Friends of Brown County State Park

~by Rachel Berenson Perry

Are you interested in gardening? Hiking? Mountain Biking? Horseback Riding? Historical restoration? Pickleball? Picnicking? Admiring the sunset? Or do you just love the Brown County State Park?

There’s a group of people out there who welcome your help and support.

Friends of Brown County State Park encompasses all of these passions, working constantly to better your experiences in the park. With a mission to conserve natural resources (including recycling), educate the public about the park and park-related issues, historical preservation, natural and cultural interpretive activities, and scientific research, we work closely with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources’ employees to enhance experiences in the park and provide funding for otherwise unfunded projects.

In 1998, management at the Indiana Department of Natural Resources realized the importance of collaborating with the surrounding communities. With help and encouragement of IDNR, the Friends group

idea was pitched by then-park naturalist Jim Eagleman in public meetings located in Bloomington, Columbus, and Nashville. “It was great that several individuals stepped up to join, and heartening to have 24/7 advocates of the Park,” he said. In addition to volunteer help, the separate non-profit 501(c)(3) group can raise funds to initiate projects to augment the IDNR budget.

The Brown County State Park is the largest and most widely used state park in the Indiana system. It’s a haven for mountain bikers, horseback riders, hikers, fishermen, and family outings. It has a stellar reputation, and was just voted the sixth most beautiful park in the United States by National Social Media Awards. Its historical buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. During Covid, the park saw a sharp increase in use by all area residents; a welcome change requiring increased maintenance. The Friends group is proud of its amiable collaboration with the Indiana Trail Riders Association, Hoosier Mountain Bike Association, and Hoosier Hikers Council to maintain and improve trail systems.

The Park is currently working on solutions for hiking trails, eroded and damaged by spring flooding rains and weakened infrastructure. Since its founding, the Friends have constructed an easy access Friends trail (soon to be ADA accessible); installed a view/fishing dock at Ogle Lake, helped fund Go Bike Beginner Mountain Bike workshop; installed Mason Bee houses; restored original West Gate log building; purchased trail cameras; and provided new wheelbarrows for the Horsemen’s Campground. Our major fund-raisers are an annual mushroom sale (now collaborating with the Brown County Community Foundation), annual native plant sale, and Halloween in the Hills event. The latter is a family-friendly early evening event which takes place along an easy trail, featuring costumed intruders and numerous candy stations.

A group of avid gardeners, the Friends plant all the gardens associated with the Nature Center and gatehouses. Plans for restoration of the front of the Nature Center building, where new sewer lines were recently installed, are in the making. Other current projects include the upcoming installation of outdoor pickle ball courts; the establishment of a hummingbird garden complete with outdoor rocking chairs for relaxed enjoyment; and the proposed restoration of Peachtree Shelter, a log building on Trail 10 originally constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s.

Repairs to this historical structure, along with the possible re-establishment of an enchanting overlook, are much needed and a wonderful opportunity to preserve a piece of our history. During the Great Depression, President Franklin D. Roosevelt initiated the Civilian Conservation Corps, young men who were paid to implement conservation projects and construct facilities in the fledgling state parks. Along with major stone trail infrastructure, several log shelters with shake shingle roofs, including Peachtree, were constructed. It is the only shelter with exclusively hiking access, about a quarter of a mile from car parking.

Friends of Brown County State Park is open to all for membership and meets the first Wednesday of each month at 6:30 either in the Nature Center or in the adjacent Friends shelter house, depending on the weather. An informal pitch-in precedes the meeting at 6:00.

Come check us out! Look us up on Facebook or <friendsbcsp.org>.