The New Signature Playground Brings a Major Upgrade to the City’s First Park
INDIANÁPOLIS – Today, Indy Parks and city leaders celebrated the opening of Garfield’s Park new signature playground. The oldest park in the city, Garfield Park received $5.5 million from the Lilly Endowment Grant to Indy Parks to restore the Sunken Garden Fountains and build a new playground. The Amigos del parque Garfield oversaw the restoration of the Sunken Gardens which were reopened earlier this summer.
“Thanks to collaboration between Lilly Endowment, Indy Parks and the Friends of Garfield Park, we continue to see generational improvements to our parks come to fruition,” said Mayor Hogsett. “This new playground now joins the revitalized Sunken Garden Fountains as yet another iconic amenity for Garfield Park visitors to enjoy.”
The $80 million Subvención de dotación de Lilly is investing in 42 parks as part of the larger $150 million investment in the Indy Parks system. As of August 5, 2026, Indy Parks and foundation partners have completed projects at 19 parks funded by the grant. 21 other projects have been awarded or are under construction, with Graham Edward Martin Park the latest to be awarded at the July Parks Board Meeting.
“Garfield Park has always been a special place for our community, and this new playground is another great investment in its future,” said Councilor Frank Mascari, District 19. “I’m grateful to Indy Parks, Lilly Endowment, and the Friends of Garfield Park for making this project possible and creating a space that families will enjoy for years to come.”
In addition to Garfield Park, eight neighborhood parks south and southeast of downtown Indianapolis received a new playground through recent rounds of funding. Those improvements include:
- Parque del Triángulo McCarty
- bebé denny parque
- Parque Sexson
- Parque Ringgold
- parque naranja
- parque stacy
- Porter Playfield Park
- parque del orgullo
“This new signature playground adds to the incredible spaces at Garfield Park including the Conservatory and Sunken Garden, Arts Center, and Family Center,” said Indy Parks Director Brittany Crone. “We can’t wait to see this playground become a true destination for play for the community and the entire city.”
The new playground includes a range of amenities for younger children ages 2-5 along with larger structures for ages 5-12, including climbing and music play features. New Indy Parks playgrounds include accessible pour in place surfacing and a variety of sensory play items. Between ARPA and Lilly Endowment Grant projects, 55 playgrounds have been added or replaced since 2022. Images from the event are available aquí.
