The medium sized Indianapolis suburb of Carmel, Indiana is all about improving the quality of life for its residents. From new cultural features like the Carmel Arts and Design District to the great education kids can receive at Carmel schools like University High School and Carmel High School, the town government tries its best to keep the town’s citizens happy, healthy, and entertained.
There are a host of Carmel parks that make the city a more enjoyable place to play and work, from the attractions-heavy Central Park to the Carmel art focused Coxhall Gardens. West Park, located between downtown Carmel and Zionsville, Indiana, is a large, fun Carmel attraction that can make for a relaxing day trip from Indianapolis.
West Park spans 120 acres of Indiana countryside, packed with distractions and glimpses of nature. There is a total of sixteen acres of wide-open green spaces for visitors to run around in, a picnic area for a little lunch in the sunshine, a prairie garden, a playground for Carmel children to clamber all over, four different shelter houses, and a 2.5-mile trail for Carmel health nuts to stroll up and down. Free parking on site means residents of Carmel, Zionsville, and Indianapolis can make the short drive over to West Park without worry.
There are a couple major features that set West Park apart from other Carmel parks. In the winter, guests to the park can enjoy the West Park sledding hill, which remains open all day. Children and their parents can slide down the north side of the hill using whatever home-scavenged or store-bought sleds they’ve brought.
Though it’s not as big as Central Park’s Aquatic Center, West Park is home to an interactive spray park. This farm-themed aquatic playground is great for those sweltering days in August. In addition, nature lovers can take a stroll through the five acres of wetland space in West Park. Visitors to the wetland can stroll above the muck and mire on the broad boardwalk the meanders through the area.
Like other Carmel parks, West Park is open from 30 minutes before sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset. The interactive splash park is only open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., but snow fanatics can feel free to use the rest of the park’s facilities (including the sledding hill) all 365 days of the year.
While it may be a little more out of the way than other parks in the Carmel Clay Parks and Recreation System, an afternoon at West Park can make for an entertaining family getaway.
West Park
2700 W 116th Street
Carmel, IN 46032
Carmel, Indiana Parks
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