By Milt Grissom, IPA Board President
Do the Right Thing
Recently I attended the annual reception sponsored by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and the Indiana Land Protection Alliance (IPLA). ILPA represents over 25 Indiana Land Trusts with similar goals of preserving land and water. These land trusts can often act more quickly than DNR to acquire land that may be threatened. The members and managers of land trusts provide local engagement and knowledge. Indiana State Parks and Nature Preserves have benefited greatly from the efforts of these organizations.
The keynote speaker was former Governor Mitch Daniels. Governor Daniels is passionate about preserving land and, as he put it in his speech, to “do the right thing”. He talked about the need for people come together, involving youth and young adults in setting aside “screen time” and connecting with the outdoors. Although he has been out of office for 14 years, when tough decisions were in front of him, he did the right thing. His legacy of acquiring land for conservation and for finishing projects, long delayed by government bureaucracy, will be honored by a reflection bench at Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area in Greene County.
Fee Increases Support Indiana State Parks
Do the right thing! The Indiana Natural Resources Commission in late 2025 approved fee increases for the Indiana State Parks. The fees for park entrance and camping had not been increased for over TEN years. Indiana State Parks are a model for the nation for operating within its budget and functioning with minimal General Fund support from taxpayers in Indiana for operational expenses. The fee increases will help with much needed funding due to budget cuts in 2025.
Agencies such as the Indiana Department of Natural Resources will soon be preparing their budget requests for operational dollars, much-needed preventive (often deferred) maintenance, and capital improvements for the next biennium (Fiscal Years 2028-2029). Our public lands are economically important to small communities, not to mention a tremendous source of pride. Stay in touch with your State Representative or State Senator and remind them how much you enjoy Indiana State Parks and Indiana’s Nature Preserves. Ask them to “to do the right thing” when the budget proposal comes before them in the next legislative session in early 2027.
Trails for Tomorrow – Join Us to Meet a $10,000 Match Gift!
As a key element of our strategic plan, the Indiana Parks Alliance is continuing our focus on Trails for Tomorrow. Trail use is the number one activity in state parks and nature preserves. We are wrapping up the funding of wayfinding trail maps for six state parks thanks to your donations. IPA has received a pledge of an additional $10,000 in a one-to-one matching grant to provide wayfinding trail maps at more properties. Our goal is to have the new pledge matched by Labor Day, September 7, 2026. We invite YOU to “do the right thing” and help us generate funds so that we can receive the entire match. Watch for a letter with additional details coming to all IPA members soon! You can get ahead of the game by donating online at https://indianaparksalliance.org/donations/.
Milt