BBF Hosts Tour for Indiana Department of Natural Resources
This fall, BBF staff hosted Indiana Department of Natural Resources Director Dan Bortner and Deputy Director Chris Smith for a day long tour of key projects in Muncie and East Central Indiana that have received foundation and DNR support.
Through our environmental giving interest area, Ball Brothers Foundation provides grant funding for efforts that preserve and protect land, create opportunities for children to engage with nature, reclaim and restore local waterways after years of pollution and degradation, and promote conservation practices among our region's farmers and landowners, among other efforts.
Many grants awarded by BBF have been used as matching dollars for state funding opportunities through the DNR and other agencies or have otherwise involved the DNR in permitting or approval processes.
The day together allowed BBF staff to highlight these co-funded projects and visually show the DNR the way that projects are transforming the landscape of Muncie and East Central Indiana.
Phil Tevis, Flatland Resources; Dan Bortner, Indiana DNR; Jud Fisher, BBF; Chris Smith, Indiana DNR; and Jenna Wachtmann, BBF at the recently-completed Riverside Jackson Trail.
Highlights of the tour included:
Muncie Central Levee Trail: This gravel trail creates a loop by connecting to the White River Greenway at Walnut Street and downtown Muncie at Wysor/High Street. It further connects to the Cardinal and White River Greenways at the new pedestrian bridge near Elm Street in the McKinley Park neighborhood. Beyond being a popular trail with community and surrounding neighborhood residents, the trail is also used by high school classes that use the White River as a learning laboratory. The DNR was a major funder of the trail’s construction. After the trail’s construction, BBF awarded funding to create a trailhead and parking area on the south end of the Walnut Street bridge.
White River and Cardinal Greenways: Indiana’s longest span of rail-trail, the Cardinal Greenway and White River Greenway were both constructed over the past 30 years with significant support from the DNR. BBF has been a faithful contributor assisting with long-term maintenance and operational support.
Riverside Jackson Trail: Muncie’s newest trail, this 1+ mile paved trail connects the BSU campus with residential neighborhoods west of campus and with existing trails in Muncie’s busy hotel and commercial corridor along Morrison and McGalliard roads. Funding from the DNR’s Next Level Trails program helped support trail construction, and a small grant from BBF is assisting with tree planting efforts along the trail.
Mussel Propagation: As the White River continues to transform from a historically polluted river, a growing number of aquatic species are a testament to the river’s improved health. Muncie’s Bureau of Water Quality is leading efforts to repopulate the river with mussels which act as a natural filter for the water, filtering up to 15 gallons per day per mussel. A new “propagation” and adjacent education facility on Muncie’s westside will serve as a dedicated space for breeding specific species of mussels and releasing them into the White River. This facility is the only of its kind in the state and involves partnerships with the DNR, the Indianapolis Zoo, the Nature Conservancy, and others. Funding from BBF helped to build the education facility which will allow children, students, and others to learn more about the White River and the “Pearl of Muncie,” freshwater mussels.
Dam Removal, Canoe + Kayak Launches: Over the past decade, Muncie has been a statewide leader in the removal and modification of dams along the White River. These changes improve safety for community residents, improve fish passage, and play a key role in opening up new recreational opportunities. Throughout the heart of Muncie, four of the city’s five dams have now been modified or removed, paving the way for the installation of new canoe and kayak launches. The DNR has been a key funder of dam removal/modification and also provide important permitting for the installation of launches. BBF recently announced grant funding that is helping to strategically place new launches from the city’s eastern to western gateways.
Kitselman Trailhead: The Kitselman Trailhead is a two decades+ community project that is transforming a major gateway and brownfield on the city’s eastside. A reclaimed pedestrian bridge now connects both the Cardinal Greenway and the White River Greenway and a future art features will provide a stunning vista for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists alike as they enter the city. The DNR played a key role in the removal of an on-site dam that paved the way for this project to come to life. Ball Brothers Foundation has awarded $1.1 million for development and construction.
Prairie Creek Reservoir: Prairie Creek, located to the east of Muncie, features two square miles of superior water for swimming and sailing along with 15 miles of natural shoreline. The reservoir is also home to equestrian trails, mountain bike trails, a beach, and a multi-use walking/cycling trail that connects to the Cardinal Greenway. The DNR’s Conservation Officers help to patrol the area, and funding from the DNR has been vital for trail build out and bank stabilization over many years. BBF funding has helped to provide matching funds for trail build out and other amenities at the Reservoir.