River Education & Ecology Center Anchors White River in Hamilton County, Indiana

Storytelling, activation, education, connectivity, and ecological enhancement are at the center of a proposed River Education & Ecology Center along the White River in central Indiana.

Created by Eli Lilly in 1934, Conner Prairie is a nationally acclaimed history destination that encourages visitors to learn about Indiana's natural and cultural heritage through hands-on experiences. Conner Prairie is Indiana's first Smithsonian affiliate and one of the most visited outdoor museums in the country. Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation (CCPR) manages and maintains more than 500 park acres and numerous recreation facilities. Last year, CCPR received its second Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management from the American Academy for Park Recreation Administration, in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association. In collaboration with Hamilton County Tourism, Conner Prairie, and CCPR, MKSK led a conceptual design process, with architectural partners Lake | Flato Architects, to envision this regional gem.

The new White River Education & Ecology Center would be situated at the top of a bluff on the west side of the meandering White River, offering majestic views up and down the river and across its oxbow. This new regional destination would offer one-of-a-kind education focused on our historic and current relationship with water and natural systems. The facility would include exhibit space classrooms, multi-purpose rooms, a citizen science lab,  and staff offices. Over time, the facility would expand to include additional classroom and office space for nonprofit organizations which study land, water, and energy innovations.

MKSK and Lake|Flato Architects proposed a series of smaller architectural volumes that scale harmoniously with the undulating terrain and discretely tuck into mature tree groves that dot the river’s edge as part of an overarching goal to sensitively connect buildings to the site. In support of this vision, a series of terraces and trails would connect the White River Education & Ecology Center to the river, giving visitors direct access to the water. Through an emphasis on environmental stewardship, constructed wetlands have been proposed to handle site stormwater in a functional, aesthetic, and educational manner.

The Center would serve as the first of many future investments on Conner Prairie’s land west of the White River. In all, this expansion would activate Carmel’s riverfront and become the premier example of river-based education and ecology in Central Indiana. Entities are assembling and pursing funding to forward design and implementation.

Conner Prairie and Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation have proposed a public-private partnership to implement the development plan, along with other organizations and state funding sources for the White River.

You can read more about the project here.

The White River Education & Ecology Center at Conner Prairie (Renderings by Lake Flato/MKSK)