Lawrence W. Inlow Park

Lawrence W. Inlow Park in Carmel has my kids' favorite splash pad in the Indianapolis area, and the slide is the whole reason why. It makes the place feel less like a quick stop to cool off and more like a small water park, except this one is free. We've been coming here for the last few summers, and my two can easily spend two hours here without once asking to leave. If you're working your way through splash pads in Indianapolis, this one belongs on the list. The Slide Is the Main Event The waterslide is the feature that makes Inlow Park stand out. Kids climb the red steps, slide down the wide gray chute and land on a soft blue runway with red water arches overhead. It's the kind of feature that makes kids immediately forget the rest of the park exists. It is also the part that needs the most parent attention. Both of my kids have come away with a skinned knee or arm here after picking up too much speed and sliding past the softer landing area at the bottom. It has never stopped them from wanting to go back, which tells you a lot, but it is something to watch. Related Article: 8 Splash Pads Worth the Drive Near Indianapolis From what I've noticed, older kids are more likely to build up enough speed to overshoot the runway. Younger kids usually slow down before the end. The bigger issue is spacing. Kids need to wait until the child ahead of them is fully clear of the landing area before sliding. I've seen a few collisions when little ones were slow to move, so this corner takes a little more supervision than the rest of the splash pad. The Giant Dumping Bucket The giant dumping bucket is the other big draw. Every few minutes, it fills and tips, sending a wall of water across a big section of the splash pad. My kids plant themselves underneath it and wait for it every single time. It's the kind of feature that gets a whole crowd of kids cheering together. The splash pad also has spray arches, ground-level water features and plenty of room for kids to move between areas. It feels active without being hard to understand, which matters when you're trying to keep track of more than one child in a wet, busy space. A Shaded Water Table Area for Younger Kids Off to one side, a set of shallow channels works like an outdoor water table. Every age seems to wander over to it, but younger kids are the ones who really settle in. It gives them a calmer place to scoop, splash and experiment without being right in the middle of the faster-moving slide and bucket crowd. This area also has one of the best parent setups at the splash pad. Picnic tables sit right next to the water play area and share the same shaded space, so you can keep an eye on a younger kid without giving up the shade. Benches ring much of the splash pad, and many of them are shaded. A sun shade sail also covers part of the play area. Shade, Bathrooms and Crowds Inlow Park's splash pad is popular, and it can get crowded. Early mornings have always been our best bet when we want fewer lines at the slide and a little more breathing room around the water features. The good news is that the splash pad is fairly parent-friendly once you're there. The bathrooms are directly behind the splash pad, which is exactly where you want them when you've got wet, sandy kids. There are also shelters, picnic tables, grills and year-round restrooms at Lawrence W. Inlow Park, according to Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation. The park also has a playground, pickleball courts, a nine-hole disc golf course, open greenspace and soft surface trails, so the splash pad does not have to be the whole visit. Related Article: The Ultimate Guide to Indianapolis-Area Playgrounds Why Inlow Park Splash Pad Is Worth the Drive For us, Lawrence W. Inlow Park is worth the drive because there is not much else around that gives kids a water-park-style slide in a public splash pad setting. The slide is the draw, the dumping bucket keeps kids moving and the shaded water table area gives younger kids a place to play at their own speed. The tradeoff is that the slide needs real supervision, especially when the splash pad is busy or when older kids are moving fast. This is not the splash pad where I get to fully zone out on a bench. But my kids would choose it over almost any other splash pad in the Indy area, and after several summers of repeat visits, I get why. More Info About Lawrence W. Inlow Park According to Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation: Address: 6310 E. Main St., Carmel, IN 46033 Splash pad hours: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Memorial Day through September 30 Park hours: Sunrise to sunset, except for approved activities Cost: Free Restrooms: Year-round restrooms are on-site, directly behind the splash pad Other features: Playground, pickleball courts, nine-hole disc golf course, open greenspace, soft surface trails, grills, picnic shelter, seasonal drinking fountain and bike rack Good to know: Press the activation sensor to start the splash pad cycle. When the water shuts off, press it again to restart the features. Pet policy: Pets are prohibited in playgrounds, splash pads and restrooms. Service animals are permitted. Official website: Lawrence W. Inlow Park

Lawrence W. Inlow Park

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Lawrence W. Inlow Park