White River Bluffs
Photo by Emily Schwank
Land Trust closes deal to buy final 3.1 acres from Highland Country Club
Written By: Jen Schmits Thomas
Date Published: February 6, 2020
Jen Schmits Thomas
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 6, 2020
Unique hanging garden to attract butterflies at White River Bluffs nature preserve
The Central Indiana Land Trust Inc. (CILTI) has closed on its final purchase of land from Highland Golf and Country Club, which means the land-conservation organization can proceed with plans to open White River Bluffs Nature Preserve in 2021.
The $2.9 million effort establishing White River Bluffs will preserve forever 12.2 wooded acres along the White River and adjacent to the club that was established in 1919.
Located east of Michigan Road between 56th and 52nd streets along the river, White River Bluffs features some of the oldest trees in Indianapolis growing on a steep bluff above the river. Bald eagles frequent the area and nest nearby. The result of gravel deposited by glaciers 12,000 years ago, the new preserve’s delicate slopes represent a unique geologic feature in the city. It offers stunning views of the downtown skyline and a perspective that makes Hinkle Fieldhouse look almost like a boat floating in a sea of trees.
“This project has attracted more donors and partners than any of our preserves to date because of its unique location, features and potential,” said Cliff Chapman, executive director of the Central Indiana Land Trust. “More than 90 donors from all over the U.S. acknowledged this special area and saw the importance of preserving the land as a natural area.”
CILTI is working on plans for a trail and an 80-foot-tall hanging garden that will provide host plants and nectar sources for butterflies. With thousands of milkweed plants, little bluestem, prickly pear cactus, purple coneflower, blazing star, rattlesnake master and violets, the hanging garden will attract such butterflies as monarchs and black swallowtails.
“We visualize thousands of butterflies fluttering above the White River every summer,” added Chapman.
Highland had considered selling to a developer for a residential project, but the club has worked closely with CILTI to find a use that will best serve the community for generations.
“We’re thrilled to have a nature preserve adjacent to our club. Since entering into this partnership with CILTI, the Highland Golf and Country Club has done nothing but grow,” said Greg Sabens, director of membership and club operations at Highland Golf and Country Club. “We found a way to work together with our community to create something we can all share and will benefit us at Highland as well as provide public access to some of the best views in the city of Indianapolis from on top of those bluffs.”
Negotiations began in 2015, then CILTI purchased part of the land a year later. Since then, CILTI completed an erosion-control project and has begun work to remove invasive species from the property. The new acreage will be part of the restoration vision of the preserve and was necessary for a loop trail.
Donors to this project include the following.
Amos W. Butler Audubon Society
Central Indiana Community Foundation
Christel DeHaan Family Foundation
Highland Kessler Civic League
Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis, Inc.
Jungclaus-Campbell Co. Inc.
Lilly Endowment Inc.
Nicholas H. Noyes, Jr. Memorial Foundation, Inc.
Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust
SPM Foundation, Inc.
Sutphin Fund, a fund of the Indianapolis Foundation
The McKee Foundation
Members of the Central Indiana Land Trust
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.
Stacy Cachules
Chief Operating Officer
Among her many key duties as Assistant Director, Stacy has the critical task of tracking our budget, making sure we channel donations for maximum efficiency. When her workday’s done, Stacy loves to spend time with her two young boys—and when not traveling, she’s likely planning the next travel adventure.
Ryan Fuhrmann
Vice 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
Development Systems Manager
Born and raised in Central Illinois, David spent many days as a child wandering around the river, forest and lakes there. He works behind the scenes as a key member of our fundraising team. 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.
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 Specialist
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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