Due west of Indianapolis, along US Highway 36, you will find the suburb of Avon, Indiana. The United States Census Bureau calculates Avon's population at 13,709 in 2013, representing a 600 percent growth since 1999. What draws residents to this west side community?
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Avon's retail scene has exploded in the past decade. You can get everything from groceries to home furnishings without leaving town. Grocers like Kroger, Target, and Fresh Thyme cater to the health conscious grocery shopper with a wide selection of organic offerings. Wal-Mart, Aldi, and Meijer are available as well for the more budget conscious shopper. Several big box retail stores call Avon home, such as Best Buy, Staples, Michael's, Home Goods, Dick's, Gander Mountain, Ashley Furniture, and Gordman's. All of these stores are conveniently located in the business district along US Highway 36 for easy access.
Coffee shops, chain restaurants, and delicious locally owned establishments provide respite for the weary shopper. Ethnic fare abounds in Avon. Try Pho 36, Bangkok Kitchen, or Kimigasuki Japanese Steakhouse for authentic Asian food. La Hacienda, El Rodeo, and Los Rancheros deliver excellent Mexican cuisine. For upscale dining try Charobono's, one of the best restaurants in Hendricks County. Avon has the regular complement of pizza, fast food, and chain restaurants as well.
Avon has several choices for entertainment. Catch a movie and the local cineplex, play indoor miniature golf under the black lights, or let the kids run free at Chuck E. Cheese or the locally owned indoor bounce house facility. If you are leaving the kids at home for an adults-only evening, you will find plenty of watering holes with live music for your listening pleasure.
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The Avon-Washington Township Parks system offers ample opportunity to get out and get moving. The Washington Township Park and Town Hall Park are centrally located and free to all visitors. With more than five miles of hiking paths, paved jogging paths, and natural trails suitable for mountain biking, getting out into nature has never been more fun. Make an early morning visit to the IU Health sponsored outdoor fitness station to get your day started right. Gather with friends to fish in one of the three park lakes, play volleyball on the only sand court in Hendricks County, or play a pick-up game of hoops.
The park system offers several amenities that will draw your little ones outdoors as well. They will love hiking the trails with mom and dad, visiting the lakes, and making excellent use of the standard playground equipment. The Washington Township Park's splash pad offers a cool respite from the summer heat and the shaded story walk will engage your youngest bookworms.
In addition to the excellent parks system, Avon is home to the only YMCA facility in Hendricks County. In addition to youth sports programs, adult exercise facilities, and a world-class pool, the facility is home to a number of medical offices as well. Built in partnership with the Hendricks Regional Health hospital system, the YMCA building houses primary care, physical therapy, cardiac rehab, and nutritional counseling offices.
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The Avon Community School Corporation is considered one of the best school systems in central Indiana. The corporation has seven elementary schools, two intermediate schools, two middle schools, and one high school serving more than 9,000 students in pre-K through grade 12. With a 97.3 percent graduation rate, the corporation scores well above state averages across all grade levels on the state administered ISTEP+ tests. Students at Avon High School can choose from a full selection of AP academic courses, extra-curricular clubs, and athletic teams to make their high school experience memorable and productive. Avon is probably best known for its marching band which participated in the 2012 Rose Bowl parade, was the 2014 Bands of America Regional Champion, and won the 2014 Indiana State Music Association Class A competition.
After finishing high school, students can continue on to any one of Indiana's excellent state or private universities such as Indiana, Purdue, Ball State, Butler, or Notre Dame, among others. Students who would like to remain closer to home can take advantage of Indiana's community college system. Ivy Tech's satellite location in the Avon Beechwood Shopping Center is one of fourteen locations throughout central Indiana. Ivy Tech allows students to earn associate degrees in high-demand fields such as information technology, healthcare, and mechanical trades. Ivy Tech's classes are aligned with degree requirements at the state sponsored university allowing students to make a seamless transfer to a four-year degree program if they wish.
While Avon offers every modern convenience within the town limits, it has retained a small town feel. Frequent community events encourage residents to come together to celebrate, whether it's a win for the hometown team or a community holiday gathering. Avon High School football games bring the community together under the lights every Friday night in fall with a bonus opportunity to enjoy a performance from the award-winning marching band. The town holds holiday events and numerous summer celebrations on the park grounds. Every summer, the community gathers at Ribfest to enjoy excellent food and an exciting fireworks display.
