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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.
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.