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Indiana Bicentennial Celebration 2016

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Legacy Projects > Deer Creek Bicentennial Park Deer Creek Bicentennial Park

In 2013 Heartland Heritage began specific planning for the park, projected to culminate in Indiana’s bicentennial year. HHI additionally planned a Bicentennial Monument at the park. Now visitors to Carroll County’s Deer Creek Bicentennial Park, at the eastern edge of Delphi, can travel the Hoosier Heartland Highway (State Rd. 25), and when they see the blue restored historic iron bridge, they will know they have reached the park. This is Freedom Bridge, part of the park that carries foot traffic of the Monon High Bridge Trail, which runs over a mile at the core of the park. High Bridge itself will be part of the park, and the spectacular scenic views over Deer Creek are famous. Two nature preserves will offer hiking, as well as the preservation of natural and historic resources.

Q&A with Legacy Project Coordinator David McCain

What do you consider the key accomplishment of your Legacy Project?

The creation of Deer Creek Bicentennial Park preserves the "Cradle of Pioneer Settlement" in Carroll County--with splendid natural landscape and historical sites. The park's Monon Trail provides exceptional recreation. The park's Bicentennial Monument will honor Indiana's 200th anniversary.

Describe a highlight or most memorable moment related to your Legacy Project.

There are many, many highlights because the park is a large, complex undertaking with as much as 150 acres and perhaps six separate owners being developed so far over an initial period of 4 years. One especially memorable moment occurred on June 20, 2016 with the dedication of the park's Bison sculpture (Indiana Bison-tennial Project) when the Native American drummers gathered all in attendance close together for a song of strengthening community. This event, the Bison dedication ceremony, has been listed as a separate legacy project. The Bison sculpture stands in the park at the Gateway sign along the Hoosier Heartland Highway.

How/where are you preserving information and artifacts related to your Legacy Project?

Nonprofit organizations (Heartland Heritage Inc., Wabash & Erie Canal Association and NICHES Land Trust) connected with the park are each preserving their respective spheres of information.

Total number of volunteers who participated.

Probably around 200.

Estimated total attendance.

About 1,800 people used the park in 2016.

Estimated dollar amount raised.

$23,203 raised in grants. The park is a large, complex undertaking still under development with as much as 150 acres and perhaps six separate owners. Some areas are already open and an accounting of these has not been figured. For instance, Freedom Bridge is complete and was perhaps a $2M project paid for by INDOT. Most of the park's development is yet to come. Much more money will be necessary.

Estimated dollar amount spent.