News2025-05-07T09:35:29-04:00

FRIENDS IN THE NEWS

FHCPI Spring 2025 Newsletter

A Word From Our Board Chair
By: Thomas McLean, FHCPI Board Chair

Dear Friends,

If you’re anything like me, Spring is a wonderful time to look back on the past year’s successes and then take a moment to look forward to what’s to come. It is an ideal time to get outdoors more and enjoy the great trails, greenspaces, parks, and greenways our communities have to offer. You can pat yourself on the back when you look at what you have contributed to and “invested” towards in our success these last few years.

Friends of Hamilton County Parks, Inc. has grown by revisiting our original mission and developing new partnerships, projects and enhancements to our park communities in Hamilton County. Our goal is to do more for more people throughout our county, representing those who support our work.

As the current Board Chair of FHCPI, I want to personally thank each supporter, donor, volunteer, and partner for the contributions you have made to our work. Your commitment to FHCPI’s mission is truly inspiring, and we’ve made incredible progress because of it!

We now look ahead to the future, where we aim to continue the Active People Health Hamilton County initiative, grow the Youth Recreation Leader Scholarship, expand on our success of the On Par for Parks Golf Outing, and increasingly educate the community through initiatives like our Friends Park Tours. Your giving is crucial to our achieving these goals.

A series of exciting new events are also on the horizon and soon you will hear more about our Life is a Picnic launch! Stay tuned to learn more about how you can get involved!

As we embark on these exciting projects, we invite you to be part of the momentum. I am asking you to consider a gift to FHCPI that is meaningful to you because any gift—large or small–supports both our current work, and paves the way to our future initiatives.

Together, we can continue to support the parks and recreational amenities throughout Hamilton County. Thank you for your continued support!

Sincerely,

 

 

Thomas E. McLean
Board Chair
Friends of Hamilton County Parks, Inc.

Active People, Healthy Hamilton County
Grant Announcement

We’re counting down the days until April 25th, when we’ll announce the project that will be awarded the inaugural Active People, Healthy Hamilton County Grant! We received two outstanding proposals for projects that align with our mission to create recreational amenities and/or “active access” to parks and green spaces, which would in turn encourage residents to get moving and enjoy their local parks and/or recreational amenities.

We asked you to vote for your choice of a winner. Voting is now closed, but you can view both projects on our webpage by clicking the button below.

Youth Recreation Leader Scholarship
Applications Now Open

We are very excited to announce the April 1, 2025 opening of applications for the 2025 Youth Recreation Leader Scholarship Program. This scholarship is designed to increase diversity in the parks and recreation field by providing support to talented high school juniors from traditionally underrepresented groups. Five students from high schools within Hamilton County will be selected as recipients and each student will receive a $1,500 grant in September of 2025.

Register TODAY for On Par for Parks

Have you marked your calendar for the 7th Annual On Par for Parks Golf Outing? You won’t want to miss this incredible event on September 22nd, 2025 at The Sagamore Club.

You won’t want to miss this…
EARLY BIRDIE DISCOUNT
Save up to $500 when you purchase a Foursome Team and Hole Sponsorship before June 1st, 2025

The Benefits of Nature
A Guest Article Featuring Jenny Boling with The Chris Center

At Friends, we are firm believers in the power that the great outdoors holds for improving mental and physical wellness. We work hard to ensure the residents and visitors of Hamilton County have access to the benefits of nature through enhancing and promoting the parks and greenspaces of our communities.

We recently connected with The Chris Center, whose work focuses on improving mental wellness for teens and pre-teens in Central Indiana through education and experiences with nature and human-animal interaction. Jenny Boling serves as the Marketing and Content Strategist at The Chris Center, and we asked her to share more about the incredible work The Chris Center does every day to connect young people with the healing powers of nature.

By Jenny Boling
Marketing + Content Strategist, The Chris Center

At The Chris Center, we believe that spending time in nature and connecting with animals can have a profound impact on mental wellness—especially for teens and pre-teens. Our research-informed, nature-based, and animal-assisted programs are designed to equip young people in central Indiana with critical coping and mental wellness skills. Through hands-on experiences like Nature and Wellness Field Trips and Alpaca Farm Experiences with our partner schools, we provide opportunities for students to engage with the outdoors, fostering a sense of calm, connection, and resilience.

We share this belief with Friends of Hamilton County Parks, Inc., whose mission to enhance public parks and greenspaces is rooted in the understanding that time spent outdoors improves overall well-being.

At The Chris Center, we put this principle into practice not only through our nature-based programming but also through our PAWS Wellness Support Program, which offers middle and high school students the chance to interact with registered wellness support dogs during school and extracurricular activities.

These student-dog interactions can reduce stress, enhance social connections, increase motivation for learning, and provide comfort and joy—helping students feel more supported and empowered in their mental wellness journey.

By creating spaces where young people can experience the healing power of nature and human-animal interaction, we are working toward our vision of empowering teens and pre-teens in central Indiana to manage their mental wellness with confidence and strength.

The Friends Park Tour

Are you our friend on social media?

In January, we introduced The Friends Park Tour on all of our social platforms, to showcase the beauty and impact of the many parks Hamilton County has to offer. Check out our first two tours below.

First, join Jess for a snowy January walk as she explores Noblesville Parks and Recreations’ Seminary Park located on South 10th Street between Hannibal Street and Division Street

Then, check out Tobi’s beautiful March tour of Flowing Well Park, owned and operated by Carmel Clay Parks and Recreation located on 116th Street just east of Gray Road.

Be sure to follow us on all of our social platforms so you do not miss the next Friends Park Tour!

Are YOU Interested in Joining the Friends Board of Directors?

We are looking for passionate individuals to join our board
Could that be you?

Get to know one of our dedicated Board Members below, and discover how you can help shape the future of our parks.

Meet the Friends Board

Jeanne Hutcherson

The Friends Board of Directors is privileged to have Jeanne Hutcherson serve as the Chair of the Governance Committee.

Jeanne is a dedicated real estate agent with CENTURY 21 Scheetz in Carmel, Indiana. She is a lifelong resident of Central Indiana. Jeanne brings the same strong work ethic to the Board of Directors as she shows in her career in real estate. She is a proud mother of three and values the importance of family and community.

Jeanne has been previously recognized for her exceptional client service, earning multiple awards, including the Masters Diamond and Quality Service Pinnacle Producer awards. Testimonials from Jeanne’s clientele describe her as dedicated, helpful, and supportive, noting that she consistently goes above and beyond in all she does.

—-

Feeling inspired and interested in learning more about joining the FHCPI Board of Directors?
Let us know by sending an email to April Williams, Executive Director of FHCPI, at awilliams@friendshcp.org

April 22nd, 2025|

History restored: Groups partnering to refurbish 160-year-old home in Carmel’s Coxhall Gardens

 

BY ON

The Williams Farmhouse in Coxhall Gardens has changed little since being constructed in 1865. Now, nearly 160 years later, several local organizations are partnering to restore the structure and preserve it for generations to come.

Coxhall Gardens, at 11677 Towne Rd. in Carmel, is owned by Hamilton County Parks & Recreation. The Friends of Hamilton County Parks foundation helped launch the restoration initiative by donating $375,000.

“This project aligns with the Friends of Hamilton County Parks foundation and our mission to encourage and grow parks and park amenities for the benefit of all of Hamilton County,” said April Williams, executive director of the foundation. “We believe preserving history is an important piece of the future growth of our parks.”

During the mid-1800s, John Williams owned and farmed the land that later became Coxhall Gardens. According to Christy Brockton, historical resource specialist for Hamilton County Parks and Recreation, the Williams family constructed their farmhouse on the land and owned it generationally until 1962, when the Cox family purchased the site. Jesse Cox donated the home to HCPR in 1999.

“He wanted to provide an oasis in a sea of homes,” Brockton said. “So instead of this house being knocked down for subdivisions, it’s now preserved here.”

Brockton said the Williams Farmhouse is the second-oldest Italianate home in Clay Township.

“(The family was) prosperous and able to afford a house like this and construct it,” Brockton said. “The room configurations are the same as it would have been when the family owned the house. It’s still associated with the actual land it was on and the original farm.”

HCPR is working with Ball State University and the Carmel Historic Preservation Commission to develop a plan to restore and preserve the home.

“The idea is to stabilize the house, which is in pretty great shape, but also preserve the character of the home,” Brockton said.

A timeline for the project has not been set.

Home details

According to the National Register of Historic Places, the Williams Farmhouse is a 30.5-foot-by-55-foot Italianate brick-styled home, a design characterized by exteriors typically made of brick or wood, thick overhanging gutters with prominent ornamental brackets and wide cornices. It is a two-story, single-family house with an unfinished attic, a partial basement and a garage.

Its kitchen was updated with 1960 appliances and cabinets. The kitchen still has its original flooring from the 1800s. Next to the kitchen is a dining room. In the kitchen is a staircase that leads to the second floor, containing three bedrooms that have most of their original configuration. The second floor also has a bathroom that was installed in the 20th century.

The exterior of the farmhouse is fleshed out with bracket cornices and decorative vents. Its foundation consists of load-bearing masonry walls. The windows of the home are the same as they were when the home was first built. They feature a projected limestone keystone and sill. The home’s five exterior doors have their original pattern and location.

MORE INFO

April 12th, 2023|

CILTI TRANSFERS MUCH-NEEDED LAND TO HAMILTON COUNTY PARKS

 

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 Avenue, in Noblesville. Additionally, the overlapping stewardship objectives of both CILTI and HCPR will ensure the continued preservation and protection of the land in perpetuity.

Individuals that played a role in the CILTI Land Transfer of Burr Oak Bend recently gathered at the site to recognize the momentous transaction. Flanking a ceremonial Burr Oak planting are (L to R): Friends Foundation Board Members Ryan Fuhrmann, Todd Irwin, Thomas McLean and Executive Director April Williams; CILTI staff Stephanie Paine Crossin and Executive Director Cliff Chapman; HCPR Director Chris Stice; Hamilton County Council President Steve Schwartz, Hamilton County Commissioner Mark Heirbrandt, and HCPR Deputy Director Bruce Oldham. (Photo courtesy of Byron Settles, Staff, Hamilton County)

The complex transaction was set in motion seventeen 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 a respected member and 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.

Director of Hamilton County Parks and Recreation, Chris Stice states, “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.” Stice continues, “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. And find out more about Hamilton County Parks at MyHamiltonCountyParks.com, or on the department’s facebook page, or by calling 317-770-4400.

Anumber 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 Avenue, in Noblesville. Additionally, the overlapping stewardship objectives of both CILTI and HCPR will ensure the continued preservation and protection of the land in perpetuity.

Individuals that played a role in the CILTI Land Transfer of Burr Oak Bend recently gathered at the site to recognize the momentous transaction. Flanking a ceremonial Burr Oak planting are (L to R): Friends Foundation Board Members Ryan Fuhrmann, Todd Irwin, Thomas McLean and Executive Director April Williams; CILTI staff Stephanie Paine Crossin and Executive Director Cliff Chapman; HCPR Director Chris Stice; Hamilton County Council President Steve Schwartz, Hamilton County Commissioner Mark Heirbrandt, and HCPR Deputy Director Bruce Oldham. (Photo courtesy of Byron Settles, Staff, Hamilton County)

The complex transaction was set in motion seventeen 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 a respected member and 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.

Director of Hamilton County Parks and Recreation, Chris Stice states, “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.” Stice continues, “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. And find out more about Hamilton County Parks at MyHamiltonCountyParks.com, or on the department’s facebook page, or by calling 317-770-4400.

January 31st, 2022|

Friends of Hamilton County Parks, Inc. names April Williams as new Executive Director

Local nonprofit leads the state in supporting county parks while naming its new leader and its 2022 fundraising events.

One of Indiana’s largest supporters of its county’s parks, The Friends of Hamilton County Parks, Inc., (FHCPI) announced the hiring of April Williams, formerly with Trilogy Health Care Services and the Columbus Park Foundation, as its new executive director in January 2022. Williams also comes to the nonprofit from several entrepreneurial business and professional consultant endeavors.

Williams will work with the foundation board and its volunteers to secure new donors, establish a larger funding base, build community recognition, provide marketing strategy, and forge new partnerships for several key FHCPI fundraisers, including April Sensation ( April 30th, 2022) and Posh Picnic ( August 20th, 2022), events staged in cooperation with the Coxhall Guild, as well as the popular On Par for Parks annual golf outing, scheduled to take place once again at the prestigious Crooked Stick Golf Course on September 19th, 2022.

Todd Irwin, of the Noblesville, Indiana-based company, BlueSky Commerce and an FHCPI Board member, has served as the Foundation’s golf outing fundraiser for the last 4 years.

Additional details related to these and other FHCPI special events can be found on the foundation’s website at www.friendsofhamiltoncountyparks.org.

Friends of Hamilton County Parks, Inc. was formed as a 501(c)(3)in 2006 and is led by its board president, Bruce Snyder, The Snyder Financial Group, LLC, Carmel, Indiana.

When asked about Williams’ recent hire, Snyder stated “April brings to the organization a fine balance of marketing savvy, philanthropic experience, and a bevy of unique personal and professional experiences that will ensure that The Friends will navigate the new challenges facing many nonprofits in 2022 and beyond.”

Ms. Williams added, “I am delighted to be returning to the philanthropic community and especially to the parks. I know that the Hamilton County community is where I can lend my new business, resource development, marketing, and fundraising expertise, with the goal of building new opportunities for county residents and park stakeholders.”

Williams will be replacing interim Executive Director Thomas E. McLean, who served in that capacity since last year.  McLean will rejoin the board in which he served prior.

To learn more about Friends of Hamilton County Parks, Inc. and how you or your organization can support the foundation’s worthwhile mission, please continue browsing our site.

One of Indiana’s largest supporters of its county’s parks, The Friends of Hamilton County Parks, Inc., (FHCPI) announced the hiring of April Williams, formerly with Trilogy Health Care Services and the Columbus Park Foundation, as its new executive director in January 2022. Williams also comes to the nonprofit from several entrepreneurial business and professional consultant endeavors.

Williams will work with the foundation board and its volunteers to secure new donors, establish a larger funding base, build community recognition, provide marketing strategy, and forge new partnerships for several key FHCPI fundraisers, including April Sensation ( April 30th, 2022) and Posh Picnic ( August 20th, 2022), events staged in cooperation with the Coxhall Guild, as well as the popular On Par for Parks annual golf outing, scheduled to take place once again at the prestigious Crooked Stick Golf Course on September 19th, 2022.

Todd Irwin, of the Noblesville, Indiana-based company, BlueSky Commerce and an FHCPI Board member, has served as the Foundation’s golf outing fundraiser for the last 4 years.

Additional details related to these and other FHCPI special events can be found on the foundation’s website at www.friendsofhamiltoncountyparks.org.

Friends of Hamilton County Parks, Inc. was formed as a 501(c)(3)in 2006 and is led by its board president, Bruce Snyder, The Snyder Financial Group, LLC, Carmel, Indiana.

When asked about Williams’ recent hire, Snyder stated “April brings to the organization a fine balance of marketing savvy, philanthropic experience, and a bevy of unique personal and professional experiences that will ensure that The Friends will navigate the new challenges facing many nonprofits in 2022 and beyond.”

Ms. Williams added, “I am delighted to be returning to the philanthropic community and especially to the parks. I know that the Hamilton County community is where I can lend my new business, resource development, marketing, and fundraising expertise, with the goal of building new opportunities for county residents and park stakeholders.”

Williams will be replacing interim Executive Director Thomas E. McLean, who served in that capacity since last year.  McLean will rejoin the board in which he served prior.

To learn more about Friends of Hamilton County Parks, Inc. and how you or your organization can support the foundation’s worthwhile mission, please continue browsing our site.

January 25th, 2022|
Go to Top