Children’s Museum Sports Park: Get Active at the Riley Children’s Health Sports Legends Experience

The Riley Children’s Health Sports Legends Experience is a one-of-a-kind attraction located within the Indianapolis Children’s Museum. This innovative outdoor permanent exhibit provides children with an interactive, hands-on approach to learning about sports and physical fitness. Through a combination of education and entertainment, the sports park aims to inspire children to live active, healthy lives.

For the 2024 season, The Sports Legends Experience will open on March 16 and remain open daily throughout the summer.

Outdoor Sports Park at The Children’s Museum

The Sports Legends Experience features 12 outdoor sports experiences and an indoor exhibit. These experiences allow children to engage in a wide range of physical activities, from running, jumping, and climbing to throwing, kicking, and shooting pucks and balls. The exhibit also includes interactive displays that teach children about the history and science of sports.

You’ll spend hours exploring the more than 7.5 acres and 12 interactive sports experiences that are designed to engage children of all ages and abilities, from toddlers to teenagers. Kids and their adults can play basketball, football, soccer, tennis, golf, hockey, baseball, track and field, fitness, and racing. Each experience is designed to provide children with a unique, hands-on opportunity to learn about the sport.

Outdoor sports park at The Children's Museum: Baseball Field

Outdoor Activities at The Sports Legends Experience

The football experience includes a smaller-scale replica of a football field, complete with goalposts, sidelines, and end zones. Children can run plays, throw passes, and catch touchdowns while learning about the rules and strategies of the game.

Similarly, the soccer experience includes a mini soccer field where children can practice dribbling, passing, and shooting. The tennis experience has a mini tennis court, complete with nets and rackets, where children can learn the basics of the sport.

Sports Park at The Indianapolis children's museum: Basketball courts

The outdoor sports park also includes interactive displays that teach children about the history and science of sports. For example, the racing experience includes a display that explains the physics of racing and the aerodynamics of race cars.

A centerpiece for the sports park, the towering Tree of Sports stands tall over the entire space. This impressive climbing structure invites kids and adults alike to explore the various levels of its trunk and branches. Hunt for designs that pay homage to a variety of sports and activities, get an amazing view of the Sports Legends Experience from the highest viewing platform or take a ride down the slide. A lift to the 9-foot viewing platform is available, making the Tree of Sports accessible for all.

Indoor Galleries at The Sports Legends Experience

In addition to the outdoor experiences, The Riley Children’s Health Sports Legends Experience also features indoor exhibits: the National Art Museum of Sport, the World of Sport, and a rotating exhibit gallery that currently features “Power Play” with the Indy Fuel hockey team.

The National Art Museum of Sport features a collection of works of art inspired by sports, including paintings, sculptures, and photographs. The exhibit teaches children about the role of art in sports and the importance of creativity and self-expression.

The World of Sport is an interactive exhibit that allows children to explore the culture and careers surrounding sports. Children can experience the challenges faced by world-class racing pit crews as they race the clock to change tires on a model car. Guests can also step in front of the camera and practice their abilities as a TV sportscaster. The exhibit also features hands-on training activities, such as a balance beam, a basketball shooting game, and a rowing challenge, designed to teach children about the science of sports in a fun and engaging way.

Power Play introduces children to the Indy Fuel, Indianapolis’ local ice hockey team, and the sport of ice hockey. There are many hands-on, interactive activities for kids and adults to learn all about the game and some popular culture surrounding it.

FAQ’s About The Sports Legends Experience

We’ve created a special spot right here to get all of your questions answered about the sports park at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. We have some FAQs WITH answers.

Sports Park: Race cars at The Children's Museum of Indianapolis

What should we wear to the Sports Legends Experience?

Dress for the weather. The outdoor sports park will not be open when it’s freezing out. Wear sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat when it’s sunny. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Pedal Car Racetrack Experience requires that children wear closed-toe shoes and be at least 42” tall to participate.

For all other experiences, closed-toe shoes are strongly encouraged for the best, safest experience.

Do members get to visit The Riley Children’s Health Sports Legends Experience during special times?

Yes! Members have access to featured areas of the sports experience during Member Morning Weekends on the first Saturday and Sunday of each month. Keep an eye out in your member eNews to see what areas will be featured, and what special activities will be planned!

Sports Park: Soccer fields at The Sports Legends Experience

When is the busiest time to visit The Riley Children’s Health Sports Legends Experience?

School audiences visit mid-April through the end of May, every weekday, from 10 a.m. to about 11:30 a.m. Consider choosing a different time to avoid school groups and extra crowds. On Thursdays and Fridays, there are fewer school groups on site. We also found that it wasn’t crowded at all in the evenings!

What kind of extra parking will be available at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis?

Additional parking spots are available on surface lots just north of the parking garage. Also, during peak visitation, museum staff park offsite in order to free up more parking spaces for visitors and members. Parking at the Children’s Museum, whether in the garage or the surface lots, is always free!

Do we have to pay extra to get into The Riley Children’s Health Sports Legends Experience?

No! The outdoor sports park space is included in your membership and in the cost of admission. You’ll get to visit both the indoor and outdoor spaces for the same price. Members also have access to both the museum and The Riley Children’s Health Sports Legends Experience.

Guests paying $6 admission on First Thursday Nights will have access to both The Riley Children’s Health Sports Legends Experience AND The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. Additionally, if you are an Indiana Access Pass holder, you can pay $2 any day and access The Children’s Museum and The Sports Legends Experience.

What is the benefit of being a member, other than admission?

You’ll be eligible for discounts on sports tickets for local teams and community connections (Monster Jam, Disney on Ice, etc). You have unlimited admission to The Children’s Museum including The Riley Children’s Health Sports Legends Experience.

If you have a +2 membership, you can bring 2 guests along and they’ll also have early access to previews and other member benefits.  You can upgrade to this level at any time during your membership. Additional guest tickets can be purchased for 10% off. Donor levels can have a named caregiver who can bring your children for you — yay for the babysitter/nanny or grandparents!

Is The Riley Children’s Health Sports Legends Experience a good area for little kids to play?

We previously mentioned the walking track at the sports park. It’s a great space for stroller walks. Also, there are toddler-sized hockey, soccer, and basketball goals. You’ll love the toddler golf course because it has small clubs, an easier course, AND it’s corralled in!

I have a question about my membership.

Send an email to Customerservice@childrensmuseum.org or call 317-334-4000.

How do I buy a membership to The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis?

Get your membership right here. Are you visiting just once? You can also buy tickets for The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis in advance and save money.

Are there discounts for admission to The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis?

Yes! You can find information about $6 Thursdays, Free Admission Days, the Indiana Access Pass, and more museum admission discounts on Indy with Kids.

Did you know there are more amazing children’s museums in Indiana? Start exploring with this list!

Give your young sports fan the gift of a Kids Club membership for one of Indy’s sports teams.

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