Brookside Park

Brookside Park is one of Indianapolis’s oldest parks. In 1863 the United States government built an Arsenal on 75 acres just east of the city. The sudden influx of workers at the Arsenal, coupled with the expansion of streetcar service outside the boundaries of downtown, caused a population boom on the Near Eastside. Before the entire area could be divided into residential lots, the city purchased hundreds of acres from the Calvin Fletcher family for $25,000 in 1870. One hundred and eight acres were dedicated as Brookside Park in 1898. The land didn’t realize its full potential until urban planner George Edward Kessler developed his Park and Boulevard System a decade later. Kessler took advantage of the scenic beauty on the north side of the park by leaving this area wild and undeveloped. The flatter, southern portion would be used for sporting fields.

This 108-acre community park has a pool and spray park which are popular destinations for families attempting to beat the heat. Kids can enjoy the playground while their caregivers prepare lunch at a nearby picnic shelter. Those looking to engage in a bit of friendly competition will find tennis courts, horseshoe pits, football, baseball, and soccer fields, basketball hoops, and an eighteen-hole disc golf course. If you’re seeking an escape from the fast pace of city life, the north side of the park holds quiet, wooded nature trails adjacent to Pogue’s Run, a tributary of the White River.