This is a very small park, located right off of a busy street. It is only a couple of blocks and if…read moreyou blink, you will miss it. I have actually passed it many times and just recently noticed it. It does have a private parking lot and a covered pavilion with 4 double sized picnic tables and a grill. There is also a small walking/jogging trail, but it is not clearly marked and I was not sure where the trail went. Outside of what I have mentioned in this review, there is not much else to do at the park. It is a new frills, what you see is what you get kind of park. No benches, no restrooms, no playground. It is relatively well maintained though. I do not recommend making this a destination park, but if you are in the area, with time to kill then it may be worth a brief stop.

This narrow park extends a couple blocks along the east side of Madison Avenue from Orange to…read moreMorris. The south block has a small parking lot available that you can gain access to from Orange. The block has a shelter with multiple picnic tables and a single grill. The north block is just green space with the exception of a public art piece that is near the corner of Sanders and Madison. There are no trails or facilities. There is no playground for kids, maybe because it is so close to a busy highway. Overall, there isn't much to draw you to the park unless you lived close by and just liked to go for a walk. Review #535

Pan is a Mini statue located in university park of downtown Indianapolis Indiana…read more This area has all kinds of cool and larger than life public art so it is kinda easy to miss this smaller piece. The statue features a flute player who may or may not be Peter Pan. He sitting stop of what id call a tree stump. Overall fun piece and located In a area that is a statue or public art lovers idea spot. Cool area to discover

I've lived in Indianapolis my entire life with the weird exception of a few hours spent being born…read morein a Lebanon, Indiana hospital. While Lebanon is my birthplace, Indy is my home. Yet, I have to admit that I've not always ventured out and explored my Indianapolis home as much as I should have and as much as I'd have liked. Lately, I've been trying to really change this and explore Indy. I've been driving down streets I've never been down. I've been looking at neighborhoods. I've been going to museums and I've been checking out Indy's more unique spots. One such spot entered my review yesterday as I joined friends for dinner at the nearby The Iron Skillet. I nearly always arrive early places - partly because I get a little disoriented at times and am afraid I'll get lost and partly because of the unpredictability with my body. The good part of this is that it often affords me the chance to explore. While I won't say this part of town was foreign to me since I grew up in Pike Township, it had been years since I'd really explored it I really enjoyed myself. In fact, I'd never been to this site - the Wilbur Shaw Soap Box Derby Hill. I fell in love with it the minute I saw it. It's May and I love racing anyway. There's something awesome about soap box derby and there's something way awesome about this site. The Wilbur Shaw Soap Box Derby Hill is the longest track in the country at a full-on 1000 feet. It was built in 1953 and has a laser timer, digital weighing system, new scorer's bridge, and a pit area. USA Today has recognized the track as one of the top Soap Box Derby facilities in the country. All racing here is sanctioned either by All-American Soap Box Derby or National Derby Rallies and there is an actual Indianapolis Soap Box Derby Association. While I'd thought I might just check out the place yesterday, they were actually racing. It was honestly thrilling and I loved watching the kids race in the cars. It was one of those times in life when you tap into the innocence and wonder of childhood and I absolutely loved it. I'd have been thrilled if my fun evening had stopped right there. The track is named after Wilbur Shaw, an Indy 500 veteran who also served as IMS president from 1945-54 when he passed away. He was also the automotive test evaluator for Popular Science magazine. Shaw was a Hoosier who was born in Shelbyville in 1902. He won the Indy 500 3 times - the 2nd driver to do so and the first to do so in consecutive years (1939, 1940). In many ways, he was responsible for saving the track shortly after World War II when it was nearly closed to make way for post-war housing. It was Shaw who drew in Tony Hulman to ultimately buy the track and rejuvenate it! This is a magnificent place to visit. It's actually under the umbrella of Indy Parks and if you've never watched Soap Box Derby I highly recommend it.

Wilbur Shaw is the namesake of the longest soap box derby track…read more in the country at 1000 ft. He was born in Shelbyville, Indiana on October 31, 1902 and took an early interest in cars and racing. By 1919, Shaw decided to build race cars for a living, and vowed he would win the Indianapolis 500 someday. He drove in his first Indianapolis 500 in 1927 at the age of 24 and came in fourth. Not one to give up, Shaw won the Indianapolis 500 race three times--in 1937, 1939 and 1940.He was the second person to win the 500 three times and the first to win it twice in a row. During WW2, the INDY Speedway was padlocked and the property dilapidated and became a weed-strewn eyesore. After the war ended, Shaw found a wealthy businessman to bankroll a restoration of the Speedway. Soon, the Speedway was hosting exciting racing events and bringing in enormous crowds, due to the hard work of Wilbur Shaw and financial backing of Indiana businessman Tony Hulman. These two men managed to bring the Indy Speedway back to life after the dark war years and restored the luster of the 500 as the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing." This special Hill, which I visited on the Circle City Tour, was dedicated to Wilbur Shaw as a Memorial Soap Box Derby Hill, and is located at 30th Street and Cold Springs Road in Indianapolis, IN. The Wilbur Shaw Memorial Soap Box Derby Hill is a public park managed through Indy Parks. Yes, soap box derbies are something seen in Little Rascals movies but it is a fun, wholesome family activity. The Derby races are held here-at the longest derby track in the country-- starting in early summer and it is a big deal here in this mid-western Speedway town. And what a wonderful way to honor Speedway savior and race car aficionado Wilbur Shaw for all his many accomplishments. 5 YELP STARS.

Bakers Camp Covered Bridge is an easy visit with just a quick loop off US-36 in Putnam County. I…read morewalked and drove across the bridge built by J. J. Daniels in 1901. The single span Burr Arch Truss bridge is 128 feet long and strong enough for 8 tons of vehicles. The bridge is also known as the Hillis Bridge. A window in the bridge allows for a glimpse of the of Big Walnut Creek, which passes underneath. The bridge's also known as Hillis Bridge. There is a small pull-off on both sides of the bridge to allow cars to pass. The bridge is the southern most border of Big Walnut Creek Nature Preserve. The well traveled bridge is on the National List of Historic Places. This is the sixth bridge that I visited in Putnam County. I recommend a visit for all bridge and history lovers.

Another Joseph J. Daniels (c. 1826-1916) covered bridge, Baker's Camp Covered Bridge carries County…read moreRoad E 650 over Big Walnut Creek. The bridge was completed in 1901 and is a Burr Arch truss. The bridge is 128 feet long and has a 13 foot clearance with a 10 foot overhand at each end.. Which was helpful as I did drive the Sprinter van across today. It also goes by the name Hillis Bridge and is one of three in northern Putnam County. Its sister bridges are on the north side of State Road 36 - Rolling Stone Covered Bridge is about a 20-minute drive, and Pine Bluff Covered Bridge is about a half-hour north of Baker's Camp. [Review 1299 of 2024 - 176 in Indiana - 22322 overall]

The Indiana Government Center is the complex that includes the Indiana Government Center - North,…read moreIndiana Government Center - South, the Indiana State Library and Historical Building, parking garages, the Indiana State House, and very soon the Archives building will also open and be part of the complex. The State House was completed in 1888. It initially held space for both legislative chambers, courts, the State Library, the Governor, the Indiana Supreme Court, legislators, and other state officials. In 1934, the State Library moved to 140 North Senate. In 1960, Indiana Government Center - North was completed at 100 N. Senate. It featured a large plaza, 2,000 windows, and a 900-seat cafeteria (that now has a great view of the Canal). It was connected to the State House, Library, and parking via tunnels. It was less than 20 years when legislators realized more space was needed. In 1988, the Washington Street Parking Garage started construction of newer buildings (it's almost directly across from Victory Field). While the IGC - North had become the biggest government building in the State (14 floors), the South building is a five-story building facing West Washington Street. The South building has over 1 million square feet of office space and includes a cafeteria, atrium, training center, conference area, and office space. There's also a child care center. I'm very high on the State House. It's a beautiful, historic building that is also quite functional. If you want a journey through Indiana history, I'd plan to visit it. The Indiana Government Center North and South buildings are more about function. Both buildings have public entrances that must be utilized (employees have additional options, of course). Parking is decent, though fairly expensive around the campus with a mix of garages and meters. The tunnel system works well, though certainly it wasn't built with access in mind. Accessibility is a solid 4-star. There are accessible stalls in every bathroom, though no family bathrooms or additional amenities. There are lactation rooms in the buildings. There was a fairly recent reduction in accessible spaces in at least one garage. The plazas, especially Robert D. Orr Plaza, are quite nice. There's an annual "Statehouse Market" that is quite nice for employees and those in the area (think a Farmer's Market adding food trucks). I love access to the Canal. I love the murals, public art, and I'm a big fan of the Conference Center. Dining around the area is hit-and-miss. The vending machines and snack shops are all run by blind and visually impaired vendors. They are overpriced, of course, but I feel better knowing I'm supporting someone with a disability to be in the workforce. Typical of Indiana, these buildings really are more about substance than style. However, I'm quite the fan of this complex and it offers way more than people realize (plus, it's lately a grand venue for the various protests.). If you've never checked it out, I highly recommend it.

Located not far from central Danville, this marker is in front of a small city park next to one of…read morethe city's firehouses. So if you're here to see the marker, be sure to park carefully and not block the firehouse. The marker has text on both sides. The front reads, "Residential district bounded by Main, East, Cross, and Marion streets. Nineteenth and early twentieth century homes reflect social and economic diversity of residents, including town's prominent citizens. Listed in National Register of Historic Places 1994." And the reverse, "Part of original 1824 Danville plat; county seat of Hendricks County, formed by Indiana General Assembly 1824. Lies west of downtown commercial area and reflects town's growth and prosperity. Town was market center for area farmers 1820s into early 1900s. Industries developed along tracks of Indianapolis and St. Louis Railroad built 1870." This is marker number 32.2000.1 and it was erected in 2000 by the Indiana Historical Bureau, Main Street Historical Association of Danville, and Town of Danville. [Review 1301 of 2024 - 178 in Indiana - 22324 overall]

Don't blink too much when you are in the area or you just might miss this place. This is a small…read morepocket park located in the heart of downtown. The garden had a lot of trash on the ground during my visit and was no very well maintained. There were not many live plants/flowers to see. I will give the plants and foliage a pass because I visited during the winter, but the trash should be cleaned up. They may want to consider planting a few year-round plants as well. Just my two cents. The park has a few benches in somewhat of a semicircle to sit on. The benches are around a peace pole, which contains hundreds of prayers for peace inside. The outside of the pole has phrases like "May peace prevail on Earth" and May Peace be in our Homes and Communities." This park was dedicated to youth who've lost their lives to violence, hence its name. It is intended to inspire peace and tranquility. It is advertised as a perfect escape from the hustle of Downtown, but it is very close to an extremely busy intersection, so it is hard to leave the big city atmosphere. There is metered street parking on the streets surrounding the garden and nearby. This garden is not a destination spot though and is something that you either stumble across or go to on your way somewhere else.

On the triangle shaped corner of Indiana Avenue and Senate, a beautifully landscaped pocket park…read moreoffers a space for visitors to contemplate peace and what they can do to promote it. The park has a center circle filled with shrubs and a multi-sided post that has peace blessings written on it. Inside are hundreds of peace prayers. The shrubs are surrounded by a concrete circle lined with benches and large pots for plantings. Because of the triangle shape, there is room in the park for more landscaping including a small tree and more colorful shrubs. Just a nice place to sit and relax with some shade from the nearby building. This is another one of Indy Parks' pocket parks with a theme. Review #3298

To say that Pine Bluff Covered Bridge is remote is an understatement. We descended a narrow and…read morewindy gravel road to find this 210' classic red beauty, built by J. A. Britton in 1915 (according to Putnam County Parks Organization). The bridge is one of three covered bridges within the Big Walnut Natural Area. All three bridges still allow cars to cross. First, I walked the span, then we drove across. I could hear the Big Walnut Creek flowing below as I walked. I examined the Howe Truss Construction. The bridge was in remarkable shape. Several small windows on the west side of the bridge offer light and a glimpse of the creek. We parked in a small gravel area on the east side of the bridge. The area is densely wooded. The bridge and road are closed in the winter months because the hill becomes treacherous. Interesting fact, the bridge is a hazardous part of the Dusty Bowl Bike Race course each July. I learned about the bridge's existence from the Putnam County Visitors Center. The Center provides free maps of the Counties nine bridges. About a mile to the west of the bridge, we found parking and trails that lead to the creek and bridge. The are portable restrooms at a second parking area west of the first area parking area. There are no other amenities nearby.