Arsenal Park

We're lucky to have this great park in our neighborhood. It has so much - picnic shelter, playground, splash park, and big shady trees. Large open grassy areas to throw Frisbees or play fetch with your dog. Converted tennis courts where bike polo and roller hockey is played. With plenty of parking and very close to the Monon, it's always got something going on there. Big family reunion picnics, kids splashing and squealing under giant squirting flowers, polo or hockey matches, even nappers in folding chairs under the trees.

I'm honestly amazed I've never reviewed Arsenal Park. I live just east of SoBro, South Broad Ripple for the uninitiated, and drive by and/or visit Arsenal Park on a pretty regular basis. It's a 13-acre park smack dab in the middle of the SoBro area. This is a definite residential park with parking that's pretty interesting - it's essentially around the perimeter of the park. This is a very wooded park. It's actually a pretty heavily utilized park and there's very few times that I drive by here that I don't actually see people at the park. This park was purchased by the City of Indianapolis in 1928 (Fun fact: Original price was $19,915). It resulted from a desire for a park in the area east of what's known as Meridian Kessler. Early development came from such projects as the New Deal jobs programs and the Works Progress Administration in the 1930s. Arsenal Park offers a variety of activities including basketball courts, a bicycle polo course, a multipurpose field, a splash pad, playground, a shelter and a comfort station. Arsenal Park was purchased by the City of Indianapolis in 1928 following community interest in establishing a park in the area east of the Meridian Kessler neighborhood. Much of the early development of the 11-acre park was done through New Deal jobs programs like the Works Progress Administration in the 1930s. This park offers basketball courts, a bicycle polo course, a community garden, a multipurpose field, a splash pad, playground equipment, a shelter, and a comfort station.This seems to be a park that's always under some sort of development. There's a current master plan for the park and it's a beautiful setting that I don't feel like has ever lived up to its potential. Another fun fact: It's called Arsenal Park because it used to be on Arsenal Avenue (which became Indianola). At one point, it was also called Haverford Park. If you pay attention to this area, there's a Haverford baseball complex down the street. I tend to agree with most of the reviews here. I love this park. It's also great for those who geocache - there's more than one geocache in this park. It's not the most wheelchair friendly park and there's really not a walking path here. However, the playground is fairly accessible. Overall, this is a solid 4-star park that could easily be developed into a 5-star park with some love, attention, and vision. I typically do feel safe in this park, though the bike area can get a bit congested. It's surrounded by houses and pretty open concept.

This is a neat park. It is a bit older, dating back to 1928, but still has a lot of life left. It was originally named Haverford Park, after Haverford Avenue which borders it on its West side.The park is home to a garden. I believe it is one of those community gardens that are popping up all over the area. It has a table and chairs to sit and looks nice.The park seems well maintained and has adequate parking available. It spans 13 acres and spans a bit of everything. They have a skate park that has seen better days. It sits on what use to be old tennis courts. It looks like it was put together using items that were found laying around. It has rails, ramps, stairs and other pieces that I do not know the name of. It may be makeshift, but it works. There were people shredding (is that still the word) when I was there. The park also have a restroom facility and a couple of shelters with picnic tables under it and grills outside of them. There is also a very nice water park there. It seems relatively new. There are benches over there that are shaded by canopies where parents can sit and watch their littles play. The park also has a lot of green space that could be used for activities such as football, soccer, flying a kite, or having a picnic. The park's full basketball court has seen better days. It will do for those wanting to just throw up a few shots. The court could use a fresh coat of paint though.Of course the park has a playground. It is on a bed of wood chips and consists of a few pieces of older traditional equipment. It is not a very big area. Some of the equipment includes a bank of traditional/toddler swings, an accessible medium sized jungle gym with slides, and a spinning net climber.The splash pad makes this park a destination park for some. It is a nice traditional park that has a lot to offer.

This is the little park that could be. There's so much potential for Arsenal Park -- it just needs some attention. But I'll focus on the good things first.There's a skate park here! It's not the biggest or most modern skate park, but there are wooden ramps and things to skate on. There's also a splash pad! I believe the splash pad is turned on after Memorial Day, and we visited before Memorial Day, so it wasn't on when we were there. But there are big sprinklers and a little slide, and lots of shade all around.The playground has fun things to climb on, as well as slides, a tall rope merry-go-round, and lots of swings, including swings for infants. The walking surface of the whole playground area is covered with wood chips.There are sheltered picnic tables near the playground, as well as basketball courts a little ways away from the playground, near the skate park. There's also a lot of open, grassy areas.Which brings me to my complaint about Arsenal Park. The grassy area is mostly weeds and crab grass, and the ground is very uneven throughout. This is not a park that you can just pull up to with a blanket, sit on the grass and enjoy a sunny day. As I was walking through the park, I had to pay attention to where I was stepping, because there were valleys of uneven ground everywhere. It could be that the parks department is working on the ground, and that's why it's like this. Maybe it's a transitory spring thing? I'm hoping it's temporary! But really: How are you going to hate on a park? You can't. Because any park is, by default, a good park just because it exists. Therefore, Arsenal Park is a nice addition to the SoBro area of 46th Street, in an area that is mostly residential and small businesses.

This park is pretty great. This park has a wheelchair accessible park area and it's great for young kids and older ones. There are baby swings and regular swings as well. Not too far from the playground area is the newly updated splash pad. My toddlers enjoy this park. Not to mention the open grass field next to the park that can be used for all things. The parking is out front and no too far and there are also bathrooms close to the playground equipment. There's a community garden not too far and basketball courts. Overall nice park.

The park has a variety of options for folks in the neighborhood. There is a decent playground, a garden area, basketball courts, a splash park, lots of open lawn, and some area that is enclosed with a wrap and is paved like it was some type of court but is in transition. It's kind of an eyesore as it is, so hopefully it will be adjusted soon.There is a shelter with a grill and picnic tables, but no water fountain or restroom was seen nearby. (There is a water fountain by one of the utility buildings in the middle of the park.)Although the park is big enough for hiking around, there are no paths, especially not paved ones.There is some parking in a small lot on the west side of the park. Review #593