READI 2.0 bolsters Hendricks County park complex development
Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe Now
An imaginative nature district near Plainfield is one step closer to being fully realized as Hendricks County officials officially opened a boardwalk project at the Echo Hollow Nature Park on Wednesday.
Hendricks County planners envision Echo Hollow as a large-scale nature district with nearly 2,000 acres of space that will combine outdoor trails and a nature center with an RV park, a lodge and art installations.
Those features are part of a planned $52.7 million vision. For now, the opening of the park’s Lake Loop Boardwalk project is a milestone for local officials like Plainfield council president Robin Brandgard.
“Echo Hollow Nature Park represents a commitment to the future of Plainfield, blending natural beauty with a dynamic community vision that will enrich Central Indiana for generations,” said Brandgard in a written statement. “This boardwalk is an important step in creating a premier recreational destination that respects our local environment while promoting growth and opportunity for all.”
The Lake Loop Boardwalk offers visitors a pathway to walk around Sodalis Lake.
The boardwalk was made possible in part due to funds from the Indiana Economic Development Corp.’s Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative, or READI, program. The IEDC says it has allocated $2.8 million in READI 2.0 funding for the park overall.
Currently, Echo Hollow has a newly completed boardwalk, just over five miles of trails, picnic areas and a 5.5-acre pond. The nature preserve was formerly called Sodalis Park and named after an endangered species of bats that lives in the area.