Whether you’re looking for a place to play with the kiddos or to decompress with some off-screen time, Indy features 200+ parks and recreational spots for you to enjoy.
Ready to plan your trip to the park? Grab your shades and trusty water bottle — here are some of the Circle City’s best:
Good for hiking
Eagle Creek Park’s Lily Lake is a great spot for a picnic when you’re ready for a break.
Photo by @freezeframe56
Eagle Creek Park, 7840 W. 56th St.
This is one of the nation’s top 10 largest municipal parks + consists of 3,900 acres of woods, meadows, and ponds and 1,300 acres of reservoir. You can hike, fish, go out on the water, visit the bark park, check out the ornithology center, or embark on a Go Ape Treetop Adventure.
Fort Harrison State Park, 6000 N. Post Rd.
Fort Harrison is a great park to visit year round, and especially in the winter because it features one of the biggest sledding hills in the area. The 1,700-acre park features walking and jogging trails, picnic sites, fishing access to Fall Creek, and two national historic districts.
Holliday Park, 6363 Spring Mill Rd.
One of Indianapolis’ oldest parks, it’s located just six miles north of downtown and encompasses 94-acres of green space where visitors can explore the nature center, play on the playgrounds, hike more than 3.5 miles of trails, or take a stroll around the Holliday Park Ruins.
Good for the family
White River State Park, 801 W. Washington St.
With 250 acres, the canal, and multiple attractions like the TCU Amphitheatre, The Indiana State Museum + access to the Eiteljorg Museum, Victory Field, and the Indianapolis Zoo, this park located in the heart of downtown provides fun for the whole family. It’s known as “America’s only urban cultural State Park” and has made it on USA Today’s list of 10 best city parks.
Garfield Park, 2345 Pagoda Dr.
Known as the city’s “oldest multi-use greenspace,” this 128-acre park offers a 10,000-sqft tropical conservatory, three-acre sunken garden, and a children’s garden. It also has easy access to the Pleasant Run Trail, the Indianapolis Cultural Trail, and includes the Garfield Park Arts Center, an aquatic center, the MacAllister Center for the Performing Arts, and other recreational amenities.
Riverside Regional Park, 2420 E. Riverside Dr.
This park was founded in 1898 on six miles of land surrounded by the White River, The Riverside Community, South Grove golf course, and The Rivers Edge neighborhood. Plus, the new Riverside Promenade, which runs along the east side of the park, is great for walking.
Good for dogs
Broad Ripple Dog Park, 1426 Broad Ripple Ave.
The Broad Ripple bark park is a great place for dogs to get off the leash, run around, and socialize. While you’re at the dog park, you can also walk around Broad Ripple Park, enjoy activities on the White River, dive into the pool, or visit the Family Center. The fee for the dog park is $75 yearly for one dog or $112.50 for two dogs.
Paul Ruster Park, 1313 S. Post Rd.
A large portion of this park is a dog park area featuring two large fenced-in areas with benches, dog ramps, and jump bars. The park also has large wooded areas with a couple of trails for casual hiking or a walk with the pooch. This dog park is part of Marion County’s “Pooch pass.”
The Dog Park at Immanuel, 382 Prospect St.
This dog park has been open since October 2020 and is the first of its kind — it’s volunteer-run and was created in partnership by neighbors and Immanuel United Church of Christ, with support from local businesses. The dog park features a large fenced-in area and another separate section for smaller dogs. There is a $50 yearly fee.
Sports parks
Indianapolis Sports Park, 6701 S. Harding St.
This sports park, located near I-465 south and State Road 37, is a family-owned facility that has been around for more than 35 years. You’ll find baseball, softball, fastpitch, cornhole, and sand volleyball leagues and tournaments at this park.
Washington Park, 3130 30th St.
This 128-acre community park is where the Indianapolis Indians played their first game in the spring of 1902 and was the site of the first Negro National League game in 1920. Now, the park is also a place to play basketball and soccer.
This new design of Major Taylor Skatepark was made seven years ago.
Photo by @hunger_skateparks and @indyskateparks
Major Taylor Skatepark, 3649 Cold Spring Rd.
The skate park is open to skateboarders, in-line skaters, and cyclists and is near the BMX track and Major Taylor Velodrome at the Indy Cycloplex.
Ready to visit these local parks but don’t know where to start? We’ve created this handy map so you can find all of these featured parks.
Your park grab bag
Picked your perfect park? Make the most out of your experience with our favorite items for a relaxing day outside:
- Is there anything quite like sitting in the shade and enjoying a good book? Check out our guide to books by local authors to help choose your next great read.
- The Kindle Paperwhite is a lightweight e-reader option that stands up to bright sunlight.
- A good water bottle keeps you hydrated — we’re big fans of the best-selling Owala FreeSip + this insulated stackable tumbler from Asheville NC-based retailer Pirani.
- Heading to the park with kids? Check out the Owala FreeSip for kids.
- Don’t forget the travel-size bug spray and sunscreen.
- These sunglasses from Nordstrom Rack are available at discount prices + have a style for everyone.
- Keep it all together in a handy tote bag — these adorable tote bags are all crafted by small businesses and local makers.
