorial Fountain was centered in the park in 1919. The surroundings of the fountain were designed by Henry Bacon. In 1923, the original "Pan" and "Syrinx" sculptures were installed by famed local artist Myra Reynolds Richards. Sadly, both original statues were stolen later. In 1934, "Seated Lincoln" was created by Henry Hering whose work can also be seen on the obelisk in Veteran's Memorial Plaza (two blocks north) and adorning the Indiana World War Memorial on the block immediately north. He created the relief figures at the top of the memorial as well as the "Pro Patria" statue on the southern steps. In 1973, artist Adolph Wolter created replacements for the Pan and Syrinx statues, but used his own designs instead of following Richards' originals. Sadly, the Pan was stolen again and has been replaced by a third Pan by Roger White in 1980. Then after it was stolen, White created a fourth Pan in 2005. What is it about small sculptures that thieves keep stealing them? Anyway, the park is easily within walking distance for most downtown workers who can pry themselves away from their desks long enough to enjoy the setting. Review #1864

    Nicole S.

    This place is absolutely gorgeous. A relaxing area to stroll, read, or take some beautiful pictures. A must see in Indy.

    Fountain with Indiana war memorial in the background

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    Photo of Bruce K.
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    1 month ago

    Helpful 6
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    10 months ago

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    11 months ago

    A quaint area with lots of history and good places to eat. We rented a sociable bike and enjoyed the paved bike route.

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    7 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    2 years ago

    The location was a wonderful setting for our grandson's small, laid-back wedding. The fountain was the perfect backdrop.

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    Photo of Ken N.
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    8 years ago

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    Photo of Jeremy J.
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    7 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    11 years ago

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    Ask the Community - University Park

    Review Highlights - University Park

    “Other than Garfield Park, I can't think of another fountain I love so much in Indy.”

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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)
    2.9 mi•Downtown

    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.

    Photos
    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)
    6.9 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

    Photos
    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(207 reviews)
    0.5 mi•Canal Walk, Mile Square

    It's been a while since I've been to the Canal, but when I saw they were having a Full Moon Yoga…read moreParty, I knew I wanted to check it out and I'm so glad I did! The yoga was provided by The Hot Room Yoga, and I believe the event was in partnership with Indy Cultural Trail. There was also a local artist, Lily Groot, who was there creating free prints for at least 450 attendees. I got print 13. Honestly, it was such a great event! You could purchase items from Black vegan cafe food truck, while we hung out and watched the sunset. Then around 8:30 PM, we turned on the glow lights they provided and got ready to do yoga under the full moon. The yoga session was about an hour. It was definitely challenging as you really just had to listen on what to do, but it felt so good for my body, mind, and soul. There was something really special about doing yoga outside, surrounded by the Canal, with the sunset fading and the full moon coming out. It was a vibe. I'm really glad I got to experience this! There's another one coming up in September, so if you've never been, you should definitely give it a try, it was free! Such a fun and unique Indy experience!

    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.

    Photos
    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!

    Colts Canal Playspace - Outside

    Colts Canal Playspace

    4.3(26 reviews)
    0.5 mi

    If you're looking for a great park to take the kids, get a walk or run in, or even hop on a bike,…read morethis spot is perfect! The playground equipment is super nice--you can definitely tell they put some money and effort into making it great. It's right next to the canal, so once the kids are done playing, you can head out for a walk or rent a bike and ride along the water. There's even a dog park area, which is a huge plus if you want to bring your pup along. They have poop bag stations stocked and ready, so no worries if you forget yours. The whole place was really clean too--I didn't see any trash around, which shows people actually care about keeping it nice. The only downside is that there aren't any restrooms by the park. So definitely make sure you (and especially the kids) empty your bladders before you get there, otherwise you'll end up leaving to find a bathroom nearby. Parking is mostly street parking, and yes, you'll need to feed the meter. But if you go on a Sunday or a holiday (like I did), you're in luck--free parking! And honestly, who doesn't love free parking downtown?

    Our older two (4 and 6) loved the climbing structures, but there wasn't a ton for a toddler to do!…read moreThe canal view is nice though, and she was entertained by the ducks! There was a bit of trash throughout the park, and we did end up leaving a little earlier than planned after getting a strange vibe from a homeless man sitting at the swings.

    Photos
    Colts Canal Playspace
    Colts Canal Playspace - The motor bike rental by the canal

    The motor bike rental by the canal

    Colts Canal Playspace - Posing in front of the playground

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    Posing in front of the playground

    University Park - parks - Updated September 2026

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