A new playground at Thompson Park on the southside is giving Franklin Township families another fresh place to play close to home.
The park is at 6451 Thompson Rd. in Indianapolis, just east of I-65 and a few minutes from the Greenwood line. It is a smaller neighborhood park, but the new playground gives it a bigger draw than the 9-acre footprint suggests. Indy Parks has described the playground as including one of the tallest play structures in Indianapolis. Photos posted by Indy Parks show a tall multi-level tower with tube slides, swings and climbing features, which should get the attention of any kid who hears “too high” and interprets it as a personal challenge.
Related Page: The Ultimate Guide to Indianapolis-Area Playgrounds
What Families Will Find at Thompson Park
Thompson Park is not a giant destination park, and that is part of the appeal. Indy Parks lists it as a 9-acre property with a playground, shelter, parking, open fields and a small body of water on the west side. A walking trail loops through the property, and a basketball court sits near the playground.
The new playground is the centerpiece, especially for families in Franklin Township, Perry Township and the Greenwood-adjacent southside. The rest of the park keeps things simple.
How the Thompson Park Project Was Funded
The playground is part of a $1 million improvement project selected by District 24 City-County Councilor Michael Dilk through the city’s council-directed neighborhood project funding. The project also refurbished the basketball court and improved the walking trail, making the park more useful for families with kids in different stages. One child can head for the playground, another can shoot baskets and the grown-ups can get a short walk in.
More Southside Playgrounds Are Getting Updates
Thompson Park is one piece of a larger wave of southside park improvements. Several Indy Parks projects across Franklin, Perry and Decatur townships are adding or upgrading playgrounds, trails, courts and shelters.
Franklin Township Community Park reopened in October after a $2.8 million renovation. The 99-acre park at 8801 E. Edgewood Ave. now includes a new playground, pickleball and basketball courts, paved walking trails and other site improvements.
Tolin-Akeman Park at 4459 Shelbyville Road is closed for construction and expected to reopen in 2026. Planned improvements include a new playground, shelter, basketball and pickleball courts and a walking trail.
Southside Park is also in this round of work, with a new playground, pickleball and basketball courts and walkways.
Southwestway Park on Mann Road is slated for a new playground and restroom, with construction expected to wrap in 2026. Perry Park is getting a new playground funded by the Lilly Endowment grant, with additional improvements to the park’s hardcourts.
The southside is getting a cluster of playground and park upgrades, which is good news for families who have been making do with aging equipment.
Part of a Citywide Playground Push
The southside projects are part of a larger investment across Indianapolis parks. Indy Parks has said it is replacing or improving more than 40% of the city’s 130 playgrounds as part of more than $150 million in park investments from city, philanthropic and federal funding.
For parents, that citywide number matters less than what it means on a random Tuesday afternoon: more updated playgrounds, more accessible surfacing, more courts and trails.
Plan Your Visit to Thompson Park
Address: 6451 Thompson Rd., Indianapolis, IN 46237
Hours: [Can’t be verified: post-renovation hours]
Admission: Free
For more places to play around Indy, see our guide to the best playgrounds in Indianapolis, or browse our roundup of free things to do in Indianapolis.
