Indy Parks and Recreation, Indianapolis

The 207 green spaces overseen by Indy Parks and Recreation aren't just oases of natural beauty in the middle of the city: they're also the setting for many of Indianapolis' most diverse cultural attractions. Parks throughout the city host events that range from basketball and league sports games to fitness and yoga on the grass to all-ages, hands-on art classes. In warm weather, sounds of outdoor film screenings and more than 80 live concerts reverberate through the hills and trees. Meanwhile, 20 indoor and outdoor water recreation facilities encourage splashing, and picnic shelters and open-air pavilions host events ranging from large-scale family reunions to children's birthday parties.

The city's parks also inject their entertainment with a bit of education. The hilltop Garfield Park Arts Center organizes live performances and classes in visual and performing arts. Eagle Creek Park](http://bit.ly/1j2TWNp)—the parks system's crown jewel—celebrates nature. Its more than 4,300 acres of forested terrain take visitors out of the city, but attractions such as the aerial ropes course, Go Ape, and the live reptile and amphibian exhibits at the Earth Discovery Center convince them to stay.