Foundation FAQ:
The Eagle Creek Park Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides volunteer and financial support to Eagle Creek Park in order to promote, preserve, protect, and enhance the park for future generations to enjoy. It is not a part of the Indy Parks system, and has no authority to make or implement park policy.
Marion County provides one of the lowest levels of financial aid for park projects compared to any similar-sized city park across the country. Funds aren’t sufficient enough to provide all the enhancements necessary to keep Eagle Creek Park the jewel of Indy’s park system. Our nonprofit is able to provide support above and beyond municipal allocations through the assistance of our membership. And through the Citizens Advisory Committee, the Foundation also provides input on issues concerning the park.
Foundation membership is a minimum $35 donation per, which is tax-deductible and valid for a calendar year. Members receive the eCurrents e-newsletter (outlining updates on the park & projects), invitations to exclusive quarterly member events, and discounts with park partners like Go Ape and the Eagle Creek Outfitters. Become a member here!
Yes – once you join as a Foundation member, you can receive an annual gate pass to the park with every additional $50 donation. You can purchase both in a single transaction. The $50 accounts for non-Marion County residents as well, which is normally $60 when purchased through Indy Parks.
If you’re a frequent visitor or neighbor of the park, an annual vehicle pass will save you money throughout the year. It’s $5 per vehicle for Marion County residents to enter the park, and $6 for non-residents. The vehicle pass is a plastic scannable card that you can keep in your wallet, or upload the bar code in the mobile app called Key Ring. Every time you visit, you can carpool with up to five guests in your vehicle. You can hike or bike into the park for $3 per visit, or purchase an annual hiker/biker pass for $35 at the gate. The annual vehicle pass also works for hiking or biking into the park with up to 5 additional people.
Yes – both passes function the same way concerning entrance into the park. The difference is where your money goes. The Foundation purchases enough passes from Indy Parks to get a bulk discount. So when you purchase a pass through the Foundation (of $50 value), 40% of proceeds from each sale stays with the Foundation to be used at Eagle Creek Park. But when a pass is purchased directly through Indy Parks, the entire price of a pass goes to the Indy Parks general fund. This includes pass purchases made at the two gatehouses, through Indy Parks website and at the park’s administrative office. If you choose to purchase a Foundation pass from the park office, please make sure you ask for a Foundation pass at the front desk, or ask for an Eagle Creek Park Foundation representative. Or you can simply purchase a Foundation pass online here!
That depends on when you get your pass. An annual pass is only good for a calendar year – from January 1 through December 31.
Not until after Labor Day. Then the price for both Foundation membership and passes is reduced by 50%.
Both are usually available around Thanksgiving for the coming holiday season. This is a perfect time of year to give back and give a membership/gate pass gift bundle to family or friends. You can purchase these gifts and/or renew here, or call us Monday through Friday from 9am-5pm.
You can get a replacement at the park office for free. It doesn’t matter if you originally purchased through the Foundation or Indy Parks.
No – monies from park passes alone are not tax-deductible. Only Foundation membership and any other contributions are tax-deductible.