BY WADE COGGESHALL
AVON — Officials hope to expand Burnett Woods. But they’ll need help to make that happen.
The Central Indiana Land Trust owns the nature preserve, which is off of County Road 100 South, between Dan Jones Road and C.R. 900 E. by Light & Life Methodist Church. The organization bought the 68-acre parcel from the Burnett family in 1998.
Now they have a purchase agreement to buy an additional 10.55-acre tract that’s surrounded by Burnett Woods on three sides. Maria Steiner, community relations director for the Central Indiana Land Trust, says plans are to plant native tree species on what is currently a field to make it one contiguous forest.
Estimated cost of the project is $300,000. Steiner says Central Indiana Land Trust was awarded two grants for the addition, but still needs about $13,000 to complete it. Their deadline is the end of October.
“We still have quite a ways to go,” Steiner said of their efforts.
The organization is looking to the community for help. They’ve enlisted local businesses and schools to solicit donations. There also is a Burnett Woods Day 2-5 p.m. Oct. 10 featuring hikes, a digital presentation, children’s games, and food. Admission is free and parking will be at Light & Life Methodist Church.
It’s the only nature preserve in the county, “So it’s not only important to Avon but all the residents of Hendricks County,” Steiner said. “It’s also a destination for folks from Indianapolis. The fact that there is so much development going on in Avon, it’s sort of an oasis that we want to expand upon and make sure it continues to be protected.”
Indeed, Burnett Woods is threatened by encroaching development on nearly every side. A newer subdivision sits across C.R. 100 S. The CSX rail yard is on its north end. The additional tract Central Indiana Land Trust hopes to buy is zoned R5, which allows for the densest multi-family housing development.
A nature preserve holds so true to its designation that campfires and picnics aren’t allowed. The only similarity to a state park is that Burnett Woods has a walking trail.
Besides serving as a place for urbanites to connect with nature, preserves such as Burnett Woods also are habitats for migratory birds and other small critters such as box turtles.
For more information on Burnett Woods, call 631-5263 or visit the website at www.conservingindiana.org.
wade.coggeshall@flyergroup.com
