Bryan Park

Bryan Park was purchased in January 1951 for $1. The name "Bryan" refers to William Lowe Bryan, President of Indiana University from 1902-1937. Bryan Park Pool, built in 1959, is open seasonally, Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Quick Park Information

• Features:
• Restroom: Open seasonally. Located approximately 500' southeast of the Henderson Street/East Allen Street parking lot and juvenile playground.
• Parking: Six different parking lots are available for use by park visitors. Overnight parking is not permitted in any Bryan Park parking lot.
  • Asphalt-surface parking lot at Henderson Street and Dixie Street, with parking for 25 vehicles plus four designated handicap accessible spaces
  • Asphalt-surface parking lot at Henderson and East Allen Streets, with parking for 32 vehicles plus two designated handicap accessible spaces
  • Asphalt-surface parking lot at South Stull Avenue with spaces for 18 vehicles plus three designated handicap spaces
  • Asphalt surface parking lot on South Woodlawn Avenue across from the tennis courts, with spaces for 20 vehicles plus two designated handicap accessible spaces
  • Asphalt surface parking lot at South Woodlawn Avenue and East Southdowns Drive, with spaces for 85 vehicles plus seven designated handicap accessible spaces
  • Asphalt surface parking lot with spaces for 93 vehicles plus five designated handicap accessible spaces at South Woodlawn Avenue just south of Bryan Park Pool. 

Picnic Shelters

• Bryan Park Henderson Shelter, with grill and access to water (seasonally). Max. 30 people.
• Bryan Park North Shelter, with grill, access to water, and electricity. Max. 30 people.
• Bryan Park Woodlawn Group Shelter, with two grills, electricity, lights, access to water, and a drinking fountain. Max. 72 people. 
• Reserve a picnic shelter
• List of all reservable picnic shelters in city parks.

Bryan Park is a Level I Accredited Arboreta

New Playground in Bryan Park Open June 28, 2024

The Board of Park Commissioners at their Dec. 12, 2023 meeting, approved a contract with Snider Recreation, Inc. of North Royalton, Ohio for the purchase and installation of new playground equipment and poured-in-place rubber safety surfacing at the Bryan Park 5- to 12-year-old playground.

This project replaced the existing 24-year-old playground located just off Henderson Street at the south end of Bryan Park. Parks and Recreation conducted an online public playground survey in February 2023 to learn from community members the types of play equipment desired in the new playground. A total of 402 surveys were received. An in-person and virtual public meeting was held March 2 to receive additional community input and feedback for this project, and share the results of the community survey.

The results of the survey provided staff with a means to prioritize specific playground features to be included in the design. A Request for Proposals was issued and seven companies responded with playground designs. Staff representatives evaluated the submissions and selected the playground from Snider Recreation.

The total amount for this contract is $179,256, which is for the installation of equipment and the materials/installation for the rubberized surfacing. The Department will purchase the play equipment from Snider Recreation separately through a cooperative purchase agreement for a total of $180,514. The entire project will total $359,770.

Mayor Kerry Thomson, Deputy Mayor Gretchen Knapp, and Parks & Recreation staff gathered with Kid City Summer Camp and dozens of playground enthusiasts on June 28, 2024 to cut a ribbon and officially open the new playground.