Geothermal Pond

FOUNDATION PROJECTS

GEOTHERMAL POND

GEOTHERMAL POND AT EARTH DISCOVERY CENTER

GEOTHERMAL POND AT EARTH DISCOVERY CENTER

Eagle Creek Park was awarded a $50,000 3Mgives Eco Grant to build a geothermal pond behind the Earth Discovery Center, which the outflow is driven by the source of heating and cooling for the facility. However, construction required more funds and the Eagle Creek Park Foundation was able to give $30,000 to supplement the project.

The new addition adds another dimension to the Earth Discovery Center’s robust programming by creating an educational habitat adjacent to the building, which allows for a new, accessible, and immersive pond study program. It’s large enough to accommodate a school group of 30-40 kids, and allow them to dip-net for frogs tadpoles, and aquatic insects. This adds to their studies and analysis in the center’s wet lab.

FUNDING PROVIDED

$50,000

Grant secured through 3M Gives

 

IMPACT:

ACCESSIBLE EDUCATION COMPONENT FOR EXPLORING WILDLIFE, SERVING 30-40 STUDENTS AT A TIME 

 

Carlsen Aviary

FOUNDATION PROJECTS

Carlsen Aviary

Carlsen Aviary

Carlsen Aviary

The raptor ambassadors at the Ornithology Center have delighted and inspired guests to learn more about birds, raptors, and their conservation for several decades. However, until the Carlsen Aviary, visitors rarely saw most of the raptor ambassadors. That all changed with the new aviary; starting in 2024, five of the seven raptor ambassadors will be displaced on a permanent or semi-permanent basis. 

The Foundation gave $17,000 to support design and construction of the aviary on top of $25,000 raised by Amos Butler Audubon Society.

 

FOUNDATION PROVIDED

$17,000

Additional $25,000 raised by Amos Butler Audubon Society

 

IMPACT:

A more appropriate home for the raptor ambassadors and more access and education for the public

 

Wildlife Education

 

At the Ornithology Center, the top priority is the safety and welfare of the birds. The Carlsen Aviary provides comfortable lodging for our raptor ambassadors, now always on display for the public. Anyone can visit their favorite raptor ambassador during park hours and learn about the birds and their wild counterparts.

The aviary provides ample opportunities for the naturalists at Ornithology to teach the public during feeding time and other programming. Whether they saw Obi the barn owl or Matilda the turkey vulture, guests walk away with a better understanding of these incredible birds and how they fit into the wider world.

Carlsen Aviary Gallery

Earth Discovery Center

FOUNDATION PROJECTS

EARTH DISCOVERY CENTER

CONSTRUCTION OF EARTH DISCOVERY CENTER

EARTH DISCOVERY CENTER CONSTRUCTION

The old park visitor center drew around 40,000 guests per year, half of which were school-aged children from kindergarten to fifth grade. And at the time, the park offered a variety of learning programs, but only had the capacity to hold one class at a time.

With this in mind, the Foundation sought to design a new Earth Discovery Center to better serve youth, and anyone else interested in learning more about nature and science during their visit to the park.

We formed focus groups and queried local educators on what type of facility would best suit their needs. Soon, we created a capital campaign to construct a new nature center and cover the cost of programming.

Other key contributors were Lilly Endowment, Inc., Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust, and the city of Indianapolis.

 

FOUNDATION PROVIDED

RESEARCH, DESIGN, BUILD

Raised funds via capital campaign. 

 

IMPACT:

PROVIDES ADDITIONAL ECOLOGY EDUCATION TO K-12 STUDENTS.

 

MARINA CONCERT STAGE

FOUNDATION PROJECTS

MARINA CONCERT STAGE

CONCERTS AT THE MARINA AT EAGLE CREEK PARK

MARINA CONCERT STAGE

Eagle Creek Park’s “Jazz on the Point” music series at the Marina first gained popularity in 2006, so naturally we wanted to see it become a permanent music venue complete with a central stage to facilitate musicians. Park staff and volunteers assisted us with the construction, and the stage is also available to rent as well.

Now, Indy Parks also presents the acoustical “In Concert with Nature” series, which takes place in conjunction with the jazz series on rotation every Wednesday evening at 6:30pm from June through August.

It’s a great spot right to unwind by the water mid-week, enjoy a picnic (or watch from the water!), and appreciate “natural” talent and tunes. Concerts and parking are free with park admission, and concessions are also available.

 

FOUNDATION PROVIDED

ALL CONSTRUCTION 

Provided by park staff and volunteers.

 

IMPACT:

DRIVES PARK ENGAGEMENT AND FACILITATES ART IN THE PARK

 

Nature Center

FOUNDATION PROJECTS

NATURE CENTER RENOVATION

Renovation of the Nature Center into the Ornithology Center

Renovation of the Nature Center into the Ornithology Center

With the assistance of generous grants from Amos Butler Audubon Society, Nature Center & Sanctuary, Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust and Wild Birds Unlimited, the Foundation provided funding for all supplies needed (except for carpet) to completely renovate the old Feldman Nature Center into the Eagle Creek Ornithology Center.

 

FOUNDATION SUPPORT

SECURED ALL FUNDING REQUIRED

 

IMPACT:

ENABLES THE STUDY OF BIRD SPECIES AT EAGLE CREEK PARK

 

Fitness Trail Renovation

FOUNDATION PROJECTS

FITNESS TRAIL RENOVATION

FITNESS TRAIL RENOVATION – 56th Street Entrance

FITNESS TRAIL RENOVATION

The Foundation provided $9,200 (half of the total cost) to replace the 20 old exercise stations with new equipment, along with signage supplied by Indy Parks.

Visitors can jump on the trail near the 56th Street entrance, and enjoy a workout with 32 self-guided exercises, along with some help from signage on how to monitor your heart rate.

 

FUNDING PROVIDED

$9,200

About half of the total cost

 

IMPACT:

PROMOTES VISITOR ENGAGEMENT AND TRAIL USAGE THROUGHOUT THE PARK.

 

Raptor Training

FOUNDATION PROJECTS

RAPTOR TRAINING

RAPTOR TRAINING – ORNITHOLOGY CENTER

RAPTOR TRAINING at the Ornithology Center

The Foundation sent Ornithology Center Naturalists Anne Cecere and Brittany Davis to a four-day raptor training program Oct. 8–11, 2013 at the well-known University of Minnesota Raptor Center in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Anne and Brittany joined a group of 20 educators from across the U.S. and Canada to receive 12 hours of clinical and hands-on medical training, and 10 hours of training focused on their educational birds using operant conditioning. They each performed necropsy on dead raptors, inserted feeding tubes, wrapped broken wings, treated bumblefoot, diagnosed zoonosis, and administered fluids, medical check-ups, and eye exams. Additionally, they prepared the diet for 20 different raptor species.

By touring the raptor facility, they were also happy to learn that the Ornithology Center’s newly renovated mews (cages) were right on track for Eagle Creek’s captive birds. The pair brought back some new ideas of perches, tethers, and enrichment toys to implement at the Ornithology Center, which Foundation members also helped fund.

 

FOUNDATION PROVIDED

FOUR-DAY TRAINING SESSION

University of Minnestoa Raptor Center

 

IMPACT:

HANDS-ON CLINICAL TRAINING FOR CARE OF RAPTOR SPECIES

 

Directional Signage

FOUNDATION PROJECTS

DIRECTIONAL SIGNAGE

DIRECTIONAL AND WAYFINDING SIGNAGE – EAGLE CREEK PARK

WAYFINDING AT EAGLE CREEK

The park’s 27-year-old signs needed to be replaced, so we supplied Indy Parks with $15,000 to order and install newer sturdier signage for visitors.

 

FUNDING PROVIDED

$15,000

 

IMPACT:

BETTER NAVIGATION FOR VISITORS THROUGHOUT EAGLE CREEK PARK

 

Outdoor Migration Game

FOUNDATION PROJECTS

BIRD MIGRATION GAME

OUTDOOR BIRD MIGRATION GAME

BIRD MIGRATION GAME

The Ornithology Center hosts a variety of programs in the classroom, but naturalists wanted to design an interactive experience for youth by building an outdoor migration game. The purpose of this educational area is to engage the physical aspect of what children learn about migration in the classroom.

The game mimics a flyway demonstrating different hazards birds might face en route to their breeding ground, which includes ropes, balance beams, climbing walls, streams and more! The Foundation gave $4,500 to support this environmental program on top of $11,000 raised by Cummins.

 

FOUNDATION PROVIDED

$4,500

Additional $11,500 raised by Cummins

 

IMPACT:

ECOLOGY EDUCATION FOR STUDENTS RELATED TO LOCAL BIRD POPULATION.

 

OTHER PROJECTS

FOUNDATION PROJECTS

OTHER FOUNDATION PROJECTS

ADDITIONAL FOUNDATION PROJECTS AT EAGLE CREEK PARK

OTHER FOUNDATION PROJECTS

  • Development of a fully accessible playground
  • Construction of wildlife observation and presentation decks
  • Establishment of three year-round art shows
  • Development and improvements to wildlife habitats and educational exhibits
  • Construction of the Edesess Trail
  • Restoration of the wetlands
  • Development of cross-country ski trails
  • Establishment of an eagle statuary
  • Implementation and updates to Eagle Creek Park’s 1997 Master Plan

 

FOUNDATION PROVIDES

FUNDING, DEVELOPMENT

Provided by park staff and volunteers.

 

IMPACT:

PROTECT, PRESERVE, PROMOTE AND ENHANCE EAGLE CREEK PARK.