HENDRICKS COUNTY
PARKS & RECREATION
MAIN OFFICE 4481 Gibbs Road Danville, IN 46122 Phone:( 317) 718-6188 hcparks @ hcparks. net www. HendricksCountyParks. org
PARKS DEPARTMENT ADMINISTRATION Superintendent Ryan Lemley rlemley @ co. hendricks. in. us
Assistant Superintendent Eric Ivie eivie @ co. hendricks. in. us
Administrative Assistant Patty Seymour hcparks @ hcparks. net
MISSION STATEMENT
To lead in the protection of outstanding natural, historic and recreation areas, and linkages. To practice and promote the highest conservation ethics and provide environmental education and recreation opportunities to the community. To lead in enhancing quality of life and individual health while driving economic development to ensure a sustainable future for our community.
PROGRAMMING Senior Park Naturalist Ryann Hoffman rhoffman @ hcparks. net
Park Naturalist Alexis Weidman aweidman @ hcparks. net
Assistant Naturalist Donatella Mudica and Elizabeth Schafer
MAINTENANCE Park Manager Avery Tyler atyler @ co. hendricks. in. us
Maintenance Assistants Oather Duncan III • Scott Hawkins Wayne Huffman • Jason Kittle Phillip Lawson • Phillip Spurlock Kurt Steuer • Ralph Wilkinson
HENDRICKS COUNTY PARK BOARD Vicky Byarley • Brad Eisenhart Gary Emsweller • Matthew Freije Mike Hayden • Paul Miner • Jeff Pell
PARK BOARD MEETINGS The Hendricks County Park Board generally meets the first Wednesday of each month at 2 p. m. in the main office although dates and times are subject to change( see website for scheduling updates). Meeting agendas are posted one week prior at the office and at the Hendricks County Government Center. The public is always welcome to attend Park Board meetings.
HENDRICKS COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT Hon. Daniel F. Zielinski, Judge
HENDRICKS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Dennis Dawes • Bob Gentry Brad Whicker
HENDRICKS COUNTY COUNCIL David Cox • Larry Hesson Nancy Marsh • Chuck Parsons Larry Scott • Eric Wathen David Wyeth
2 • www. HendricksCountyParks. org
FEATURES
ARTICLES
3 Park Guide 6 Family Programs 12 Tear-Out Event Calendar
ON THE COVER
Park Naturalist Alexis( Alex) Weidman demonstrates that rat snakes aren’ t so spooky, no matter what Halloween horror stories you’ ve heard about them! While Alex is holding a juvenile in this photo, adult rat snakes can range from 3 to 8 feet in length. Rat snakes are nonvenomous constrictors, can climb trees and can swim, and they love to eat mice, moles, rats and other small vertebrates. Come visit Alex and the rest of our naturalists at the Ray & Mary Benson Nature Center in McCloud Nature Park to learn more about these beneficial – and harmless! – reptiles!
Fall Markets at Gibbs
Our popular Markets in the Park are back this fall at W. S. Gibbs Memorial Park, and one of them will have a Halloween twist to it!
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McCloud Prairie Maze
Our nation turns 250 years old, so our McCloud Prairie Maze celebrates that landmark anniversary as well as bald eagles!
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15 Programs for Seniors 16 Nature Discovery Series 17 Tadpole Time 18 Junior Explorers
Photo by Gregory Smith
Fall Colors Festival
An annual family favorite, the Fall Colors Festival returns to McCloud Nature Park in October!
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HOO Wants to Learn About Owls?
Our Assistant Naturalist and a student at Purdue University, Donatella Mudica, teaches us about a Halloween icon: owls!
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19 New Park Features 22 Shelter Rentals 23 SWCD Native Tree Sale