Columbia Park playground

Right off the bat, this one’s pretty no-frills — it’s a neighborhood park playground in Rensselaer that gets the job done without a lot of fanfare. The industrial surroundings nearby give it a distinctly small-town Indiana feel, which honestly isn’t a bad thing if you grew up around here. Kids can burn off energy and parents can actually relax a little. It’s the kind of spot locals know about but probably wouldn’t drive across town for — more of a “we’re already in the area” kind of stop.