Terre Haute, IN Sara Fisher

Vigo County [highlighted] is in East Central Indiana The site is located in central Vigo County There are three main sections of the site, labeled west, central and east. Approximate sizes: west portion is 150 acres, central is 600 acres, and the east portion is 60 acres. WEST CENTRALEAST

The western portion is comprised of 150 acres of natural fields, rolling hills and a pond. The central portion consists of restored prairies, forests, a pond, a creek and a wetland. The eastern portion is the smallest at only 66 acres and is currently an open prairie. The surrounding land uses are mostly industrial, residential, and agricultural. WEST CENTRAL EAST

Currently the site sits vacant until a park design can be implemented. Work is being done to eliminate invasive species. A bridge is already in place crossing the small creek that runs through the central portion of the site.

The site is extremely remote and naturalistic. It has many ecological systems throughout, forested areas, prairies, a wetland and ponds.

This study will identify the design characteristics of great parks and the opportunities presented in these underutilized naturalistic landscapes to create a successful, multi-faceted park on the southern outskirts of Terre Haute. This park will incorporate a system of trails, a dog park, and a nature preserve that will benefit the surrounding communities recreationally, socially, and educationally. 1. How will programmed elements benefit community sociability, and how will users be encouraged to keep coming back to the site? 1a. What characteristics of dog parks contribute to the success and support social interaction in the design of this park? 2. What are some of the recreational and physical health needs of the community, and how will the addition of a trail system address these needs? 3. What are the ecological educational needs of the community, and how can these be integrated into the park?

The current obesity rate for Vigo County is 31% for adults, which is 2% higher than the state average. The addition of an expansive park in the Vigo County community will establish a necessary point of recreation for residents. Providing the first dog park in the area will encourage people to bring their dogs out and get exercise, which would be beneficial to both the dog and owners health. The park will attract and serve as a gathering space for a variety of users, specifically outdoor and nature enthusiasts. In addition, dedicating all 800 acres of land as park and open space will benefit the environment by limiting development in the area.

Goal: Improve community sociability Objectives: Providing a central gathering space in the community Encouraging interaction through programming, such as a dog park Promoting relationships by use of a trail system Connect all three parcels for maximum connectivity. Goal: Improve community health through recreation opportunities Objectives: Providing a marked trail system throughout the park Encouraging exercise through signage Promoting dog owner exercise by the addition of a walking path around the dog park Goal: Improve community ecological education through a nature preserve Objectives: Implementing a strong system of interpretive signage Encouraging interaction with nature through natural playscapes

Information gathered from Kara Kish via phone conference: Dallas Road to be the main access road. The east parcel should be the most developed parcel, containing the dog park and the main trail head. The west parcel should be the nature preserve. The central portion should be a large trail system, integrating the pond and wetland into the trail systems. A meeting with two board members is set up for 1/16/2015 to talk more in depth about placement of program elements and other wants/needs.

Information gathered from the meeting on Friday 1/16