INDIANAPOLIS – Indy Parks and city leaders recently 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 Friends of Garfield Park oversaw the restoration of the Sunken Gardens which were reopened earlier this summer.
As of August 5, 2026, Indy Parks and foundation partners have completed projects at 19 parks funded by the $80 million grant. Twenty-one 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.
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.
