Lilly Endowment awards $50M for Indiana State Parks

Half of grant will focus on preserving history and enhancing guest experiences at Prophetstown State Park.

Lilly Endowment Inc. has announced the approval of a $50 million grant to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for a variety of enhancements at Indiana State Parks. DNR will use the grant to make several improvements within Prophetstown State Park and to fund upgrades across the state parks system that will improve the experience for Hoosiers who visit them.

“Today’s incredible investment from Lilly Endowment marks a significant milestone in Indiana State Parks history,” DNR Director Dan Bortner said. “Our parks are places where everyone can come together to enjoy the outdoors, and where together we strive to preserve Indiana’s natural and cultural heritage for future generations. In a world of constant change, this investment helps us protect that cherished, shared heritage.”

DNR will invest $25 million of the grant in Prophetstown State Park, Indiana’s newest state park, which last month celebrated its 20th anniversary. The park, which offers guests a unique prairie landscape at the confluence of the Wabash and Tippecanoe rivers near Battle Ground, is part of the Myaamia (Miami) homelands and was also used by other Indigenous people for thousands of years. It is the site of Prophets Town, where individuals from multiple tribes gathered with Shawnee leaders Tenskwatawa and Tecumseh from 1808 to 1811.

The investment will double the number of campsites in the park and build facilities that will foster greater understanding of the landscape and its rich Native American heritage.

“We are happy to see this investment in Indiana’s state parks,” said Scott Brewer, chair of the Native American Indian Affairs Commission and a member of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi. “We particularly appreciate and look forward to strengthening the connections that help Hoosiers understand and appreciate Native American ties to the land at what is now Prophetstown State Park.”

Investments in Prophetstown State Park include:

• Campground development, $15 million – Development will include the addition of more than 120 new full-service campsites, doubling the size of the existing campground in order to meet high demand.
• Prophetstown Heritage Area, $8 million – The area will feature facilities such as a visitors center, outdoor exhibits and a recreated Native American village. Developed in consultation with federally recognized tribes, these facilities will support the inclusion of Native American history and ways of life associated with the site, along with interpretation of the park’s natural resources.
• Trail development, $1 million – New trails will be developed to support greater accessibility for visitors to explore the natural and cultural features of the park.
• Aquatic center restoration and enhancement, $1 million – Upgrades to the pool and other water features will be made to enhance guest experiences.

DNR will use the remaining $25 million of the grant for projects across the state parks system. These projects include the following:

• Campground improvements, $10 million – More campsites will be upgraded to be full-service, with electricity, water and sewer connections to better serve today’s campers.
• Playground replacements, $11 million – Playgrounds across Indiana State Parks will be renovated and repaired to address aging equipment and improve accessibility.
• Historic structure repairs, $3 million – Historic stone and log structures, retaining walls, and stone staircases that were built in the 1930s will receive masonry repairs and accessibility improvements.
• Motorized wheelchairs, $1 million – Motorized wheelchairs will enable individuals to access trails that might otherwise be inaccessible. Several state parks have these chairs, and some need to be replaced or repaired. Funding will place more motorized chairs across state parks.

DNR is providing an additional $10 million match to Lilly Endowment’s $50 million grant, which will be invested into Indiana State Parks’ continued deferred maintenance needs.

“Indiana’s state parks are enjoyed by millions of people each year, and the parks offer affordable recreational and educational opportunities for Hoosiers as well as thousands of visitors who come to Indiana to experience an impressive array of state parks,” said Ronni Kloth, Lilly Endowment’s vice president for community development. “We at Lilly Endowment are pleased to provide this funding to the Department of Natural Resources to help further develop and better tell the history of Prophetstown and enhance parks throughout the state for the use and enjoyment of current and future generations.”

This investment continues robust recent investment into deferred maintenance across Indiana State Parks. In the last five years, the state has invested $100 million into maintenance of DNR properties, which includes upgrading rooms and cabins at the Abe Martin Lodge at Brown County State Park, as well as the complete renovation of the Spring Mill Inn and restoration of Spring Mill State Park’s namesake, its historic gristmill. With an additional $100 million investment, construction is also underway on the Lodge at Potato Creek State Park, which will be the first new Indiana State Park Inn built since 1939.

“We are honored to accept this gift from the Lilly Endowment,” said Terry Coleman, director of the Division of State Parks. “These funds will greatly enhance the facilities and services at our Indiana State Parks, along with the interpretation of the natural and cultural resources we conserve and manage. The result will be memorable experiences for all who visit in the future.”

–DNR report