Founders Park

One of the better sandbox setups you’ll find in Carmel — it’s genuinely large, and kids will plant themselves there for a solid hour while you actually get to sit down. The climbing structure and tunnels keep the older ones busy, and there’s enough variety that siblings with a few years between them can both find something worth doing. Shade trees and covered seating mean you’re not baking in the sun while you watch them, which, honestly, makes or breaks a park visit in July. The restrooms are clean, the grass field opens up for a kick-around, and the whole place has that well-kept feel that tells you someone’s actually paying attention to it.