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How the Park Came to Be: A Success Story
Once upon a time, there was a farmer named Peter Daubenspeck who owned a
lot of land near West 86th Street and Ditch Road in Indianapolis. While he sold
parts of his farm which became neighborhoods like North Willow Farms, Mr.
Daubenspeck decided to set aside the plot at 8900 Ditch for the benefit of the
public, and gave it to the schools.
Since the student enrollment in the Metropolitan School District of Washington
Township had been relatively stable since the mid 1990's, and the 15 acre field
was too small to build a new school, the MSDWT considered selling the land for
development. But the taxpayers of Washington Township cried out to save the
land as one of the very rare remaining green spaces left in that township.
According to the Marion County Comprehensive Land Use Plan, Washington
Township has the fewest acres of parkland per capita of any township in Marion
County. Citizens argued that the funds raised by the land sale would have
covered barely six days worth of one year’s school budget, and then would be
gone forever.
A Win-Win
In 2005, the MSDWT School Board decided not to sell the land, and the
neighborhoods and community formed an IRS 501-c-3 charitable non-profit
organization to manage it as a nature park. In January 2006, Superintendent Dr.
James Mervilde and DCNP Board President Deb Ellman Watson signed the
documents to ratify a 30-year contract (renewable) for the non-profit
“Daubenspeck Community Nature Park” to manage the land as a park, at no
cost to the schools.
This innovative project was promptly heralded by all as a win-win for the
community, the township, the city, the greater environment, and our quality of
life. Proposed by City-County Councillor Angela Mansfield, the Mayor and
City-County Council publicly honored this project in February 2006 with Special
Resolution #11. A few months later, the Nora-Northside Community Council
recognized the community leaders involved with the project at their annual
meeting. Mayor Bart Peterson presented the awards.
The Kick-Off
In Summer of 2006, the yet-to-be nature park project was selected by the
national Hands On Network and The Home Depot to be part of their 40-city
Corporate Month of Service. An army of more than 130 volunteers from The
Home Depot, CitiFinancial, Indiana Native Plant and Wildflower Society, and the
community, worked through the day on September 7, 2006. They created the
original features of the park, and planted more than 400 small trees and 1,000
wetland and prairie plants.
VIP's attended and spoke glowingly at the day's ceremonies, including MSDWT
Superintendent Dr. Mervilde, Operations Director Phil Smith, School Board
President Lorrie Schlabach, new Board Member Don Kite, City-County
Councillor Angela Mansfield, Nora-Northside Community Council President Ruth
Hayes, Attorney Greg Silver, and Regional Vice President of The Home Depot,
Scott Baxter. Indy Parks Director Joe Wynns presented a proclamation from
the Mayor proclaiming it "Daubenspeck Community Nature Park Transformation
Day" in Indianapolis.
The growth continues with tree plantings, wildflower seedings, plug plantings,
trail mowing, and on-going maintenance. With tremendous human power from
student groups, Eagle Scouts, community groups, service groups, and
individuals, the park continues to improve and flourish.
Once upon a time, there was a farmer named Peter Daubenspeck who owned a
lot of land near West 86th Street and Ditch Road in Indianapolis. While he sold
parts of his farm which became neighborhoods like North Willow Farms, Mr.
Daubenspeck decided to set aside the plot at 8900 Ditch for the benefit of the
public, and gave it to the schools.
Since the student enrollment in the Metropolitan School District of Washington
Township had been relatively stable since the mid 1990's, and the 15 acre field
was too small to build a new school, the MSDWT considered selling the land for
development. But the taxpayers of Washington Township cried out to save the
land as one of the very rare remaining green spaces left in that township.
According to the Marion County Comprehensive Land Use Plan, Washington
Township has the fewest acres of parkland per capita of any township in Marion
County. Citizens argued that the funds raised by the land sale would have
covered barely six days worth of one year’s school budget, and then would be
gone forever.
A Win-Win
In 2005, the MSDWT School Board decided not to sell the land, and the
neighborhoods and community formed an IRS 501-c-3 charitable non-profit
organization to manage it as a nature park. In January 2006, Superintendent Dr.
James Mervilde and DCNP Board President Deb Ellman Watson signed the
documents to ratify a 30-year contract (renewable) for the non-profit
“Daubenspeck Community Nature Park” to manage the land as a park, at no
cost to the schools.
This innovative project was promptly heralded by all as a win-win for the
community, the township, the city, the greater environment, and our quality of
life. Proposed by City-County Councillor Angela Mansfield, the Mayor and
City-County Council publicly honored this project in February 2006 with Special
Resolution #11. A few months later, the Nora-Northside Community Council
recognized the community leaders involved with the project at their annual
meeting. Mayor Bart Peterson presented the awards.
The Kick-Off
In Summer of 2006, the yet-to-be nature park project was selected by the
national Hands On Network and The Home Depot to be part of their 40-city
Corporate Month of Service. An army of more than 130 volunteers from The
Home Depot, CitiFinancial, Indiana Native Plant and Wildflower Society, and the
community, worked through the day on September 7, 2006. They created the
original features of the park, and planted more than 400 small trees and 1,000
wetland and prairie plants.
VIP's attended and spoke glowingly at the day's ceremonies, including MSDWT
Superintendent Dr. Mervilde, Operations Director Phil Smith, School Board
President Lorrie Schlabach, new Board Member Don Kite, City-County
Councillor Angela Mansfield, Nora-Northside Community Council President Ruth
Hayes, Attorney Greg Silver, and Regional Vice President of The Home Depot,
Scott Baxter. Indy Parks Director Joe Wynns presented a proclamation from
the Mayor proclaiming it "Daubenspeck Community Nature Park Transformation
Day" in Indianapolis.
The growth continues with tree plantings, wildflower seedings, plug plantings,
trail mowing, and on-going maintenance. With tremendous human power from
student groups, Eagle Scouts, community groups, service groups, and
individuals, the park continues to improve and flourish.
