Guide to Carmel Playgrounds: East

Carmel’s east side is home to some of the newest, most recently renovated playgrounds. From parks with sand and splash pads, to musical instruments built into the play structures–the East side is home to playgrounds that give options for all levels of adventure lovers.

The goal of this guide is to provide the right details you need to know before going to play with small children.

For each park, you’ll find:

• “Wins” and “Watch Outs” list

• Overall rating for specific age groups–babies/pre-walkers, toddler/walkers, and ages 5+.

  • Scale -- 1 is not a good option for that age group, 5 is the best.

• Rating on ease for a one-parent outing -- scale: easy, neutral, hard.

My reviews are tailored for younger age groups based on my experience with my kids. The goal is to give you the information you need to feel prepared heading into the park, all while ensuring you and your kiddos have a great time!

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Carey Grove Park

14001 Carey Rd, Carmel, IN

Newly renovated, Carey Grove is a modern take on a neighborhood park. Rubber flooring, multiple play structures, swings, interactive music equipment, basketball courts, adult workout equipment, and picnic shelters make this park really easy to take kids of all ages.

Wins:

• Great visibility – can see the entire park from most vantage points

• Separate areas designed for younger and older kids, but parents can see both areas at the same time

• Rubber flooring, no mulch or mud!

• Clean, updated bathrooms with changing stations

• Water bottle fill-up station

Watch Outs:

• No shade except for picnic shelters

• There are a couple openings in the taller structure designed for bigger kids, creating a fall risk

• Kids sometimes gravitate towards playing on the adult workout equipment, creates a fall/pinch risk

RATING BY AGE GROUP (1-5 Scale):

Baby/Pre-Walker: 3

Toddler/Walker: 4

Age 5+: 5

EASE FOR A ONE PARENT OUTING: EASY

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Inlow Park and Splash Pad

6310 E. Main Street Carmel, IN

With a grand re-opening in July 2022, this park and splash pad are a hotspot on the East side. In addition to a splash pad, the park has three separate areas to play, all with a different adventure profile.

The first area of the playground has lots of great climbing equipment and fun, unique swings and slides. All areas of the playground have rubber or turf flooring, and this section has a shaded area with parent seating.

The next area is for the climbers. Lots of webbed rope and rock-wall style structures.

The final area is home to the tall slide/climbing structure you can see from the road. It’s fully enclosed eliminating high fall risk, with two slides connected by rope bridges.

Wins:

• All sections of the park have parts to them that are friendly to all age groups. Some obstacles will be too advanced for toddlers and babies in certain sections, but there is other equipment that will work for them on the ground level of that section.

• This park can keep your kids entertained for a long time with lots of different areas to explore.

• It’s very spread out, so even if it’s crowded there is still space!

Watch Outs:

• Each section of the park is separated by a tree line, so there is no visibility between areas. If there is only one parent there with multiple kiddos, you’ll likely all have to stay together.

• The park and the splash pad share the same bathrooms. If the splash pad is busy, the bathrooms are used as a changing area and get crowded!

RATING BY AGE GROUP (1-5 Scale):

Baby/Pre-Walker: 3

Toddler/Walker: 4

Age 5+: 4

EASE FOR A ONE PARENT OUTING: HARD

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Founders Park

1675 Hazel Dell Pkwy, Carmel, IN

Located on the far east side of Carmel, Founders Park has some major perks. It’s a midsize park that will keep kids of various ages busy. It’s also partially enclosed by a stone wall, making this park essentially “gated” and keeping escape artists contained.

Wins:

• There are lots of climbing structures and nooks and crannies in the play structure for the kids to explore.

• No mulch!

• Bathrooms on site.

• Very easy for one parent to take multiple kiddos.

• Great visibility from all angles of the park.

Watch Outs:

• This park has lots, and lots, of sand. This could be a win, or a watch out. If you don’t want your kids to be covered in sand–you may want to skip this one. If you are okay with getting a little messy, be sure to bring sand toys.

RATING BY AGE GROUP (1-5 Scale):

Baby/Pre-Walker: 1

Toddler/Walker: 4

Age 5+: 5

EASE FOR A ONE PARENT OUTING: (very) EASY