Indiana Parks Alliance

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!

A Conversation With Dan Bortner
(2/12/24)

Hear the Latest News on Indiana’s Parks & Nature Preserves.

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.

An anonymous donor has pledged to match all donations to our “Trails for Tomorrow” campaign during the next three months, up to a maximum of $10,000. We need your donations, to help support trail and trailhead improvements at state owned nature preserves lacking such amenities…

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE AND TO DONATE!

President’s Message

Conservation Thoughts
By IPA President, Tom Hohman

I was saddened during a recent trip to McCormick’s Creek State Park to learn that the March 31^st 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