Welcome to the Fishers Community Center. You push open the glass doors, and the first thing you notice is how bright everything feels. Sunlight pours through huge windows, bouncing off clean floors and high ceilings. There’s the faint sound of laughter, sneakers squeaking on the gym floor somewhere down the hall, and the smell of coffee drifting from the café. Your kids are already pulling ahead, pointing, and asking where to go first. You can tell this is the kind of place that was made with families in mind, not just a fitness center or a rec building, but a space designed to grow with you.
You pause in the lobby for a moment and take it all in. The Fishers Community Center feels fresh and modern, but it also feels warm. There are parents pushing strollers, teens walking together with water bottles in hand, grandparents chatting by the windows, and kids — so many kids — darting around with the kind of excitement that only comes when there’s fun ahead.
Your kids spot the indoor playground before you do. It’s impossible to miss — a huge, 5,300-square-foot structure stretching toward the ceiling, full of slides, climbing tunnels, and bridges. It’s colorful and inviting, but what really catches your attention is the thoughtful design. There’s a separate toddler area, perfectly suited for little ones still finding their footing, and plenty of space for older kids to climb and explore without feeling crowded. The laughter echoing through the room makes you smile. You let your younger one loose and watch them climb, giggling as they race up a ramp.
You find a seat near the windows, close enough to keep an eye on the action but far enough away that you can breathe for a minute. Just beyond the play area, you spot Sahm’s Community Café. It’s kind of cozy, the hum of conversation, the smell of fresh coffee, and a display case full of sandwiches and snacks. You order a latte and a muffin, and within a few minutes, you’re sipping coffee while the kids play. You can see them climbing and laughing, their faces flushed with excitement. You pull out your laptop and check your work email quickly. The free wifi makes this a great place to work while the kids play.
When it’s time to move again, you check your littles into childcare (yes, they offer childcare so parents can work out) and head toward the walking track that loops above the gym. You can see it from almost anywhere in the building: a smooth, light-filled oval that overlooks the courts below. You start walking, and your older child jogs beside you, full of energy. Kids ages eleven and up can use the track with a parent, and they love the sense of freedom it gives them. The two of you settle into a rhythm, your footsteps matching the quiet thump of others moving around you. You glance down at the gym and see a pickup basketball game underway, a few people practicing volleyball, and a group of kids chasing each other during open play.
The gymnasium itself is a hub of motion and sound. You can almost feel the energy radiating from it. Kids and adults share the space, shooting hoops, playing pickleball, or joining classes.
As you wander back toward the fitness area, you pass through the childcare center, and it instantly makes you want to peek inside. It’s bright and cheerful, filled with color and laughter. Staff members greet children by name, and you can tell right away that this isn’t a simple babysitting setup; it’s a thoughtfully designed, play-based space where kids can learn and have fun while parents take time for themselves. The best part? There’s a secure outdoor play area just beyond the windows. You step outside for a moment and see it for yourself: a fenced, sunny playground with age-appropriate equipment and soft turf underfoot. You picture your toddler running out there on a spring day while you’re upstairs walking the track or taking a yoga class. It’s a small detail, but it speaks volumes. Kids get fresh air, parents get peace of mind, and everyone wins.
Then, you hear it — the familiar sound of splashing water echoing down the hall. The aquatics area is even more impressive than you imagined. The space feels like a resort tucked inside a community center. A warm-water, zero-depth-entry pool stretches out in front of you, complete with gentle splash features and a two-story water slide that twists toward the ceiling. You can already picture your kids lining up for another turn, squealing with delight as they splash back down.
Just beyond that is a sleek, four-lane lap pool with cool water perfect for swimming, water walking, or aqua aerobics classes. One side features a twelve-foot rock-climbing wall, the kind that challenges kids to scale up before dropping dramatically back into the water with a splash. The main pool boasts a NinjaCROSS challenge system, an overhead obstacle course suspended above the pool, complete with beginner and advanced lanes. Tucked neatly along one side of the deck is a sauna, glowing softly through its glass walls.
As you gather your things, your kids are already asking when you can come back.
Be sure to visit the website to sign up for your free community pass. It only takes a few minutes to register your family, and once you have your pass, you can use it to access the free amenities, including the indoor playground, the walking track, the café area, and the gathering spaces. Then you download the app, which lets you reserve playtime on the indoor playground for up to two hours each day. Reservations help keep the space from getting overcrowded, and it’s nice to know you’ll always have a guaranteed spot to play when the kids are ready to climb.
