Parke County now has 32 covered bridges after volunteers and the Collom family finished the pedestrian span in six months.

Blue Heron Nature Preserve will let visitors wander a 125-year-old forest where a swim club once stood along Mud Creek.

Sahm Park's 400,000-gallon pool sat empty all summer, and Indy Parks says more closures could follow.

A Williamson County rancher has applied for federal depredation sub-permits after vultures preyed on a calf and began roosting near her fields, forcing a clash between farmers and wildlife rules. Experts say the birds’ northward spread complicates livestock protection.

Southside neighbors and conservationists are battling a petition that would allow a truck‑repair operation to fill part of the Pleasant Run Creek wetland. The MDC will revisit the case this summer.

Zionsville opened the 215‑acre Carpenter Nature Preserve on the former Wolf Run golf course, adding trails, an amphitheater and new habitat‑restoration work along Eagle Creek. Funding blends state grants and private donations.

FWS and the Army are renegotiating the agreement that lets the Fish & Wildlife Service manage Big Oaks — a 50,000‑acre refuge on a former proving ground — raising questions about access and funding.

A federal grant will help Indianapolis remove the Emrichsville Dam to improve safety and fish passage, while plans call for preserving the stone "beer castle" tower near 16th Street.

Councilors and residents say a state-backed water program tied to the LEAP district could put Eagle Creek Park at risk, citing treated wastewater plans and transparency gaps. They want stronger guarantees before Indianapolis stays involved.

A $6.8 million renovation at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park is nearly finished; city officials will hold a rededication on April 4 with a new plaza, lighting and expanded memorial.

BEA data show Indiana's outdoor recreation sector added about $17.1 billion in 2024 and supported 110,044 jobs. Indianapolis and state parks are lining up projects to capture more visitor spending.

A new fleet of electric "track chairs" is rolling into Indiana State Parks, funded by Lilly Endowment money and available free for visitors who need off‑road access. Park staff say the chairs will open trails and beaches that were previously hard to reach.

Indianapolis Zoo CEO Dr. Rob Shumaker has resigned after a short leave of absence. The board thanked him but did not name an immediate successor.