Zionsville Parks Announces Indiana Master Naturalist Program, Improves Heritage Trail Park

The Town of Zionsville announced that registration has opened for the Zionsville Parks and Recreation’s Indiana Master Naturalist program for 2024 as well as small improvements at local parks made possible through donations.

The roundabout in Heritage Trail Park will be adorned with a pollinator garden in Spring 2024.
– Photo courtesy of the Town of Zionsville.

The Indiana Master Naturalist program has officially started accepting applications for 2024 to expand opportunities to residents to learn about Indiana’s natural resources, including plants, water, soils, wildlife and more through hands-on learning.

Thee program requires applicants to be above the age of 18 with a dedication to meeting every other Thursday beginning Feb. 15 through May 23 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Participants must attend at least 80% of the classtime, which totals to 24 hours over the course of program, to receive credit. Participants must complete 24 hours of volunteering to earn their Indiana Master Naturalist certificate and pin within one year of concluding the class.

The classes will be held at the Zionsville Nature Center at 250 N. 5th St. in Zionsville. Only 10 seats are available for the program with a $125 fee for both residents and non-residents. For more information, visit the Zionsville Parks and Recreation website.

The Zionsville Parks and Recreation Department also announced the improvement of the roundabout at Heritage Trail Park as a result of a donation from a Zionsville resident. The Parks Maintenance team will plant a pollinator garden at the center of the roundabout to spruce up the area and attract pollinators to the local park. A total of 28 plugs of Joe Pye Weed, False Asters and Coneflowers were donated by the Zionsville resident.

The project is expected to complete in the spring of 2024.