Spring Newsletter 2025

Spring 2025

Spring 2025 Newsletter

Spring Newsletter 2025

Eagle Creek Park Foundation has been going through an exciting period of change and growth and we want to thank you for being a part of it! For many reasons, we’ve decided to change the format and frequency of our newsletter.

We hope you like the new format and would love to hear from you. You can reach out to adam@eaglecreekpark.org with comments, questions, or things you’d like to see featured in the next newsletter.

New Blog > Adam’s Understory

Give Back: Partner Pass Program

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Adam’s Understory

Adam’s Understory S1P1 What’s an Understory?

What’s an understory? It makes the forest and the park possible

What’s an Understory?

In ecology, the “understory” is the layer of life beneath the forest canopy—where shade-loving plants grow quietly, often overlooked. At Eagle Creek Park, it’s where you’ll find wild violets and ginger, young trees, and yes, even invasive honeysuckle.

But the understory isn’t just about plants—it’s the quiet work, thoughtful choices, and everyday moments that help the park thrive. The understory sustains Eagle Creek as more than a destination. It makes the park a place where people connect with nature, each other, and something bigger than themselves.

In my new blog series, Adam’s Understory, I’ll share seasonal reflections and behind-the-scenes stories that don’t always make the headlines—but still shape the park we all love.

Read the first blog >

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Park Events

May 2025

With April showers thoroughly dousing the park (and a tornado, too!), it’s time to enjoy some warmer weather, spring wildflowers, and the spectacular seasonal migration of birds through Eagle Creek Park.

The park has provided their monthly calendar for May 2025, which features Bird Fest and some regular programming that happens every month in the park. Download the .pdf below to see those details.

Get the May Schedule

Past Event: WildFlower Weekend

Hosted at: Earth Discovery Center >

April 18 – 20, 2025

Wildflower Weekend at Eagle Creek Park showcased over 30 wildflower species, including Trout Lily, Bloodroot, and Drooping Trillium, despite rainy conditions.

The event raised over $2,000 through t-shirt and native plant sales (curated by Manager Dawn VanDeman), benefiting the Earth Discovery Center’s animal ambassadors that serve thousands of field trip visitors annually.

If you’d like to support the Earth Discovery Center, you can give to the Earth Discovery Fund here >

Five individuals wearing matching black t-shirts with a floral design, posing together outdoors.

A woman with short red hair smiles while holding a jar filled with flowers in a public space.

A person sitting on the ground showing a turtle to a group of people during an outdoor activity.

Cluster of Virginia bluebells with blue and purple flowers surrounded by green leaves.

Group of small pink flowers with green leaves growing among dried leaves and grass.

Cluster of blue violets with green leaves growing near a log in a natural setting.

Close-up of pink blossoms on an Eastern Redbud tree branch with green background.

Close-up view of a yellow dandelion flower with numerous petals and a central cluster.

Wildflower Weekend Gallery from 2025

Upcoming: BirdFest ’25

Hosted at: Eagle Creek Ornithology Center >

May 11 – 12, 2025

Birdfest celebrates migratory birds heading north for summer, complementing Wildflower Weekend’s spring celebration!

Join expert naturalists from the Ornithology Center and visiting specialists for guided hikes all weekend, including Mother’s Day! Join to spot warblers, sandhill cranes, and more. See the schedule graphic and event list below.

This fundraiser supports the Ornithology Center’s raptor ambassadors, providing food, care, and veterinary services for these birds that engage visitors from across the Midwest.

If you’d like to support Ornithology Center’s work donate here >

Schedule of Events

Graphic for Birdfest 2025 featuring a yellow warbler and event details.

Schedule graphic for Birdfest at Eagle Creek Park, detailing events and times for May 10-11, 2025.

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Upcoming Foundation Events

Kid’s FREE FISHING DERBY

Time: 9 am – 1 pm

Location: Lilly Lake >

Saturday, June 7, 2025

Join us for the Eagle Creek Park Foundation’s Free Fishing Derby, a beloved tradition for over 25 years! Held on DNR’s free fishing day, no license is needed, and park entry fees are waived for families attending the event.

Kids ages 4-14 and their families are invited to this catch-and-release event from 9 am to 1 pm. Fishing poles, bobbers, and bait are provided on a first-come, first-served basis, but feel free to bring your own gear.

Click here to learn more >

Kids Fishing Derby

Iron Eagle Paddle and Run

Hosted at: Earth Creek Park Beach and Marina

Time: Boat drop starting at 6:30 am

Saturday August 9, 2025

Iron Eagle is a unique run-paddle-run adventure race designed for all fitness and experience levels. Whether you’re a seasoned athlete or just looking for a fun challenge, this race offers a scenic and exciting course through Eagle Creek Park’s trails and reservoir.

The race centers around a 1.5-mile paddle on Eagle Creek reservoir, sandwiched between two 2.6-mile runs through Eagle Creek Park’s beautiful wooded trails.

Individuals and relay teams can participate. All participants receive a medal, a t-shirt, and access to the post-race party. Click here to learn more >

> Foundation Members receive a $10 discount on registration: check email for promo code.

Kids Fishing Derby

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Recent Foundation Member Events

Member Event: Pi in the Sky Lunar Eclipse Photo Contest

March 13th, 14th

Members joined Adam to learn about photographing the moon before the March 14th Total Lunar Eclipse. Following this virtual session, participants practiced by capturing the full moon, resulting in over 40 submissions across digital camera and phone categories.

Member voting selected these two stunning “Blood Moon” images, captured around 3 am on March 14th. Congratulations to Jim and Adrian for their exceptional photographs!

Our own Adam Hibshman’s composite image of the eclipse phases taken over 3 1/2 hours, from near downtown Indy.

Camera Category

Winner: Jim Fessenmeier

Phone Category

Winner: Adrian Ball

Member Event: Wildflower Wandering

April 24th, 2025

After Wildflower Weekend, Adam and Board Vice President Tabitha led members around the Eagle’s Crest Nature Preserve loop trail (1.25 miles).

Despite its short length, the group spent nearly two hours identifying abundant wildflowers and wildlife, including jack-in-the-pulpit, drooping trillium, and late-season trout lilies.

Park staff recommended this spectacular wildflower hike, which exceeded expectations. The trail begins behind the house at the Crest and is highly recommended for your next visit!

> Get a trail map by clicking the button below.

Get West Side Trail Map

A group of people hiking along a forest trail with trees and greenery in the background.

Drooping trillium flower with large green leaves in a forest setting.

A green plant with a curled leaf emerging from the ground among dried leaves.

Individual crouching beside a log to photograph a mushroom in a forested area.

A group of hikers standing together in a forested area with trees in the background.

Close-up of spring beauty wildflowers with pink and white petals growing among green grass.

Cluster of light purple wildflowers with five petals each, surrounded by green foliage.

Golden ragwort plant featuring clusters of yellow flowers and green leaves.

Gallery of our Wildflower Wandering Member hike

If you’ve never used the Seek or Merlin Apps, they are excellent ways to learn about your surroundings at the park.

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Upcoming Foundation Member Events

Nature Journaling

In partnership with the Hoosier Environmental Council

May 22nd

Experience Nature Journaling with James Todd at Eagle Creek’s Earth Discovery Center. This session combines journaling art with meditation in a natural setting. Please bring your own journal and writing tools.

James Todd, who works with the Wild Wonder Foundation, will guide you in capturing nature’s tranquility through writing. Explore his resources and blog below.

Wild Wonder Foundation >

James’ Blog (One Bright Pearl) on Nature Journaling >

James’ Intro to Nature Journaling >

> Members will receive details & registration via email

Hand holding a colorful booklet titled 'Your Quick Start Guide to Nature Journaling' with illustrations.

Hand holding a nature journaling guide with illustrations and prompts for observation and reflection.

A group of individuals seated in a classroom, some smiling and engaging with the camera.

Nature journaling page featuring sketches of various plants and handwritten notes.

Paddles & Poetry: A Floating Writing Workshop

June 23rd

Join Angela Barnes—Foundation member, teacher, poet, and paddling enthusiast—for “Paddles & Poetry,” where nature and creativity converge on Eagle Creek Park’s tranquil waters.

Kayak through scenic views while pausing to write nature-inspired poetry in this immersive workshop. No prior kayaking or poetry experience needed—just bring your sense of adventure and love for words. Paper, pen, and kayak rentals available.

Get Angela Barnes’ book of poetry, “Tiger Out of the Cage” >

> Members will receive details & registration via email

A woman with glasses and curly hair smiling while resting her chin on her hands.

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Eagle Creek Summer Camps

Eagle Creek Park Summer Camps

Five Eagle Creek Park Day Camps still have openings (as of this writing), running from June 2nd through the end of July.

Options include Avian Adventure Camp and Tree Huggers Camp—perfect summer activities to engage the young people in your life!

Peace Learning Center Camps

Enroll your child in a summer camp experience they will cherish for the rest of their lives. Several summer camp options are still available!

Founded in 1997 as an AmeriCorps program teaching youth peacemaking and nonviolence, Peace Learning Center (PLC) sits overlooking Eagle Creek Park’s waters. From these beginnings, PLC has evolved into a comprehensive educational hub for individual and community transformation.

Over 300,000 people have participated in PLC programs, extending its influence statewide, nationally, and globally.

Check out their site or their calendar of events here >

Give Back This Spring

Give a Pass, Build a Future

We heard back from over 850 respondents from our survey in February, and our members and supporters overwhelmingly reported that they visit the park to escape the stressors of their daily lives.

If you seek peace, togetherness, and calm at Eagle Creek Park, then you’re not alone! We want to encourage you to support our Partner Pass Program to provide free access to the park for young people in Indianapolis.

With a $50 tax-deductible donation, you can provide a Foundation pass to a local charitable organization that works with young people – this ensures access to the park and all the amazing benefits of being immersed in nature.

Note: In 2024 this program was called “Buy One, Give One”. We hope the name change brings clarity to donors.

Find out more about the Partner Pass Program >

Give a Pass, Build a Future

Partner Pass Program

Give a pass to a youth-serving community partner. Help build a future

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Fishing Derby Registration

Kids Fishing Derby

Date: Saturday, June 7, 2025

Time: 9 am to 1 pm

Cost: Free!

Location: Lilly Lake >, Eagle Creek Park

Park entry, fishing gear rental, and lunch are all provided at no cost to the visitor.

The event is scheduled during a DNR Free Fishing Day.

Complete this form to let us know you’re coming. We prepare fishing gear and food for anyone who attends!

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Total Lunar Eclipse Member Event 2025

Member Events

Pi In the Sky: A Lunar Eclipse Event

Pi in the Sky: A Lunar Eclipse Member Event

Around 2:30 AM on Friday, March 14, 2025, the full moon will turn blood red in the skies over North America. A “Blood Moon” is a total lunar eclipse, and this will be the last one visible in Indianapolis for the next four years.

Unlike the 2024 total solar eclipse, you won’t need special glasses to view this event safely—since you’re looking at the moon, not the sun. This also means you can take photos of the Blood Moon much more easily than a total solar eclipse (check out our photo contest if you’re interested!).

Finally, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention that this total lunar eclipse happens to fall on Pi Day—March 14th, the annual celebration of the mathematical constant pi (π = 3.14…). Pi is all about round things, making it the perfect time to observe the round, full Blood Moon!

Member Event: Virtual Preparation for the Eclipse

Members are invited to attend our member on Thursday, March 13th, from 7 – 9 PM (the night leading into the eclipse).

Adam Hibshman, former physics and astronomy teacher, current Marketing and Program Manager for the Foundation, will help members plan to view and/or photograph the eclipse. Members can check their email before the event for the link and more information.

About the Eclipse:

For more information about this total lunar eclipse, visit this site >

Date:

Member Event: March 13, 2025

Lunar Eclipse: March 14th, 2025

Location:

Virtual

Photo Contest Details

Click here to submit a photo >

Theme: March 14, 2025 Total Lunar Eclipse

Prize: 2025 Foundation Pass

Timing: Submissions open March 14th, close on March 18th

Rules:

Submit 1-5 photos to Form. Can be Found on Social Media, email or eaglecreekpark.org/lunar-Eclipse
Two Contest Categories: phone and digital camera (can submit to both).
Submit your original photo(s) of the 3.14.25 Lunar eclipse.
Eagle Creek Park Foundation Members will vote for the winner.

Click here to submit a photo >

Photo Contest Submissions

Having trouble viewing the submission form? Click here to submit your photo >

Announcement for the Pi in the Sky Lunar Eclipse Photo Contest with details about submission and prizes.

Membership means more than park access

Voting on the Photo Contest

Members were invited to attend our virtual event to prepare for the eclipse. Then members voted on the images submitted

This event was member-only. Members receive invites to roughly monthly member events.

To find out more about Memberships and Passes click here >

Top Five Photos of 2024

TOP PHOTOS

DRUM ROLL

The top 5 photos for the 2025 Eagle Creek Park Photo Contest are in!

We are pleased to present the top 5 contenders! We now bring it to YOU to vote for your favorite.

We thank everyone who submitted photos, and we look forward to seeing all your amazing photos again this time next year!

RULES:

LIKE the ONE photo on this Facebook Post that is your favorite and that you want to see on the 2025 Eagle Creek Park pass.

The voting is open until next Thursday, October 10 at 12:00 PM.

The winner will be announced after voting closes.

Bald eagle – Adam Hibshman

Painted turtles – Courtney Brooks

Fox squirrel – Cortney Brooks

American white pelicans – Tyler Curnutt

American white pelican with carp – Mike Reppert

Winner: Courtney Brooks with “Fox Squirrel”! Congratulations to Courtney. We’ve included a preview of what the new 2025 park pass will look like (with the Foundation Membership sticker of course).

Photography

Photography at Eagle Creek Park

Capture the Beautify of Eagle Creek Park

Whether you’re shooting on film, digital, or on your iPhone, it’s hard to take a bad photography at Eagle Creek Park. With almost 5,000 acres of land and water, you’ll see something worth taking a picture of at every turn. Don’t be surprised if you fill you memory card with photos of birds, beautiful landscapes, and other wildlife.

Indy Parks hosts a Park Pass Contest every year – the winner’s photo will be the backdrop for park passes for an entire year! See details below >

Professional Photography & Commercial Filming

Per Indy parks regulations, all non-commercial photography is permitted in the Park. However commerical filming and professional photo shoots require a permit from the Park. See below for fees and permits >

Flying a Drone at Eagle Creek Park.

Eagle Creek Park shares airspace with the Eagle Creek Airport; therefore, consumer drones flown by non-professionals are not allowed.

For drone (UAS) operations, a specific application is needed, along with an FAA certified UAS pilot license and a COI. Ensure you are aware of and abide by all FAA flight rules for drone use. Drone photography/videography activities are also subject to additional fees (see below >).

A Foundation Pass Gives Back

If you plan to take photographs in Eagle Creek Park, trust us, you’ll be back. For unlimited gate entry to the Park, we recommend an Eagle Creek Park Foundation pass. Besides Park access, a Foundation pass makes you a member of the Foundation and is the easiest way to give back to the park!

Get A Pass

LOCATION:

7840 West 56th Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46254 >

CONTACT:

317-327-7110 >

HOURS:

Open Dawn to Dusk

Monday-Sunday

WEBSITE:

EagleCreekPark.Org >

Professional Photography and Commercial Filming

Professional photo or film requires a permit

Indy Parks requires that individuals and businesses who intend to capture photos or video sign an aggreement and pay daily or yearly fees (see below).

Important notes from photo/film agreement:

You must provide credit to Indy Parks and Recreation and the specific facility or location in all print materials or reproduction.
All necessary licenses, approvals, insurance, and permits must be obtained, and a Certificate of Insurance (COI) naming the Consolidated City of Indianapolis as an additional insured for $1,000,000 is required.

Rates for professional photo shoots & commercial filming

Professional Photo Shoot	$30.00/day
Professional Photo Annual Permit*	$150.00/year*
*If purchased on/after June 1st	$110.00
*If purchased on/after Sept. 1st	$80.00
Commercial Filming 4 hours or less	$200.00/day
Commercial Filming 5 hours or more	$400.00/day

You can access the agreement by clicking the button below.

Professional Photo & Film Agreement

UAS Drone Application

Submitting your permit(s)

Whether you are planning a photography shoot, filming, or to flying your drone, all permits should be submitted in person to the Park Office for processing.

The Park Office is located at 7840 W. 56th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46254, and hours are 9 am – 5 pm, Monday – Friday.

Park Pass Contest

Contest Rules for the Annual Eagle Creek Park Photo Contest:

• Photos must be of Eagle Creek Park.

• Photos should be horizontal.

• You may email up to 5 photos to indyparksCS@indy.gov.

• The top 5 photos, chosen by a selection committee, will be posted to Facebook for public voting around early October.

• Public voting usually closes around mid-October.

• The winner is typically announced in mid-October.

An Annual Tradition

Beyond professional endeavors, you can also participate in the annual Eagle Creek Park Photo Contest, presented by Indy Parks.

This yearly contest invites park enthusiasts to submit their best photographs of Eagle Creek Park, with the winning photo selected to be featured on the following year’s Eagle Creek Park Pass.

Submissions typically open through late September, with public voting for finalists and the winner announcement occurring in October.

See 2024 Finalists

Other Offerings at Eagle Creek

Waterfowl Sanctuary

Waterfowl Sanctuary at Eagle Creek Park

Eagle Creek Outfitters

Rent all the gear you need at Eagle Creek Outfitters.

Marina

Launch your kayak or paddleboard from the Marina at Eagle Creek Park.

Boat Ramp

Get in the water at the Boat Ramp at Eagle Creek Park.

Causeway

About the 56th Street Causeway at Eagle Creek Park.

Beach

Go for a swim at the beach at Eagle Creek Park!

Golf Club

Fore! Play a round at the Eagle Creek Golf Club.

Waterfowl Sanctuary

Waterfowl Sanctuary at Eagle Creek

The Iconic Hub of Eagle Creek

Jutting out from below the Ornithology Center >, looking west you’ll find the serene 125-acre Waterfowl Sanctuary. This special area, once a gravel pit, now a tranquil body of water surrounded by the old cofferdam, serves as a protected home and resting place for a diverse array of birdlife.

The iconic cofferdam trail hike> around the sanctuary is open to the public during park hours, offering a peaceful retreat for bird-watchers and nature lovers.

An amazing spot for birding >, you might spot resident Mallards, Wood Ducks, Cormorants, and the majestic Great Blue Heron. Frequent visitors can expect to see a Bald Eagle fly over with a little luck.

Fishing > is permitted from the bank with a valid Indiana State Fishing License, and the area is stocked with fish like bass, bluegill, and catfish, making it a quiet spot to cast a line.

A Foundation Pass Gives back.

For many, the bird sanctuary is their first experience with Eagle Creek Park. If you want to return over and over each season, we recommend a Foundation Pass. It grants unlimited gate entry and is the easiest way to give back to Eagle Creek Park.

Get A Pass