A Visitor's Guide to Indianapolis, Indiana, Parks

Indianapolis, Indiana, has hundreds of parks from small community parks an acre in size all way up to Each Creek Park, one of the largest city parks in the country. Whether visiting Indianapolis for business or for a weekend getaway, explore the city's parks for recreation and fun. However, when it comes to Indianapolis parks, not all are created equally. Some are dangerous and a gathering point for criminals while others offer the chance to truly enjoy the great outdoors in the middle of the city.

Gorgeous views and acres of trails in the middle of the city

Two Indianapolis area parks are by far the largest and draw the most visitors. Eagle Creek Park & Marina is on the cities northwest side and is a city managed park located at 7840 W 56th St in Indianapolis. On the northeast side of Indianapolis, Fort Harrison State Park, located at 5753 Glenn Road Indianapolis, IN 46216 isn't run by the city of Indianapolis, but as the park name might give away, the state of Indiana. Because of their massive size and popularity, both of these parks charge an entrance fee.

Eagle Creek is located in a safe part of Indianapolis, so is a safe bet for recreation. Besides several trails of varying difficulty, the park boosts a large lake used for swimming, boating, and fishing. The park is also home to several educational opportunities including a nature center, and facilities used for yoga and teaching peace studies to youngsters.

Eagle Creek offers another popular amenity, one of a couple of dog parks located in Indianapolis. Another dog park can be found in Broad Ripple Park, a city run park located at 1550 Broad Ripple Avenue in Indianapolis. Dogs must be vaccinated to enter any city dog park.

Fort Harrison State Park includes over 1,700 acres of recreation land. The area used to be a military base, but has been re purposed with picnic areas, several trails of varying difficulty, and small lake used for fishing. One of the longer trails runs along Fall Creek and is absolutely stunning. The park is safe and is located in a safe area of Indianapolis. The neighborhood around the park has also undergone revitalization and is full of new shops and housing.

Be extra vigilant in some Indy parks

Some Indianapolis parks are gorgeous, but located in dangerous parts of the city. While Indianapolis might seem like a safe city, some parts of the city are unfortunately crime ridden and probably not safe for out of town visitors.

Garfield Park, located at 2345 Pagoda Drive in Indianapolis offers a beautiful conservatory and sunken garden. The park is dangerous at night when neighborhood residents use the park to hide from police and do drugs. Visit Garfield Park only in the middle of the day and it's best to bring a friend along. The park does offer numerous opportunities for exercise or play with a gym, basketball court, and outdoor aquatic center.

Brookside Park, 3500 Brookside Parkway S. Drive, is another large park, but it is located in a dangerous area, but in close proximity to downtown. The park might seem like a draw, with over a 100 acres of wooded land and trails. But, visitors should steer clear or take extra precautions before entering this unknown neighborhood. The park has numerous crime reported according the Indy Star's crime database and in in early 2009, a man was found murdered in the park.