A city that’s emerging as a high-tech hub is turning to farming for its newest park, Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness announced during his State of the City address on Wednesday. Fishers chose Brandywine Creek Farms, the nonprofit organization working to eliminate hunger by providing locally raised produce to Central Indiana food pantries, to operate the 30-acre park to be called Fishers AgriPark.
The park features crop fields, some livestock, aquaponics, an outdoor classroom, farmers market and eating area, as well as beehives and honey production.
While urban farming has gained popularity in recent years, the Fishers AgriPark will be the largest park in the country that’s dedicated solely to a working farm. It also will fill a need for the Fishers community.
“Fishers AgriPark will be a new educational and environmental amenity for Fishers, enhancing our quality of life and helping to reduce hunger in our city,” said Mayor Fadness. “It also will provide opportunities for volunteers to get their hands dirty and help grow food that will be donated to local food pantries. It’s an asset unlike anything we have.”
Volunteers will help to plant and harvest produce.
“We see Fishers AgriPark as an extension of our efforts to educate people and engage visitors in agriculture,” said Jonathan Lawler, executive director of Brandywine Creek Farms. “Many Hoosiers are several generations removed from farming and give little thought to where their food comes from. This will be a very approachable place to reconnect with the land and to get involved in efforts to end hunger in our communities.”
Located at 113th Street and Florida Road, the AgriPark will feature wildflower plantings at the entrance and a parking lot. It will be open dawn to dusk during the growing season and offer day camps and field trips.
Groups, companies and individuals can register to become volunteers at brandywinecreekfarms.org. Volunteers will be needed beginning in early May for planting season and throughout the summer and fall.
About Brandywine Creek Farms
Brandywine Creek Farms is a nonprofit organization on a mission to eliminate hunger and food insecurity in Central Indiana and to set an example for farms across the country. Starting as a 77-acre farm in Greenfield, Brandywine Creek Farms has expanded to 140 total acres and includes an urban farm at Flanner House, seven acres at the Finish Line headquarters on Indianapolis’ east side, several growing-only locations and the 30-acre Fishers AgriPark. Produce is donated to food pantries and sold at affordable prices through Brandywine Creek’s Rolling Harvest mobile farm market in the summer and early fall. Information on volunteering, sponsorship opportunities and charitable giving is at brandywinecreekfarms.org.