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A First Look at Up and Down the Monon in Carmel I had been watching this playground go up from the street for a while, and even from the car it looked big. Actually standing under it is a different thing. Up and Down the Monon, located along the Monon Boulevard expansion in Carmel, is not a typical neighborhood playground with a few slides, a climbing panel and a swing set. It is two giant red towers connected by a huge enclosed bridge, with slides curling off the sides and climbing routes tucked inside. It is the kind of playground where adults immediately start saying things like, “Wait, can I go up there?” And yes, you can. I did. Strictly for research purposes, obviously. Related Article: Midtown Plaza Carmel for Families The Big Red Towers Are the Whole Point There is really one main play structure here, but calling it “one structure” makes it sound smaller than it is. The playground is built around two tall towers with a long enclosed bridge running between them. From the ground, it looks more like a piece of public art than a playground. Up close, it feels like a challenge course that happens to have slides. Inside the bridge, kids can choose how they want to get across. They can walk along the bridge floor, which is not quite solid and has a little bit of that suspended, high-up feeling. Or they can take on the obstacle-style elements, climbing through nets, across wobbly-feeling sections and around hanging pieces. The bridge is enclosed, which helps, but it is still high enough that kids who get nervous with heights may need a minute. This was one of the rare playgrounds where I saw other parents climbing up too, and not just to rescue a child or retrieve a water bottle. The whole thing is cool enough that grown-ups are going to want to see it from the inside. How Kids Get Up, Across and Down One of the best parts of this playground is that kids do not have to be expert climbers to reach the top. There are stairs, which makes the towers much easier for younger kids or kids who are not quite ready for the nets and ladders. There are also more challenging climbing routes for kids who want to work for it. My kid spent most of the visit exploring the towers and testing different ways to move through the bridge. That is where this playground really works. It is not just a climb-up-slide-down situation. Kids can keep looping through it, choosing a new route each time, and the structure is big enough that it takes a while before they feel like they have done it all. The Slides The slides are a major part of the appeal. There is one smaller open slide, plus two large tube slides coming off the towers. One of the tube slides felt like one of the longest playground slides I have been down in the Indianapolis area. It is fast enough to feel like an event, but not so wild that elementary-age kids will be one-and-done. For preschoolers, the stairs make the top reachable, but the height and the size of the slides are worth considering. Some preschoolers will be completely fine. Others may get to the top, look down and decide they have made a terrible life choice. Both reactions seem fair. What Else Is Around the Playground Outside the towers, there are a few sensory and interactive features, including musical-style panels and smaller play pieces under and around the structure. They are nice additions, but they are not the reason to come. The towers, bridge and slides are the attraction. There is not a dedicated toddler area at Up and Down the Monon. For families with toddlers, this is probably more of a “watch the big kids and try a few ground-level pieces” stop than a full toddler playground. The good news is that Monon Boulevard has more family-friendly areas nearby, including the existing Midtown Plaza amenities and another play area better suited to younger kids. Related Article: Best Playgrounds in Indianapolis Parent Sightlines, Shade and the Things That Matter Because the playground is mostly one giant structure, it is fairly easy to keep track of where your kids are headed. There are benches around the play area, and the landscaping gives the space a natural edge even though it is not fenced. The harder part is actually seeing kids once they are inside the towers or bridge. You know where they are, but you may not be able to see every move from the ground. The playground sits right by the Monon, so parents should expect bike and pedestrian traffic nearby. Car traffic does not run directly through the playground area, which helps. Still, it is not a fenced-in park where you can mentally check out while kids roam. This is Carmel, not a padded parenting simulation. Shade is the biggest weak spot. There is shade inside the towers and bridge, and the structure itself casts some shadows, but the open turf and seating areas are sunny. On a hot day, this is probably a morning or evening playground unless your kids have somehow made peace with July. Parking, Bathrooms and Access I parked along Olympian Way near Monon Boulevard, and it was about a one-minute walk to the playground from there. There appeared to be a parking lot west of the playground, but with construction still happening in the area, access was not completely obvious during my visit. There are no restrooms immediately next to the Up and Down the Monon playground. If you head north along Monon Boulevard toward Midtown Plaza, there are more things to do, places to sit and restrooms in the larger district. That is also where families will find more of the classic Midtown Plaza features, including green space, community seating, games and the splash plaza. Why Up and Down the Monon Is Worth the Drive Up and Down the Monon is not a playground trying to be everything for every age. It is a big, bold climbing-and-sliding structure, and that is what makes it memorable. Elementary-age kids are probably the sweet spot, especially kids who like heights, climbing, tunnels and slides that feel a little more grown-up. Preschoolers can use more of it than parents might expect because of the stairs and enclosed bridge, but the height may be intimidating. Toddlers will do better farther down Monon Boulevard at the smaller play areas. My honest verdict: This one is worth driving for, even if you only came for the playground. But when you combine it with Midtown Plaza, the Monon, nearby restaurants, open green space and the other things to do along Monon Boulevard, it becomes more than a playground stop. It is a free Carmel outing that can easily take up a morning or afternoon. Know Before You Go Playground: Up and Down the Monon Location: Along Monon Boulevard near Midtown Plaza in Carmel Official park address: 365 Monon Blvd, Carmel, IN 46032 Admission: Free Best ages: Elementary-age kids, brave preschoolers and older kids who still like climbing structures Toddler area: Not at this playground, but there are younger-child-friendly play areas farther along Monon Boulevard Restrooms: Not directly beside the playground. Restrooms are available farther north in the Midtown Plaza/Monon Boulevard district. Parking: Street parking is available nearby. Construction in the area may affect the easiest route. Shade: Limited, except inside the towers, bridge and shaded pockets created by the structure Official information: Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation Midtown Plaza + Monon Boulevard and City of Carmel Midtown

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