Al E Polin Park

Alfred "Al" E. Polin Park was first established in 1973 as 29th and Talbott Park. It's a small neighborhood park sitting on two acres of land within the Mapleton-Fall Creek Neighborhood with a handful of amenities:Shelter/Picnic Tables/BenchesPlayground EquipmentBasketball Court (It's my understanding Lilly Endowment funded this)Restrooms (Seasonal Availability)This is most definitely not a destination park - it lacks any unique features and has only minimal parking available around the neighborhood. Essentially, the people who use this park are within walking distance to do so. This park is perfectly fine for what is basically an urban playground for kids. The basketball court has somewhat increased its use as at one point there was talk of tearing down the park to increase parking availability in this area (it's quite limited).The park is named after Al E. Polin (obviously), a lifelong Mapleton-Fall Creek resident who retired as the coordinator for the Quality of Life/Human Relations at Allison Transmission. He served on the Indianapolis Community Policing Board, Drug Free Indiana Commission, and for the Indianapolis Neighborhood Resource Center. He actively worked to develop parks for youth and his work to improve life in Mapleton-Fall Creek contributed to his having the park named in his honor.

The former 29th and Talbot park was renamed for a local citizen who did much to preserve the neighborhood. As part of the Indy Parks system, the two acre park has a number of amenities like a shelter, a restroom building (open seasonally), park benches and picnic tables, swings and a climbing playground. On the north end of the park is a basketball court.The biggest drawback to the park is finding parking. There is a lot next door, but it is designated for a business with ominous threats posted to anyone else who uses it. So, you have to find street parking if you can (just don't expect any on 29th.)Review #518