13-05-2025
‘This Is a Jewel in Our Own Community,' Residents Say as Preserve Gets $400K Upgrade
A Gary nature preserve will soon be getting a facelift.
Tucked behind what may seem like one of the city's many wooded areas is the Ivanhoe South Preserve, a sanctuary of wetland, unique plant life, and a globally rare dune-and-swale habitat just off Seventh Avenue and Colfax Street. Despite its vast landmass, the preserve sits as a jewel rarely visited by those in its surrounding backed by $400,000 in funding, the preserve will receive major upgrades. Improvements range from a sidewalk linking the park to West Side Leadership Academy, half a mile away, to educational signs, an expanded parking lot, boardwalks, and a new gathering space.'I've always wondered what they were doing because I sometimes see folks parked over there,' said Jared Benard, who lives two blocks from the preserve and attended Monday's announcement. 'They said they have hikes. I'd like to participate in one … I think it's a good thing that they're preserving this area.'
The land, originally set to be a subdivision that was never developed, was purchased in parcels by The Shirley Heinze Land Trust, which was founded in 1981. Since that time the land trust has pieced together 250 lots to create the 53-acre preserve.
Although the preserve has been open to the public for years, leadership at Shirley Heinze trust were looking for ways to make it more accessible as an asset for the neighborhood and the entire city.
'We're committed to connecting people to nature, and a few years ago we found a perfect opportunity to pursue funding through the Northwest Indiana Forum and the Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative,' said Kris Krouse, executive director of the Shirley Heinze Land Trust.
'Our goal was to connect neighbors and students from West Side Leadership Academy by building a sidewalk from Ivanhoe South to the high school.'
After securing the READI grant, the land trust needed $200,000 in matching funds, which it secured with a $50,000 award from the Legacy Foundation's John S. and James L. Knight donor-advised fund and $150,000 from American Water Charitable Foundation's Water and Environmental Grant program, a philanthropic nonprofit established by American Water.
Mayor Eddie Melton praised the collaborative partnerships and recalled his own experiences learning about nature in the region.
'I remember going on field trips to Deep River, and they would teach us about the monarch butterfly and everything about Northwest Indiana from a natural perspective,' he said. 'So I'm extremely excited; this investment will strengthen our city's connection to the environment and improve the quality of life for our residents.'
State Senator Mark Spencer, a 33-year educator, highlighted the opportunities on the horizon for students, particularly those right around the corner at West Side.
'I am excited about the opportunity for our young people to engage in all that's being offered in this wonderful natural forest, especially the biology classes,' he said.
'Ivanhoe South stands as a sanctuary between neighborhood and industry and it's now becoming even more, it's a classroom without walls.'
Legacy Foundation President and CEO Kelly Anoe highlighted disparities in access to green space, especially in communities like Gary.
'Not all people and not all neighborhoods have the same access to nature and maintained green space especially in those that are underserved,' she said.
According to Jeff Berglund of Berglund Construction, the project is expected to start in the coming weeks and will be completed by September.
Barbara Freeman, a resident and board member of the land trust, brought her friend Ethel Fields, who had never visited the preserve.'I love it,' Fields said as Freeman guided her through the trail.
'We're so used to seeing abandoned areas,' Freeman said. 'We have to promote this. This is a jewel in our own community.'
The post 'This Is a Jewel in Our Own Community,' Residents Say as Preserve Gets $400K Upgrade appeared first on Capital B Gary.
