Indy sports site aims to get families moving
The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is upping its game with a new sportsrelated attraction aimed at getting kids — and adults — moving.
Debuting March 17 next door to the world’s largest kids museum, the Riley Children’s Health Sports Legends Experience spans nearly 8 acres, offering a slew of outdoor and indoor activities built around athletics. Admission is included in a museum ticket: $14 to $40 for adults, a bit less for children.
The $38.5 million project features scaled-down playing fields and venues where families can engage in friendly competition.
One highlight is a 20yard football field where people can practice their moves among Indianapolis Colts tackle dummies and attempt to kick a field goal. For basketball, 16 hoops are suited to all sizes and abilities. Similar facilities are available for folks who want to try their hand (or foot) at soccer, hockey, tennis and golf.
This being Indy, homage is paid to the Brickyard in the form of an oval racetrack with separate lanes for children and adults, who’ll have to use their leg power to speed their pedal cars across the finish line.
Another outdoor attraction is the 60-foot-tall Fantasy Tree House of Sports, inspired by Walt Disney World’s Tree of Life.
The outdoor portion will be open March through October, weather permitting. It will be lit at night, so that people can stay as late as 8 p.m. on select days.
The year-round indoor venue includes the new home of the National Art Museum of Sport, as well as The World of Sport, where you can learn about professional and NCAA athletes, analyze a post-game play as a sportscaster and see how fast you can change a tire in a pit-stop challenge; childrensmuseum.org.