Holliday Park is a 94-acre city park located on the north side of Indianapolis. Its size and diversity makes it a popular destination for families throughout the year. A recent, large-scale renovation of the Park and several of its facilities include revitalization of the Ruins and a newly developed Exhibit Hall within the Nature Center. The park offers an extensive playground area, with features separated and clearly identified for appropriate age ranges. Picnic tables and covered shelters are located at the playground area and are a popular location for birthday parties. Holliday Park offers a 13,000 square foot Nature Center, featuring the wildlife and history of Marion County and providing hands-on activities, classes and programs throughout the year.
Must see and must do at Holliday Park
The Ruins at Holliday Park are perhaps the park's best-known feature. The Ruins are the remains of the façade of New York's first skyscraper, the St. Paul Building, built from Indiana limestone in 1898. The façade included three 8 ton sculptures known as The Races of Man. When the St. Paul Building was demolished in the 1950s, Indiana presented a plan to have the statues placed at Holliday Park, where they still stand atop a full-sized reproduction of the façade of the building. Additional remains of historic buildings from Marion County have joined the statues over the years, creating the Ruins. The large field at the location of the Ruins is a popular spot for kite flying or picnics.
Best and worst time to go to Holliday Park
Holliday Park is a popular destination for family outings, family reunions, and birthday parties. When the weather is nice, the playground is crowded. Picnic tables can be hard to come by if you are wanting to stay close to the playground, but other options are scattered nearby. The park is very large, so open spaces and hiking trails seldom feel overcrowded.
Admission to Holliday Park
Holliday Park is a city park open daily from sunrise to sunset throughout the year. While there is no admission fee for the park, classes and programs held at the park's Nature Center do occasionally charge a fee.
Wildlife at Holliday Park
Because of Holliday Park's proximity to the White River and the extensive wooded area through which the hiking trails wind, visitors to the park are likely to see waterfowl, fish, numerous birds, and small mammals as they hike the park's trails.
Insider Tip for Holliday Park
If you are visiting the park in warmer weather, hike the wooded trails down to the White River. The river flows to the banks of the trail and shallow water wading is abundant. Be aware that the trails do get muddy as you get closer to the river
Author's Bio: Heather Hurley is a publishing professional and freelance writer living in Carmel, Indiana. She has spent many, many summer days at Holliday Park chasing her children around the playground and avidly enjoying the park's stunning hiking trails.
