northern long eared bat by Jason Ksepka, Creative Commons
Northern Long-eared bat by Jason Ksepka, Creative Commons
CILTI rolling out the welcome mat for endangered bats
Written By: Jen Schmits Thomas
Date Published: August 13, 2026
Jen Schmits Thomas
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Preserve expansion will create additional breeding and nursing habitat for two federally endangered species
The Central Indiana Land Trust, Inc. (CILTI) has acquired an additional 60 acres for its Wallace F. Holladay Preserve, expanding the southwest Indianapolis nature preserve to 112 acres.
The land was transferred to CILTI by Ambrose and will expand one of Indiana’s most important habitats for the federally endangered Indiana bat. The preserve is already part of the state’s largest summer population of Indiana bats and also provides habitat for the federally endangered northern long-eared bat.
“Migrating Indiana bats return to the same breeding areas year after year,” said Cliff Chapman, president and CEO of CILTI. “By expanding and restoring habitat where they already thrive, we’re creating an even better place for them to breed, raise their young and help rebuild their population.”
CILTI has been working to protect and restore this landscape for nearly two decades. In 2009, the private nonprofit partnered with bat experts to demarcate the Indiana Bat Macrosite conservation area based on research on the needs and habits of these important species.
In 2013, Holladay Properties donated the land that became the Wallace F. Holladay Preserve at AmeriPlex, named in honor of the company’s founder.
To support the newly expanded preserve, Ambrose has pledged more than $130,000 for long-term restoration and stewardship.
“Responsible development means looking beyond the boundaries of a project and considering the long-term impact we can have on the surrounding environment and community,” said Grant Goldman, executive vice president and chief operating officer at Ambrose. “We’re proud to partner with CILTI to expand this important habitat and help ensure it is protected and cared for well into the future.”
The area is a pocket of nature in a highly industrial region. The newly expanded area is not publicly accessible, but Wallace F. Holladay Preserve is open to the public and accessible from a gravel parking lot near 6204 Flynn Road. While there is not yet a trail loop, you can walk west to Stanley Road and turn back. You can also walk north across a foot bridge and walk the sidewalks along the other side of Flynn Creek.
Over the next several years, CILTI will restore and enhance habitat that is especially valuable to Indiana bats by:
- Preserving large cottonwood trees and standing dead ash trees, which female Indiana bats use as maternity roosts to give birth and nurse their pups. Indiana bats exhibit a unique communal maternity strategy, with colonies of females and their young sharing preferred roost trees.
- Removing invasive plants, specifically woody varieties such as bush honeysuckle, multiflora rose and autumn olive.
- Planting native tree species—including shagbark hickory, burr oak and white oak—that provide ideal roosting habitat and support abundant moth populations, a primary food source for bats.
Although restoring the site will take several years, the work will provide lasting benefits for these imperiled species and strengthen one of Indiana’s most significant bat conservation areas.
Mary Callaghan
Assistant Outreach Biologist, International Crane Foundation
Mary Callaghan is an Assistant Outreach Biologist for the International Crane Foundation. Her work aims to educate Indiana communities on Whooping and Sandhill cranes, their habitats, and how we can all work together to mitigate threats that these birds face. She is responsible for monitoring populations of these species on their wintering grounds across Indiana, most importantly tracking movements of the endangered Whooping Crane. Her Golden Hour presentation was one of our most popular events of 2026.
Ben Valentine
Guest Blogger
Ben Valentine is a founding member of the Friends of Marott Woods Nature Preserve and is active in several other conservation organizations. He leads a series of NUVO interviews with Indiana's environmental leaders, and he cherishes showing his son all the wonders of nature he grew up loving.
DJ Connors
Guest Blogger
DJ Connors, a Central Indiana native and late-to-life hunter, combines a lifelong appreciation for wildlife and the outdoors with a deep passion for exploring the natural beauty of the area he has called home for most of his life. As a husband and father of three, he is committed to ensuring his children have the same opportunities to connect with nature and appreciate the outdoors in their community. DJ’s unique journey into hunting emphasizes sustainability, responsible stewardship, and the importance of preserving these experiences for future generations.
Bridget Walls
Guest Blogger
Bridget is our first ever Communications and Outreach Intern. She is a graduate of Marian University, where she combined English, studio art, and environmental sciences in her degree studies. As treasurer for Just Earth, the university's environmental club, she helped plan events encouraging a responsible relationship between people, nature, and animals.
Jordan England
Guest Blogger
Jordan England is a lifelong Shelby County resident who graduated from Waldron Jr. Sr. High School (just a few miles from Meltzer Woods!). After earning her B.S. degree in Retail Management from Purdue University, she returned to Waldron to start a family with her husband, Brian. Together they have 3 young children and enjoy sharing with them their love of the community. Jordan is the Grants and Nonprofit Relations Director at Blue River Community Foundation, managing BRCF’s grant program, providing support to local nonprofits, and promoting catalytic philanthropy in Shelby County.
Cliff Chapman
President and CEO
As CILTI’s President and CEO, Cliff keeps CILTI’s focus on good science and stewardship. He’s mindful that the natural places you love took thousands of years to evolve and could be destroyed in a single day, and that knowledge drives his dedication to their protection.
Ryan Fuhrmann
Board Chair
Ryan C. Fuhrmann, CFA, is President and founder of Fuhrmann Capital LLC, an Indiana-based investment management firm focused on portfolio management. Ryan’s interest in land conservation centers around a desire to help preserve natural habitats for wildlife and the subsequent benefits it brings to people and the environment.
Joanna Nixon
Board Member
Joanna Nixon is the owner of Nixon Consulting, an Indianapolis-based strategy and project management firm focused on the nonprofit sector. She currently serves as the Philanthropic Advisor for the Efroymson Family Fund. Prior to opening her consulting practice in 2000, Joanna was vice-president for grantmaking at Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF). Joanna has more than 25 years of experience in the nonprofit and arts and culture sector. She is passionate about the environment and loves bringing big ideas to life and creating high-quality arts and culture programs and experiences. Joanna enjoys outdoor adventures, including competing in fitness obstacle course races and hiking with her high energy Australian Cattle Dog, Jackson.
Karen Wade
Board Member
Before retiring, CILTI board member Karen Wade worked for Eli Lilly & Co. In retirement she volunteers for a number of organizations, including the Indiana Master Naturalist program, Johnson County Native Plant Partnership CISMA, Meadowstone Therapeutic Riding Center, and Leadership Johnson County.
David Barickman
Director of Advancement
Born and raised in Central Illinois, David spent many days as a child wandering around the river, forest and lakes there. Now he enjoys working with CILTI donors, helping them to protect nature through their giving. When not working, David loves to be outdoors hiking, fly fishing, kayaking or woodworking.
Jamison Hutchins
Stewardship Director
Jamison leads our stewardship team in caring for the land that is so important to you. He comes to our team after eight years as Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator for the city of Indianapolis, where his work had a positive impact from both health and environmental perspectives.
Robert McCrea
Land Protection Director
Robert grew up in Bloomington, IN, where he opted for exploring the hills of southern Indiana rather than the expected high school extracurricular pursuits. This formative time set the tone for his career in conservation. Most recently, Robert was an attorney at Conservation Law Center and provided counsel to land trusts and conservation partnerships throughout Indiana. As CILTI's Land Protection Director, he works to protect Central Indiana’s remaining natural areas.
Jen Schmits Thomas
Media Relations
An award-winning communicator and recognized leader in Central Indiana’s public relations community, Jen helps us tell our story in the media. She is the founder of JTPR, which she and her husband John Thomas own together. She is accredited in public relations (APR) from the Public Relations Society of America, and loves to camp and hike in perfect weather conditions.
Shawndra Miller
Communications Director
Shawndra’s earliest writing projects centered around the natural world, starting when a bird inspired her to write her first “book” in elementary school. Now she is in charge of sharing our story and connecting you to our work. Through our print and online materials, she hopes to inspire your participation in protecting special places for future generations.
Phillip Weldy
Stewardship Manager
Phillip enjoys nature’s wonders from an up-close-and-personal perspective as he works to restore the natural places you love. As an AmeriCorps member in Asheville, NC, he had his first full immersion in relatively undisturbed land while reconstructing wilderness trails in National Parks and National Forests.
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