This time of the year when the first snowfall arrives, residents and visitors often ask where they can find the best public places to go sledding in Hendricks County.
So, we asked that question on our Facebook page and came away with four great options and even added an honorable mention. All of the locations listed below are free to use and visitors sled at their own risk.
So, when that next big snowfall occurs, grab a sled or whatever you can find and get out and enjoy it at one of these locations:
1. Hummel Park, Plainfield
Arguably, the best overall sledding spot in Hendricks County, Hummel’s hill is located on the backside of the park off County Road 700 East (you can’t get there using the main entrance on Center Street) and is steep and wide allowing multiple people to sled at one time.
Probably the best part of this hill compared to some of the others I will describe below is how open the space is there. The only thing you may have to avoid at Hummel is other sledders.
Another bonus about this spot is parents who don’t want to get out in the cold can stay in their car and still monitor the activity as the parking lot below provides a good view of the entire hill.
2. W.S. Gibbs Memorial Park, Avon
The newest sledding hill to Hendricks County's arsenal can be found at W.S. Gibbs Memorial Park. This 30-foot-tall hill can be found at the front of the park, and was created in 2021 using the soil that was dug up to create the two ponds in the park.
The closest parking is in the disc golf course parking lot and the central parking lot. Park officials ask that participants do not sled toward the ponds, as they do not allow anyone on the ice for safety reasons.
They do install straw bales in front of a couple of trees in case someone gets way off course. W.S. Gibbs Memorial Park is operated by Hendricks County Parks & Recreation and is open from dawn to dusk daily.
3. Washington Township Park, Avon
Located near the basketball courts in the upper level of the park, this hill is great for sledding as it is steep and fast. It can be a bit dangerous if you aren’t careful, however, with obstacles like trees and fences.
Children, of course, love it for all of the above reasons.
This particular hill even created the most reminiscing from some of our Facebook fans who have fond memories of sledding there as children.
4. Bible Church, Brownsburg
This property has a couple of different spots that are perfect for sledding with the church and its parking lot in between. In my most recent visit, I saw a combination of snowboarding and traditional sledding in two different areas on the property.
Like Hummel Park, this site is fairly open making it perfect for sledding with no fear of running into obstacles.
Honorable Mention
Ellis Park, Danville
I’m told this hill on the back side of the park near the Gill Family Aquatic Center used to be better before basketball courts were added to the park in 1996. Still, this hill, which has been a local attraction for years, seems to have plenty going for it.
It is steep and the obstacles are minimal. On my recent visit, I noticed that some hay bales were added in front of a tree and a couple of the basketball poles providing sledders with a little protection.
