The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park | Explore 100 Acres for FREE at Newfields


Written by Katy Mann with contributions from Sara Keller
The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park has it all: shady forests, a sparkling lake, lush meadows of native plants and flowers, and inspiring art installations that invite guests to climb and scramble all over them. These 100 acres of land at Newfields, which is most famously the campus that houses the Indianapolis Museum of Art, are just waiting to be explored, preferably with a picnic or even a nap beneath the trees included. During the winter, you can enjoy many of the same sights and activities, just bundle up! 
Best of all, entry to the Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park is totally free. While admission is charged for most of the Newfields campus, this stunning natural space just across the canal from the formal gardens is available for the community to use year-round.
Children eat at a picnic table near the Pollinator Pavilion at the Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park.

Things for Kids to Do at the Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park

My kids love hearing the birds chirping, seeing the leaves falling, running around in the grass, and walking on the trails. If the 100 Acres isn’t a place your family has visited yet, add it to your “Must Do” list! Your family will see woodlands, wetlands, pollinator meadows, and a 35-acre lake.
Kids can check out the “Funky Bones” art installation which appeared in the movie “The Fault in Our Stars.” They’ll also love hunting for all the yellow benches, each uniquely designed, that pop up throughout the entire park. The wild grass labyrinth is a fun place to truly lose yourself in nature for a few minutes.
A boy in a yellow jacket sits on a bench shaped like an arch in the Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park.

Hawryluk Sculpture Green

Explore the theme of coming “Home Again” through dynamic, interactive sculptures located throughout the large swath of the property known as the Hawryluk Sculpture Green. The mysteriously named piece Oracle of Intimation looks as if a house has dropped from the sky and lodged itself into the ground up to its peaked roof. If your kids have ever wanted to climb on your roof at home, now is their chance to do so in a less risky environment! Children love to scamper up the shingled rooftop and check out the attic-like space inside.

 

The roof does naturally lend itself to sliding down, but those shingles are real and incredibly rough! My daughter wore a hole in the bottom of her stretchy shorts while playing. If your kids are likely to try to slide down, consider wearing long pants that you don’t mind bringing home with some wear and tear!

A boy approaches the tall, gazebo-like Pollinator Pavilion at the Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park.

Other pieces in the Home Again exhibition include the Pollinator Pavilion and the beautiful and thought-provoking This is NOT a RefugeThe cheerful Pollinator Pavilion is painted a bright purple, decorated in floral designs, and surrounded by hummingbird feeders and plantings that attract birds, bees, and butterflies. A vintage couch inside invites visitors to sit and stay a while.

In This is NOT a Refuge, the delicately-cut design of the white house structure promises a charming spot to sit and enjoy the view across the lake. Inside, you can listen to stories told by over a dozen immigrants and refugees living in Indianapolis, recounting their experiences navigating life in a new country. The piece beautifully and profoundly reminds guests that while seeking refuge provides safety and hope, it also often comes with deep loss and struggle.

A house-shaped structure of white laser-cut metal with floral designs at the Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park.

Hike Around the Lake

While walking around the entire 35-acre lake at the Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park might seem like a daunting commitment, the trek usually only takes my crew about 30 minutes. Along the way, you’ll find spots where you can access the water or grab a seat on one of the iconic yellow benches. Step onto the Stratum Pier for open views of the water and watch for birds and other wildlife enjoying the Native Pollinator Meadow that leads from the gorgeous Lilly House down to the lake. The park is known as a great place for birdwatching, so consider bringing some binoculars or a wildlife guide to help with identification!

A view of the lake through trees at the Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park.

Hours and Admission

Admission is free and the park is open from sunrise to sunset every day.

Parking is also free. Drive west on 38th Street and continue past the main Newfields entrance, exit onto North White River Parkway East Drive on the right. Follow the curve around to find two parking lots. You can’t miss the blue and red arches and basketball goals of Free Basket, which sits in the middle of the first lot.

Dogs are welcome on a leash. Fishing is allowed with your Indiana Fishing License and if you use artificial bait. Guided tours are available frequently, but if you have young children, if might be more fun to explore the park on your own, using a map provided at the entrance or even a mobile tour on your smartphone.

Two giant rings are suspended above a grassy space in an art piece displayed in the Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park.

Are There Restrooms at the Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park?

Yes, there are two places to find restrooms within the park. The first is located at the entrance, in the second parking lot. Another restroom facility can be found at the Ruth Lilly Visitors Pavilion, which also frequently hosts programming and performances, on the north side of the park. Keep in mind that the Visitor’s Pavillion restrooms close from November to March.

If you like hiking in this area, you might want to check out the Marian University EcoLab.

If you love art parks, check out the art park at the Indianapolis Art Center.

Address
1850 W 38th Street
Indianapolis
IN
46228

Visit The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park | Explore 100 Acres for FREE at Newfields

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