New land much-needed for further county park development
A number of factors, organizations, and individuals were involved in the significant transfer of land in Hamilton County by Central Indiana Land Trust, Inc. (CILTI) to Hamilton County Parks and Recreation (HCPR).
The transfer will result in the county park department gaining 129 acres of non-developed land, referred to as Burr Oak Bend, which is comprised of land parcels that are adjacent to and near an existing canoe landing the park department currently owns and maintains.
The amount of land transferred will permit HCPR to provide increased public access and expanded passive recreation opportunities in and around Riverwood Canoe Landing, located on the banks of White River at 20814 Riverwood Ave., Noblesville. Additionally, the overlapping stewardship objectives of both CILTI and HCPR will ensure the continued preservation and protection of the land in perpetuity.
The complex transaction was set in motion 17 years ago when CILTI first provided the land on which the park department created Riverwood Canoe Landing – a public access point to White River. Measured access was achieved then by the installation of a path through the wooded bank area to the river and serviced by a small parking lot off Riverwood Avenue. The original funding CILTI used to purchase the land came from a settlement from the White River fish kill in 1999.
At a later date, Steve Schwartz, now President of the Hamilton County Council, who also serves as the Council’s Park Liaison along with his wife Lori, deeded one of the six parcels of land that now comprise what is known as Burr Oak Bend to CILTI, to ensure its proper care for the benefit of the Hamilton County community. That parcel of land was included in the recent transfer.
Another environmentally aware organization involved in the transfer, Friends of Hamilton County Parks, Inc., recognized the benefits of increasing community access to the land, as well. Members on the “Friends” board, learning that use of the canoe landing had far exceeded its capacity during the pandemic, moved to provide a portion of the funding necessary for the land transfer.
Stice
“This land transfer is made all the more important, knowing that the Indiana Department of Natural Resources lists Hamilton County as a CRITICAL County – a designation that identifies the county as significantly lacking in parkland, based on the ratio of available park space to the population it should sustain,” said Director of Hamilton County Parks and Recreation Chris Stice. “We are truly grateful to Cliff Chapman, CILTI’s Executive Director and Stephanie Paine Crossin, the organization’s Land Protection Manager, for the roles they played in making this land transfer possible, as well as our visionary elected officials and all of those groups and individuals that supported this important transaction.”
HCPR’s goal to provide passive recreation to Hamilton County residents, central to its mission, will be achieved by the installation of strategically placed, multi-use trails on the newly acquired land, serviced by a minimum of access points that accommodate a limited number of users’ vehicles.
No timeline has been set for trail development at this time. Stice anticipates that, when completed, the trails will be used and enjoyed for wildlife viewing, photography, nature education programming, running, walking and a host of other quiet recreation activities, for years to come.
To learn more about the critical mission of CILTI and how you can support the not-for-profit’s efforts, visit ConservingIndiana.org. For more information about Friends of Hamilton County Parks, Inc. visit FriendsofHamiltonCountyParks.org. Find out more about Hamilton County Parks at MyHamiltonCountyParks.com, or on the department’s Facebook page, or by calling (317) 770-4400.
This is great news.. But the parking for using these types of facilities, has always been an issue unless you go at odd times or during bad weather. Even Potters Bridge is an issue if there is any kind of function there.. It is always nice to use these kind of facilities and not battle the crowds.. But it is also nice to have a safe area for parking.. The wonderful trail that is on the corner of 38 and Hague road, called Cicero Creek Walking Path, has no parking access to walk this nice trail if you drive to it. You have to park on the grass, and be extra careful when getting out of your vehicle with the oncoming traffic. Please consider adding parking for people who would like to walk this trail.. The other trail that has no parking type access is at the end of Hague road on 32.. That looks to be part of the Midland Trace Trail that also has no parking access.. I am missing something here???. Why is Noblesville such an unfriendly place to park,… Anywhere… The other place that has bad parking for a trail is over behind the Kroger store on 146th and Hazeldell on the walking trails that run behind the Dillon Park Splash Pad.. Many of these Trails are close to newer housing additions that butt up to, or are walking or hiking distance to these trails, and they already have great sidewalks within their additions.. But many of the residents who live outside of the city, and especially on the outskirts east and the outskirts west, have no safe place to walk, with the increased traffic on the rural streets. So are looking to trail walk, but these have no parking access at these trails. And we don’t have any parks east of 37, unless you go to the canoe launch up off of 206th street and it is really not a trail or hiking location.. Just a boat launch and picnic area.. I am hoping this new Hamilton County White River Area, will have some great input for it’s design. With great trails, places to sit along the river to enjoy the water views, bathrooms, places to have quaint picnics, and a safe and secure parking area. And maybe a birding platform or elevated area to view the areas wildlife.. It would also be nice to have boardwalks over the marshy areas. And a graduated sandy area or great ramp for launching canoes, and a kayak launch. It would be great if they could put in a pier like structure that would take you out into the water.. Like a Florida type pier just Noblesville sized.. One that could withstand the flooding in that area…