State Parks and Nature Preserves Beauty, Charm, and Adventure Indiana Nature Preserves Discovering the Outdoors

Indiana Parks Alliance

State Parks and Nature Preserves

Working to enhance the experiences of visitors, protect our natural and cultural resources and maintain a Hoosier legacy for generations to come.

Experience Our State Parks.

Beauty, Charm, and Adventure

Our state park system manages 36 properties, 7 state park inns and 170,000 acres of land and water.

Meet The Natural World.

Indiana Nature Preserves

Nature Preserves are the most widely distributed system of protected lands in Indiana, with preserves in 65 of Indiana’s 92 counties.

Indiana State Parks and Nature Preserves

Discovering the Outdoors

You can help make a difference in the lives of the 16 million people who visit Indiana’s state parks on an annual basis and the millions more who visit state nature preserves. Join IPA today!

The Indiana Parks Alliance (IPA) is a charitable organization that supports Indiana State Parks and
state owned Nature Preserves, the resources they steward and the people they serve.

We consider ourselves an organization of “doers” who advocate for and promote these public lands and the opportunities they provide. That’s why our partners are so important to us. IPA integrates their objectives into one agenda to create a unified network of action for the natural and cultural resources and facilities in our Indiana State Parks and Indiana Nature Preserves. Our partners include state parks, state-owned nature preserves, the Indiana Natural Resources Foundation, local friends groups and YOU as a member!


Join Us For a Conversation with Dan Bortner

Last February IPA inaugurated a new concept to help members learn the latest news and developments in state parks and nature preserves.  We held a virtual one-on-one session with Dan Bortner, Director of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.  In addition to being the current DNR Director, Dan is also a past State Parks Director, giving him a unique perspective on the events and directions of that division.

On Monday, February 12, 6:30-7:30 (EST), Dan will again sit down with Tom Hohman, IPA President, and discuss what’s new with Indiana’s state parks and nature preserves. We’re also building in some time for viewers to ask questions. This is a free virtual event, but registration is required.


Trails for Tomorrow

Indiana Parks Alliance is announcing their Trails for Tomorrow campaign.
About 4 million people a year hike on state park trails.  In a recent survey, 70% of respondents said that hiking on trails was their #1 activity when visiting state parks. Indiana Parks Alliance is embarking on a major campaign to advocate with the governor’s office and legislature to restore trail maintenance funding and raise funds to supplement state funding to make trails at State Parks and Nature Preserves more sustainable and enhance the user’s experience.


President’s Message

Conservation Thoughts
By IPA President, Tom Hohman

Tom @ Prophetstown SP 2

I was saddened during a recent trip to McCormick’s Creek State Park to learn that the March 31st tornado had claimed another victim of which I was not aware.  Winds associated with the tornado also destroyed a giant, 53“ diameter ash tree in the family cabin area.   This tree was one of the largest ash trees treated by IPA as part of our program for protecting a remnant population from emerald ash borer (EAB).  

The tree was immediately adjacent to one of the cabins.  Falling limbs severely damaged that cabin and one other nearby cabin.  Fortunately, another 30” diameter ash tree in the area was undamaged by the storm.

Twenty-four ash trees in McCormick’s Creek were treated in 2021 by IPA as part of our treatment program, and scheduled to be treated again in 2024.  Most were in the Wolf Cave Nature Preserve.  This preserve is adjacent to the campground, and was also severely damaged by the tornado.  While public access to Wolf Cave has not been restored yet, due to the continued existence of hazard trees next to the hiking trails, it is believed that most of these ash trees were also lost.  Of the 24 treated in 2024, it is likely that only about 6-8 remain. Click to Read More


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Visit our News Center for current and past news articles.

News Center

Join Us For a Conversation With Dan Bortner

Last February IPA inaugurated a new concept to help members learn the latest…

Read More
News Center

IPA Helps McCormick’s Creek Tornado Recovery

By Tom Hohman As McCormick’s Creek State Park recovers from the damage inflicted…

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News Center

IPA GRANT HELPS MOUNDS STATE PARK: Bronnenberg Home

About 4 years ago water damage was discovered in the historic Bronnenberg home at…

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