Welcome to Keeping up In Carmel's comprehensive guide to Carmel, IN playgrounds! This guide will give you real-life insight into each park from a mom who has taken her young kids to play at each one - updated April 2024!
The goal of this guide is to provide the right details you need to know before going to play with your kids.
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 based on my personal experience. When a friend asks me what to expect before heading to a new park, this is how I would explain each one!
West
The Groves Playground
3000 W 116th St, Carmel, IN
Affectionately known as the “zip-line” park in my household, this (literal) hidden gem can be found just behind the Jill Perelman Pavilion on Carmel’s west side. Built into the woods, the two main play areas are made out of sanded timber themselves. If you have a climber in your family, this park is for you.
Wins:
The park is split into two sections, connected by a zip-line. The front section is designed for smaller kids with obstacles that are easier to climb/maneuver. The back-section is designed like a low-ropes course for a little more advanced climbers.
The park is completely shaded!
The zip-line is easy for all ages. It doesn’t go too fast and it’s not high off the ground. My boys started riding by themselves at ~15 months.
Watch Outs:
It’s a mulch park. Front to back, side to side, the floor of the entire playspace is mulch.
It’s a small park in terms of square footage. If there are lots of kids there, you can have to wait in line to use things like the zip-line. Although because of its hidden nature, it is rarely crowded.
No slides or swings.
RATING BY AGE GROUP:
Baby/Pre-Walker: 1
Toddler/Walker: 3
Age 5+: 5
EASE FOR A ONE PARENT OUTING: EASY
Coxhall Gardens Children’s Garden
11677 Towne Rd, Carmel, IN
Located in the back corner of the larger Coxhall Gardens park, the Children’s Garden is a breath of fresh air in comparison to your traditional playground. In the gardens, you’ll find a replica “town” full of children sized houses and businesses–perfect for games of make believe. There is an alphabet rainbow road stretching along the backside of the area, great for learning colors and letters. There are bridges to cross, sand areas to dig in, and tunnels to walk through. If you’re looking for a break from the traditional playground structures, this is an unique option.
Wins:
There are lots of sections in the gardens to play in all with different features, keeping their attention for a long time.
Great for imaginative + cognitive play in combination with gross motor.
Large parts of the gardens are shaded with paved or cement floor.
There is access to a pond/nature area off the backside of the park with a walking trail around the pond. Fun place to look for creatures and throw rocks in the water!
Watch Outs:
There are sand and water features in the center of the gardens. The kids are welcome to play in these areas, but be sure to bring a towel and baby powder to clean them up after!
Overall park visibility is lower–meaning, you can’t really stand in one spot and see your child the entire time. With it being designed in sections, one section isn’t really visible from another. This can make it tricky if you have multiple kiddos wanting to play in different areas.
RATING BY AGE GROUP:
Baby/Pre-Walker: 3
Toddler/Walker: 5
Age 5+: 5
EASE FOR A ONE PARENT OUTING: NEUTRAL
West Park
2700 W. 116th Street Carmel, IN
Reopened in 2022, the community has had its eye on the progress of this space. The playground is a multi-level design that includes water features in the warmer months. You’ll find fast slides, rope climbers, swings, a low ropes course, an in-ground push merry-go-round, and toddler and big kid play structures.
Wins:
• Rubber flooring throughout—no mulch or mud
• Year round renovated bathrooms on site
• Picnic tables under a covered structure for lunch
• Challenging enough obstacles that older kids can have fun
Watch Outs:
If you have multiple kids and they each want to be on different levels, it can hard to see them all at one time.
Little/no shade
There are some steep rocks that kids like to climb on to get from one level to the next.
RATING BY AGE GROUP:
Baby/Pre-Walker: 3
Toddler/Walker: 3
Age 5+: 5
EASE FOR A ONE PARENT OUTING:
one child: neutral, multiple kids: I’d recommend 2 adults if kids are under 5!
Central
Westermeier Commons At Central Park
20 Central Park Dr W, Carmel, IN
A futuristic giant in the center of central park, the Westermeier Commons playground has something for all age kiddos. When you enter the park, the playground structures will be on your left and a sprawling splash pad will be on your right.
Wins:
This park has every piece of playground equipment you can think of–swings, springed teeter totter, slides, climbing structures, rope bridges, etc.
There are two playground areas, one for toddlers and one for bigger kids
No mulch, rubber flooring throughout
In the summer, you can go back and forth between the playground and splash pad
There is sidewalk access to the large central park pond which is full of fish, turtles, etc if you get tired of playing and want to do something different.
Clean, updated bathrooms on-site with changing stations
Watch Outs:
The bigger section has many “escape routes” and poor visibility. If your kiddo goes up into the main structure, it’s very hard to keep track of them. There is an opening along the backside of the main structure with a bridge to an upper level sidewalk at the back of the park. Kiddos can “escape” through this while you are still on the lower level and can’t reach them.
There are openings in the main structure that are high off the ground, creating fall risks from higher heights.
This park can get VERY crowded, especially on the weekends after 10am.
RATING BY AGE GROUP:
Baby/Pre-Walker: 5
Toddler/Walker: 4
Age 5+: 4
EASE FOR A ONE PARENT OUTING: NEUTRAL when not crowded, HARD when crowded
Monon Trail Playspace
Along the Monon trail, roughly 571 Monon Blvd. Carmel, IN
Without an official name, this playspace is carved directly into the Monon trail just south of midtown plaza. This playspace is a crucial stop on one of my favorite outings–grabbing coffee at Java House or a smoothie at Pure Green, then taking the kids to run off some energy at the playspace followed by a little walk along the Monon. Although small, this playspace is packed with fun features. A large cement slide, a caged lily-pad climbing structure, STEM stations built into the back wall, and a half dome with holes for climbing. It works great if you are waiting for a table at a restaurant in Midtown and want to take the kids somewhere to play!
Wins:
Rubber flooring, no mulch or mud in sight!
Great for little babies, toddlers, and bigger kids. I remember letting my younger son crawl around this playspace while my older one was off scaling the walls!
A great piece to a fun outing coupled with stopping by other local businesses along the Monon trail in Carmel
Great visibility, you can see the entire park at one time.
Watch Outs:
It is literally on the Monon trail, so you need to be mindful not to wander into the bike lane and get clipped!
It is the smallest park on the list, so it can feel crowded quickly. Rarely crowded during the week, but can get busy around dinner/post dinner time on weekends.
May not keep their attention for longer than 45min to an hour due it’s smaller nature.
No bathrooms onsite
RATING BY AGE GROUP:
Baby/Pre-Walker: 5
Toddler/Walker: 5
Age 5+: 5
EASE FOR A ONE PARENT OUTING: EASY
Meadowlark Park
50 Meadow Ln, Carmel, IN
One of the newly renovated parks in Carmel, this one is a personal favorite of both me and my kids. The park designers did a really nice job mapping out this park. The center climbing structure is designed like a giant tree, giving it a really cool vibe that still gives the kids a “wow” factor when walking up. There are climbing structures ranging in big, medium, and small. Swings, springed teeter-totters, manual merry-go-round, this park has it all!
Wins:
Rubber flooring, no mulch or mud
The biggest climbing structure is completely enclosed, eliminating any fall risk from high heights
Great visibility, you can see the entire park from viewpoints in the park, making it easy for multiple kiddos to do different things
The climbing structures are progressive–easy, medium, and hard. They each look similar making them all enticing to different age kiddos (i.e. one doesn't look significantly cooler than another, drawing everyone to one place.) There is truthfully an area for all ages.
Clean, updated bathrooms on-site with changing stations
Watch Outs:
Because the largest climbing structure is completely enclosed, it is hard for a parent to get a child who may be stuck up there and needing help down.
There is no shade on the playground equipment. There are two pavilions that are covered at the front of the park.
The parking situation can get tricky if it’s crowded. The lot is small, and if it’s full–there is no place to turn around. If it looks like the park is crowded, you may want to park on the street leading up to the park to be safe!
RATING BY AGE GROUP:
Baby/Pre-Walker: 5
Toddler/Walker: 5
Age 5+: 5
EASE FOR A ONE PARENT OUTING: EASY when not crowded, NEUTRAL if crowded
Cool Creek Park
2000 E 151st St, Carmel, IN 46033
The farthest north of the Carmel parks on this list, Cool Creek playground is just on the border of Westfield. It’s a fun, more traditional playground with designated areas for bigger and littler kids. There are bridges, tunnels, slides, big and small play structures, swings, and some interactive STEM features.
Wins:
The toddler play area has lots of room for adventure with low fall risk.
The bigger kid play structure is very open, making for good parental visibility.
It is a big park with lots to explore and kids can stay busy for a long time.
Watch Outs:
It’s a mulch park and can get muddy after a rain.
There is a section of adult workout equipment that is not really separate from the playground. Kids try to play here, but it’s designed for adults to use and they could get fingers pinched, etc.
Smaller kids who want to play on the bigger structure can get out of reach quickly.
No shade on the playground equipment, there is a covered picnic structure in the center with shade.
No bathrooms onsite. The closest bathroom is a walk/drive into the nature center at Cool Creek park.
RATING BY AGE GROUP:
Baby/Pre-Walker: 1
Toddler/Walker: 3
Age 5+: 4
EASE FOR A ONE PARENT OUTING: HARD
East:
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:
Baby/Pre-Walker: 3
Toddler/Walker: 4
Age 5+: 5
EASE FOR A ONE PARENT OUTING: EASY
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:
Baby/Pre-Walker: 3
Toddler/Walker: 4
Age 5+: 4
EASE FOR A ONE PARENT OUTING: HARD
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.
If you have a baby or a young toddler who you think may put the sand in his/her mouth, it may be unavoidable at this park.
RATING BY AGE GROUP:
Baby/Pre-Walker: 1
Toddler/Walker: 4
Age 5+: 5
EASE FOR A ONE PARENT OUTING: EASY
River Heritage Park
11813 River Road Carmel, IN
Located on Carmel's far east side, this newly reimagined park reopened in 2022.
It's a super unique space in that it combines really fun playground equipment (que: zip line) immersed along a specially surfaced nature path.
When you arrive, you'll see a playground area up front with equipment, and a trail leading into the trees off to the right. Take a walk down the trail and you'll find multiple other smaller playgrounds stretched out along the trail. Really cool way to incorporate nature + play in an inclusive way!
Wins:
• Rubber flooring along all park and nature trail surfaces
• Great for little babies, toddlers, and bigger kids.
• Trees provide shade along parts of nature trail
• Each individual playground has great visibility, you can see the entire park at one time.
• Stroller and wheelchair accessible nature trail
• Bathrooms on site
• Easy parking
Watch Outs:
• It can be hard to keep multiple kids at one place at the same time. The different playgrounds are spread out along the nature trail, so some kids may want to run ahead to the next "stop" where you can't always see them.
RATING BY AGE GROUP:
Baby/Pre-Walker: 5
Toddler/Walker: 5
Age 5+: 5
EASE FOR A ONE PARENT OUTING: EASY ✅