Adventure Details

Activity:
Walking, Meandering
Trail:
Central Canal Towpath, White River Greenway (Central)
Interest:
Parks & Nature, Kids & Family
Region:
Central

Explore the northside’s newest kid-friendly destination at Riverside Adventure Park, right along the White River Greenway and easily accessible from the Central Canal Towpath. With playground fun, picnic pavilions, and nearby trail connections, this outing is perfect for families looking for outdoor adventure.

Stops on this adventure

This map highlights the stops along the itinerary and their proximity to the Trailways.

  1. Riverside Adventure Park Playground

    Website
    The nature-inspired playground at Riverside Adventure Park is a brand-new play space designed to blend with the natural landscape and paired with paved nature trails and sheltered picnic areas.
    • Bench
    • Bike Parking
    • Parking Lot
    • Playground
    • Restroom
    • Trash Can
    • Water Fountain

  2. Riverside Park Colts Fitness Park

    Website
    The Colts Fitness Park at Riverside Park is a family-friendly, Colts-themed outdoor fitness and play zone featuring the PLAY 60 Challenge Course, a timed 40-yard dash, and exercise equipment for all-ages activity.
    • Bike Parking
    • Playground
    • Trash Can

  3. Riverside Aquatic Center

    Website
    The Riverside Aquatic Center is the seasonal outdoor pool at Riverside Park, offering summer swim time with a main pool, small slides, and a separate kids’ pool area.
    • Fee
    • Parking Lot
    • Playground
    • Restroom
    • Trash Can
    • Water Fountain

  4. Frank's Paddesports Livery

    Website
    Frank's Paddlesports offers trailside rentals of canoes, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards on several upstream trip lengths. Kids of walking age are welcome when riding with an adult.
    • Boat/Kayak Launch
    • Fee
    • Parking Lot
    • River/Lake/Canal Access
    • Trash Can
a family playing on the playground at Riverside Adventure Park
Bring the family to Riverside Park and dive into Indy’s riverfront energy.
Riverside Adventure Park playground
Riverside Adventure Park's new nature-themed playground is fun for kids of all ages. A network of paved and soft-surface nature trails take you from the playground out into the park.
Frank's Paddlesports is located on the White River Greenway in Riverside Adventure Park and offers families canoe and kayak trips.

Before heading over to the park, start your day by packing a picnic lunch or by grabbing sandwiches from a local cafe on the way. We like Goose the Market—known for its artisan meats and inventive combos—or Hoagies & Hops, a local favorite for stacked subs and waffle fries. Try Goose’s ham + havarti sandwich or their BLT with smoked bacon and tomato aioli. At Hoagies & Hops, the “Italian Stallion” or turkey pesto hoagie is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. If authentic BBQ is more your style, check out Bar-B-Q Heaven a mile east of the park. Whatever your flavor, pack up your lunch and head to Riverside Adventure Park, where there’s plenty of parking and public restrooms available near the pavilion.

After settling in, dig into your picnic lunch under the shade of the covered shelter, just steps from the new playground, which debuted in 2025. Designed for kids ages 3+, this elevated nature-themed play structure is full of climbing opportunities and slides—but bring hats and sunscreen: there’s limited shade on the play surface, and summer sun can be intense.

Once the kids have burned off their sandwich energy, explore the adventure park’s soft-surface trails, great for walking or riding scooters. Or, head south on the White River Greenway and across the White River for a scenic spin to Riverside Park’s Colts Fitness Park, where kids can run a 40-yard dash, push through a defensive line, and exercise for the game. During the summer months there’s also an outdoor pool with small waterslides, an occasional concert or play at the Taggart Memorial Amphitheater, and nearby tennis and basketball courts. It’s about a mile-and-a-half walk from the nature playground to the Colts Fitness area and pool, and you can use either the White River Greenway along the river or take the Riverside Promenade connector trail along 29th Street and Riverside Drives.

If you’re still up for adventure, Frank’s Paddlesports Livery, located on the White River Greenway at the 30th Street bridge, offers canoe and kayak trips along the scenic White River as well as stand-up paddleboard rentals. Kids that are able to walk on their own are able to go on the trips with an adult (just ask Franks about life jackets for smaller kids and remember a booster seat for the ride upstream).