The Most Delectable Parks in Indianapolis

Great Oak Commons

★★★★★ 4.8 (13)

"If you are an adult, this neighborhood park may be more appealing than the Shawn Grove Park. This park has no playground, just a central fountain and mature trees. There are several areas that separated by shrubs and distance so that even if someone else is there while you are, you can still relax on one of the benches or in the gazebo.There is a special section designated for sensory appreciation for visually impaired visitors. Unfortunately, the sign is written in English only and could have added braille. I guess they figured someone without eyesight would need to bring them here at least the first time. The park does have a water fountain but no restroom facilities and no designated parking. Street parking is free but dependent upon the time of day and occasion for how accessible it can be.Review #514"

Forest Manor Park

★★☆☆☆ 2 (4)

"This park has plenty of shade on the north end, baseball fields on the south end, and a playground and parking lot in the middle. There is also street parking all along the park, so you don't have to travel far to the specific part of the park you wish to use.The playground has some swings and climbing equipment with slides. There are some benches for adults to rest while supervising. Not a lot of equipment, but sufficient.Access is easiest from 21st Street. Forest Manor road does not go through to 16th, so you have to know your way around to get to the park from the south.Review #576"

Dan Wakefield Park

★★★★☆ 4.3 (8)

"Here is another nice park for the folks in Broad Ripple. This one features tennis and volleyball courts, a splash park, a playground for kids, and a small swing playground for toddlers. There is a shelter with picnic tables but I didn't see a grill. There are restrooms and a water fountain available during park season. There is shade for adults who might not be participating in the splash park. Note: I thought the tennis courts looked like they were in really good condition compared to many I've visited.Review #595"

Cardinal Park

★★★☆☆ 3 (1)

"You will find this park right next to Cardinal Elementary School. This park is one of Brownburg's newest parks and is a work in progress. It is being completed in phases. Phase 1 was completed in 2018 which included installation of stormwater basins known as "constructed wetlands", a decent sized parking lot and the creation of a trail that provides access from the B&O Trail. The trail is awesome. It is a little over a mile, is well paved and you can get a good walk/jog in. Phase II was completed in 2019 and saw the addition of a 2-acre dog park and nice restroom facility to the park. The dog park is very nice and state of the art. It has sepefrated areas for big dogs and little dogs like most parks do and has a lot seating, and obstacles for the dogs. It does however, require a membership to use.Phase 3, which is yet to be completed, will see an inclusive/sensory playground and picnic shelter added to the playground. I saw the plans for this and it looks awesome.So, as the park stands now, it is OK. There is a lot of green space to play football, soccer, fly a kite, or play catch. There is also the dog park, which is awesome, but requires a membership to take advantage of and a decent trail to walk/jog. Outside of that there is not much. The addition of the playground, if and when that will ever happen will bring this park up. I cannot wait. But like I said, until that day, this park is mehhh!"

Simon Moon Park

★★★★☆ 4.3 (4)

"This 6 acre park is located south east of downtown Westfield and is connected to several hiking/biking trails that run through the area. The biggest feature is the sledding hill which has two slopes: The south which is more modest and the east which is shorter, but steeper. In summer months, it could be fun for kids to run or roll down.There is a shelter and a building that offers restrooms. Besides the shelter is a small kids playground that has a number of unique pieces...not your ordinary tubes/slides/swings. One of the things I found appealing was a fire pit with seating. It could be a fun spot for adults while the kids played. My only question is that if the park closes at sunset, does someone kick you out if you are sitting around the fire?Review #761"

Proctor Park

★★★★☆ 4.3 (3)

"This is a very nice park with the front part being a heroes memorial and the back part being for family gatherings with shelters, playgrounds, and a fishing pond. There are several memorials including flags with fountains, numerous dedication plaques, and many bricked sections with names of veterans and other folks who serve and protect. There is also a paved path the leads from the parking lot around the parking lot and extends down to the southern end shelter and playground. A water fountain and benches can also be found along the pond. My only negatives are that there are no restrooms in the park and there is no parking near the rear playground & shelter. The front pairing is very close to the lot. The rear would be a pain to lug supplies from the car to the shelter unless you have a cooler on wheels. The park seemed to be in good condition with the only exception being that it needed a good mowing and a weed spraying for the small starts coming up through some of the bricks in the fountain memorial.Review #867"

Woodruff Place

★★★★☆ 4.4 (20) • $

"Woodruff Place Flea Market is a once-a-year shopping experience throughout the Woodruff Place neighborhood. Houses upon houses go all-out in this massive yard/garage-sale style event. Yards are full of everything from clothes, kids' toys, furniture, electronics, home goods, and everything in between.You'll also find a lot of antiques and random finds that you'll never find anywhere else. There's food, drinks, and some times entertainment to bring the event into a full-on experience.Parking can be an issue, but the sellers are usually very understanding and will allow you to stop by at a later time and pick up your purchases.Pro tip: arrive early. Early bird gets the worm!"

Northwestway Park

★★★★☆ 3.6 (18)

"This park has a wide variety of activities and plenty of room for enjoying the park. There was an aquatic center with a splash park, pool, and water slide. There were basketball and sports fields. There was a long hiking trail around the park and another that goes to the south around a farmer's field. There are several shelters with grills and a playground with a nice variety of equipment for sliding, swinging, and climbing.One of the negatives is that the park doesn't have adequate drainage along the trails, so I noticed several places where water was standing across the paved paths. I don't appreciate getting my shoes and socks wet while on a long hike and that would discourage me from using the trails unless we had a dry spell. Otherwise, the park seemed in pretty good shape with plenty of parking.Review #611"

Spark on the Circle

★★★★★ 5 (5)

"I really loved Spark on the Circle this year! Working downtown this was such a nice place to go and enjoy the outdoors while on my break! Many people took advantage of this area. Coworkers from businesses, visitors from all over and locals all enjoyed this space. Ping pong, chess, foosball, were some of the free games you could play. It really seemed like people were having a good time. I loved all the seating they had. The Adirondack chairs were comfortable and the picnic tables were nice if you were eating a meal. The food they had offered was so expensive! I never bought one thing there because it was so marked up!! They should have a different food trucks one or two local businesses take over that spot. They would do great! Rotate the food trucks weekly. I will say I loved this area, but the music needed something else. It sounded like you were on a spaceship! I couldn't stand the music they played!!! Play music that people know. The music on the circle now is Christmas music like "Last Christmas" that's good. Maybe next year they will do this again? Not sure. Hopefully!"

Arsenal Park

★★★★☆ 4.1 (7)

"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"

Leonard Park

★★★★☆ 4 (7)

"Leonard Park has a wide variety of things to do for children, big and small, and adults too! There is a really nice playground with lots of climbing equipment and a smaller version for little folks. There are also two baseball parks, several tennis courts, lots of horse shoe pits, and paved walking paths. For those who want to have "get togethers", there are a couple nice sized shelters and a permanent restroom building. There are lots of shade trees throughout the park. I also found parking on the east end as well as along the street. Not sure if there was parking on the opposite end by the second ball field.There were a quite a few benches around the playground for adults to relax on including several under the blue shade tarps to escape the sun. Note that the playground is in full sun, but only a short distance from places to take a break in the shade.The park was clean and maintained during my visit. Generally, it looked like a fun place to get some outdoor time.Review #1373"

The Idle - A Point of View

★★★★★ 4.5 (26)

"I think labeling this as a "park" is going to set a certain expectation in people's mind before they visit this. Please don't think of this as a park, but rather a spot to relax and watch the world pass by. That being said, this place is amazing. It's right off the Cultural Trail with ample parking on Virginia Ave. for you to use if you can't bike/walk/run there. I visited during the sunset hours and it was the perfect place to watch the cars/world pass by and live in the moment, as cliche as that sounds.For them to also turn this place that was once a dump (literally) and turn it into a useful piece of land to peak drivers' and passersby interest, I think that they did a phenomenal job. Again, don't have high expectations, but the quotes and the fun signage is a nice cherry on top for a spot I will find myself coming back to frequently to watch the sunset!"

Gustafson Park

★★★★☆ 4 (2)

"This park, located just south of Northwest HS, has a little bit of something for everyone! Need parking? Got it! Need to cool off on a hot day? How about a pool or a walk through the mature trees on the south side of the park! Got kids that like to climb and swing and slide? Got that too! Need a place to sit and relax? You get a pick of poolside or parkside. Seems like lots of parking and they even have restrooms open during the park season. There is only one way in and out for traffic, so I could see that becoming a problem. And the base of the playground is more old school and a bit uneven, but I'd be more concerned about water retention in the mulch than someone getting hurt.It seems like a nice place to enjoy, whether with the kids or on your own.Review #571"

Jimmy Nash City Park

★★★★★ 4.8 (4)

"This park has it all! If you like hiking, they have a 2 mile loop with hills to make it challenging. If you like swimming, they have an aquatic center. If you want sports, they have basketball and baseball areas. The park has numerous shelters. Some are the basic open sided types with grills and picnic tables. However, most are closed sided and look reminiscent of log cabins. And all those have their own playground equipment..some have swings, some have climbing/sliding pieces. Some have more than one!There is also a really large playground piece right by the parking lot so that you don't have to go up the hill to the shelters to have fun.And speaking of the hill, you won't believe your eyes that you're in Indiana when you see the beast they have for sledding. It doesn't look that bad from the bottom, but when you are standing on the top (or trying to walk straight up it), you get a whole new appreciation. It looks like a blast for kids!Review #633"

Billericay Park

★★★★☆ 4.4 (14)

"Ball Parks, playgrounds, splash pad, lots of parking, shelters, and restrooms: Check! So you've probably read the other reviews which give some great details on the above items. But did you know there is a grove of mature trees between the park and the school? It has paved walking trails through the woods and is accessible right by the main SPORTS building and parking lot.I must say that at first glance, the huge entry road into the park seems excessive. But because of the numerous ball fields, they probably want to force all the visiting cars to be fully merged before they get to the highway. Oh, and there is a large speed bump just before you get into the parking lot, so don't get caught by surprise!The park appears to be well maintained and has taken safety steps like installing overhead netting to protect people strolling between the ball diamonds from foul balls. If you like to shuffle your park visits, especially if you bring kids, then add this one to your playlist!Review #795"

Indianapolis Canal Walk

★★★★★ 4.5 (198)

"Oh, what a beautiful sight it was. I truly enjoyed my walk around the canal--so peaceful, quiet, clean, and infused with nature. The weather was perfect for the walk; I didn't want it to end. It had a few entrances and exits from the sides and a bridge to cross to the other side. Highly recommended spot to visit if you're in the area."

Haspin Acres-Motorcycle Park

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (10)

"My wife and I along with some family and friends came here this past Sunday. I'll start off by saying it's not a bad trip to get there, they could use a bit better signs to let you know where to pay, just for people like my wife and I that was our first time here. But that's not really a big deal.There was a girl that set us all up with signing the waiver and taking our money and all that stuff, she was very nice and an older gentleman that was just hanging around which I'm sure worked there as well and was friendly just as much. The price was $25 each and they gave us a card so if you come back within the year you bring that card with you to get $5 off admission.Giving this place is for muddin' I thought the restrooms looked very nice, can't expect them to be squeaky clean when there's mud everywhere outside. We took Jeep's and RZR's out for a good muddin' time! Enjoyed it very much. Was nice that our group was pretty much the only ones out there, that was probably due to it was freezing outside and it was SuperBowl Sunday, but being there early in the day I figured there'd been more people, but I'm not complaining.I'm sure we'll be back, probably when it warms up a bit, haha! If you like muddin' or never have done it I'd highly recommend it, as this was my and my wife's first time we throughly enjoyed it!"

Riverwood Spray Park

★★★★☆ 3.7 (10)

"Just a few blocks west of Keystone (around 73rd) is a 11.6 acre park that is mostly open fields used for soccer and lacrosse. However, in the southwest corner, there is a splash park and playground for smaller kids. Conveniently, there is parking right near the children's area.There are a few trees for shade and a single shelter. During the "season" for Indy Parks, there is a permanent restroom on site with water fountains on the outside.If you have small kids and live in the area, this could be a really nice park. Otherwise, there isn't much to draw you in.Review #734"

Wildwood Park

★★★★☆ 3.5 (4)

"This park is relatively new and takes advantage of the greenspace near the right of way needed for the large transmission lines. The actual entrance for parking is north of the post office off Wildwood Blvd (Miller Drive) instead of Southeastern. The park has lots of paved parking located near the shelter, playground, and splash park. There is also a grill and a few picnic tables in the shelter. The rest of the park is open space with a few mature trees, just not near the shelter and playgrounds. There is even a small pond on the south end of the park that extends around the post office down to Southeastern Ave. The playground has a lot of climbing pieces that look unlike the majority of playgrounds in the area, so if your kids like climbing and want to try something new, this might be a place to try. There are no trails here, but if the grass is dry, you can walk around since the area is relatively flat and open. Review #677"

Washington Park

★★★★☆ 4.2 (10)

"The park is huge with open prairie and lawns that run from 30th to 38th street on the near east side. As many other reviews have mentioned, there is room for frisbee golf in addition to the other amenities.The north end has numerous basketball courts and a small playground by one of the shelters. There are several shelters scattered throughout the park. On the south end, a local police check-in spot lies on the southwest corner across the street from the Community Center.Near the center is a nice playground and a small pond.The park has history: The Children's Zoo was here from 1964 to 1987 before transitioning to the full zoo at White River Park in 1988. If you walk around the playground, you will see a couple pedestals, one with a frog and the other with a chimp sitting on top. If you find some old photo of the zoo, it is fun to try and see where the attractions were located. (Some are still identifiable.)If you like getting outdoors, there is plenty of room to walk or play while leaving your car in the huge lot on the south end of the park.Review #695"

Mary and John Geisse Soccer Complex

★★★★☆ 4.4 (5)

"Cyclists: Park here to ride the Eagle Creek Greenway or ride in Eagle Creek Park without having to pay the $5 vehicle entrance fee.These soccer fields are located between Eagle Creek Park and the Colts Practice Field. There are 2 parking lots and several portable toilets. You can park here and then run or cycle on the Eagle Creek Greenway (through the soccer fields and down towards the LA Fitness on Shore Drive at 38th) or on the trails that go around and through ECP. The admission fee is lower if you're on a bike than in a car, and you won't need to worry about your car getting locked into the park if you ride late! It's probably the best place to park your car while you bike or run because all the families coming and going for soccer means someone would definitely see if your car got broken into. The fields themselves seem to be well-maintained, there were people flying kites and throwing frisbees the day I went."

Turkey Run State Park

★★★★★ 4.6 (140)

"This place is so peaceful and beautiful! Although we were not quite prepared for our trail loop of 3, 5, 9, 10 and 1... when they are described as "rugged" within the park map, it's pretty spot on, as I was trying not to slip, fall, and injure myself during several portions (especially trail 9... the devil's trail lol). Make sure you pack water & snacks, as there isn't anywhere to fuel up once you begin your journey. We came on a (blazing hot) Sunday afternoon and while there were plenty of people, it never felt crowded and everyone was very respectful on the trails and ensured one another's safety. I would love to see how beautiful this park looks during the fall and winter seasons"

Lawrence W. Inlow Park

★★★★★ 4.7 (17)

"This park is amazing and it just got a major upgrade.First, it has a great splash pad area that is always full on a hot summer days. But Carmel Clay Parks and Rec just added three new playground areas that are ah-mazing. Benches with shade for parents, fun swings and slides for kids, etc. Take a look at the pictures and you'll see what I mean.This is definitely a family-friendly park. Not much else to to besides the splash pad and playground."

Hot Shot Tot Lot

★★★☆☆ 3 (7)

"You're reading this right: Hot Shot Tot Lot! Yosemite... meh. Yellowstone... meh. Those names of parks, and those parks!, have nothing on Indy Parks's Hot Shot Tot Lot!At first I thought it was someone's yard, and they made their own "park" sign. Alas... that's a government-funded, designed, official park sign & name!Their website description isn't joking... it's mini. Like a side yard mini... It's pretty awesome that it's smack in the middle of a neighborhood. I mean... there were kids playing in the street so it makes sense to have something for them not in the street; yet... the leftover underwear and soda cups sprinkled through out might deter kids from entering. I think it might be exactly why kids in the future will be afraid of parks.... get the drift?I feel like the name calls to be more of a meet up for hipsters than really a kids' park. Let it be known... this is the best name of anything in Indianapolis. No other title can compare. So this review is really to make sure everyone is aware there is a place called Hot Shot Tot Lot, and it's right here in our fare city."

Founders Park

★★★★★ 4.7 (13)

"Although a lot of the park is open green space and lacks much character, I love the look of the playground and main pavilion area. If I was a little kid again, this is the kind of playground I would have totally enjoyed. Instead of the run of the mill playground like most parks, this place features "rocks" and sand trails. I loved climbing and digging as a kid. When you add the hidden surprises formed into the rock piles, I couldn't help but start searching for more (and there are plenty!)The pavilion is large and has lots of shaded area and tables to relax while the kids play close by. The grounds looked well maintained and the parking lot was just a few steps away if you needed to get something from the car. Review #740"

White Rock Park

★★★★☆ 3.5 (21)

"If you didn't know about the park, you would have never have found it. White Rock Paul is in absolute nowhere and is definitely a full day trip. It took my friends and I two trips to be successful. The first day was on a Sunday and we were turned around since the park had met capacity. This is why I am giving it 4 out of 5. There should really be an update on Facebook or the website when they meet capacity since the majority of us are hours away. Anyways, second time going was succesful. We went on a Thursday and got there early so we knew we were good. Prices were $15/person and the staff were great with directing cars on where to go and giving instructions on where to sign waivers/pay. You could also rent a lifejacket if needed. The park itself was great. There were several places to jump, ziplines, and a rope swing. As well as platforms to hang out on and watch others jump. The quarry is also deep!I HIGHLY recommend bringing something to float on or hang onto while you are hanging out in the water. Even strong swimmers will benefit from a floatie. The water is deep and you could easily wear yourself out treading water. Plus, everyone has a floatie and you don't look cool because you don't have one. It stressed me out (as a lifeguard of 10 years) to see many people not holding on to something. There are guards there, but truly - know your limits! Wear shoes! Rocks surround the quarry and it isn't easy to walk on. We all wore sandals with straps so we wouldn't lose themWe brought in our snacks & drinks with a picnic blanket and it made a huge difference. Maps- I had read that this place was hard to find on a lot of reviews. However, google maps was dead on, minus the closed bridge. I found it twice going once from Indy and once from Brown County. Otherwise, we had a great day. No lines of any sort. I did not do the 30 ft jump, no way! But watched a lot of others hit all the spots. Would go back & would love to see a capacity update for next time!"

Highland Park

★★★★☆ 4.4 (28)

"It's more of just a neighborhood park, but the skyline of downtown Indy is amazing from here! We had fun having a picnic and playing on the playground."

Riley Park

★★★★☆ 4.4 (9)

"This park has all kinds of amenities, from sport courts, to a skate park, disc golf, a couple playgrounds, and even historic museums (jail and chapel). There are wooded areas, paved walking trails, and open spaces. Shelters and picnic tables and a gazebo are available for visitors too!The park is bisected by Brandywine Creek and the park has added a really nice footbridge to allow visitors to easily cross. And most of the time, the creek is an asset. But after heavy rains, much of the low, flat ground is overrun by the creek. During my visit two days after such an occurrence, much of the open space had standing water and even the road into the park from the southwest side of the park was underwater. The tennis courts showed signs of debris that had flowed over the court only to be deposited there. So, be mindful of weather conditions when considering using this park. Most times, it looks like it could be a fun place to spend your time.Review #788"

Bicentennial Unity Plaza

★★★★★ 5 (6)

"Post-Sweets & Snacks Expo happy hour hangout. The venue was spacious enough for attendees, with the added bonus of a basketball court and a DJ whose music echoed throughout the plaza."

Elmo A Funk Historical Eighth St Park

★★★★☆ 4 (2)

"From the outside, the park looks very cool with the dense shade, gazebo, large fountain, and lots of shrubbery/gardens. But during my visit, the gates of the park were locked restricting access to viewing from the outside. I saw that the shrubs were in need of trimming and that a large branch had fallen and needed to be cut and removed. The fountain, though cool looking, was not flowing. This could have been a really nice park to visit. Left me feeling like it is going to waste.Review #108"

Christian Park Center

★★★★★ 5 (1)

"The Christian Park MultiPurpose Room has got to be the most hidden gem for event rentals in Indianapolis. It was actually the original gymnasium for the park before they built a new one in 2004. The rooms is 55' by 30' with original wood floor in great condition. We used it for a little rollerskate photoshoot and the rental is only $45/hr! They have 90 chairs, fourteen 6' tables, five 8' tables, and 3 each of two different sizes of round tables. I want to host a kids birthday party here soon, but honestly, the vibe in the space is so good you could bring in a rental company to do fancy chairs and this would make a killer wedding venue, it's that good. If you also need a kitchen, you can add on kitchen rental for just $25 an hour. There also two small classroom spaces you can rent for 25/40 so you could have a getting ready space."

University Heights Pocket Park

★★★★☆ 3.5 (2)

"This new park has great potential. There is a new gazebo/shelter that still has the bright cedar color on the beams. The pathways are paved. There are benches and the perimeter of the park has a natural garden look to it. But that's it. There are no picnic tables in the shelter. No room for activities other than maybe quiet reflection/contemplation. That's fine, but the place looks like it isn't finished. I'll have to stop by later this year to see if it has continued in its development.Review #620"

Greenfield Youth Baseball Association

★★★★★ 5 (1)

"Highly recommend for baseball season and for the Park. The Park is newer and kept very clean. There are plenty of places for parents to sit and watch the kiddos play at the park. Parking is easy. The ball diamonds are also kept clean and very well maintained. The snack stand is open whenever games are going on. The food is pretty good and reasonably priced for ballpark food. If you're coming to watch someone play ball, bring a chair. There isn't a ton of bleacher space. Bring an umbrella and sunscreen as there is no shade."

Robey Park

★★★☆☆ 2.5 (2)

"The park appears to be much better when you first arrive, but then you realize that quite a bit of the equipment/courts you see are for the elementary school next door. The park itself has a basket ball court and tennis court (not in the best condition), swings, and a small climbing/sliding piece of equipment. The parking lot is okay, but not in the best shape either. No shelters, water, or restrooms are present. So, unless you are in the area, just drive on by to one of the other parks for more fun things to do.Review #652"

Newfields

★★★★★ 4.5 (121)

"I have always enjoyed going to the harvest nights as an adult. This year I got to experience it with my grandson. It was even more fun to go and try to experience it through his eyes. Well done!"