West Park has long served as a hub for outdoor recreation, family gatherings, and seasonal fun in Carmel, Indiana. In response to aging infrastructure and growing demand for additional programmatic space, the City of Carmel and its affiliate, Clay Township, launched an ambitious renovation to reimagine West Park for future generations. This bold transformation, rooted in community feedback, brought new life to the park with the addition of Engledow Commons and The Groves, enhancing the parks connectivity and recreational offerings.
A highlight of the park’s renovations is the new aquatic play area, designed in collaboration with Water Odyssey to reflect the park’s themes of exploration and nature-based adventure. Nestled within a canyon-inspired landscape complete with rock-like formations, shallow streams, and GFRC canyon walls, the splash pad offers a playful, organic environment that encourages curiosity and discovery. In-ground spray nozzles, such as misters, geysers, and low bubblers, are programmed with varying heights, velocities, timings, and durations to deliver diverse and dynamic water play experiences. Canyon wall sprayers add another level of interactivity, further enriching the sensory play environment. This immersive space allows children to stomp through gently flowing water, splash in streams, and engage with spray elements embedded into natural-looking stonework. The water play area is integrated with the adjacent dry playground, enabling seamless transitions between climbing, sliding, and splashing, while also offering better sightlines for caregivers.
Driven by community input and designed with safety and creativity in mind, the West Park Aquatic Play Area stands as a testament to Carmel’s commitment to exceptional public spaces. Together with local partners and Water Odyssey, this next-generation splash pad fosters immersive play and lasting memories for families across Central Indiana.
📸Photography courtesy of Carmel Clay Parks and Recreation
