Through thoughtful planning, public access, and innovative programming, Origin Park will become a national example of how parks can heal landscapes, strengthen communities, and bring people together across backgrounds and experiences.

Read on to discover how this vision will take shape.

Nestled within the highly urbanized landscape of Southern Indiana and the Louisville metro area, the development of Origin Park is an opportunity to bring beautiful natural settings, diverse and world-class recreational opportunities, spaces for immersion in natures, and unique community and economic benefits to the region.

Features include:

·        A recirculating whitewater course

·        An aerial adventure course and zip lines

·        Climbing walls

·        Retail areas

·        Ample outdoor dining and spectating areas

As a family adventure destination, the Wildwater Adventure Center and Origin Park provide outdoor activities for the entire family from hiking and birdwatching to whitewater rafting and bicycling. 

Origin Park’s Event Center will welcome the community and serve as a jumping off point for exploring the park. The Event Center also plays a starring role in the Conservancy’s long-term strategy to establish a self-sufficient park. The Center will contain a sought-after rental space accommodating 350 people for weddings, conferences, and other gatherings.

An inviting ease of indoor-outdoor flow is reinforced by a front porch and a spacious multi-use event terrace, leading to distinct garden and lawn space. These amenities also include picnic areas and demonstration gardens, where visitors can learn how to use native perennial plants for beautiful home landscapes that also support wildlife.

Features include:

·        13,890 sq ft. Interior space

·        Wood and stone construction

·        Abundant natural light, with bird-safe windows

·        Passive solar and green building techniques

·        Soundproofing to ensure quiet interiors

·        350 seat subdividable event space with accessible terrace

·        Small conference room

·        A green room

·        Catering kitchen and table storage

·        Outdoor spaces for causal use or events

·        Restrooms for park visitors

·        Parking areas sited to preserve trees

Buttonbush Woods is a richly layered tapestry of human and ecological history. Where there once were farm fields and levees, a young ecosystem has emerged.

Its management will thoughtfully combine healing the disturbed land and waterways with preserving traces that tell the story. The trail system takes advantage of the

old flood levees to provide paths that will be above flood elevation much of the time.

In low areas, boardwalks will offer year-round, accessible paths through the biodiverse landscape, which includes ponds, wetlands, and sedge meadows. Buttonbush Woods

is named for the native wetland shrub that is useful as well as beautiful – highly effective at restoring wetlands, controlling riparian erosion, and creating thriving wildlife habitats.

These traits are typical of the wide variety of native plants that will be reintroduced. Mill Creek will be re-naturalized by raising its creek bed, contouring its banks, restoring vegetation, and adding weirs and other elements to make for a natural, meandering waterway. It’s also an outstanding place to view the work of nature’s greatest ecosystem engineers – the beavers.

Sitting outside the flood walls, Origin Park is designed to be experienced even when flooded. A key element of this concept is the Upper Way. When the Ohio River is in the midst of one of its formidable floods and the Greenway is not accessible to visitors, this fully accessible, elevated path allows visitors to still experience Buttonbush Woods. With its elegant industrial-inspired design, the Upper Way will be one of the park’s most prominent elements.

Its abundant seating and spectacular river views will make the Ravine Bridge a favorite place to walk, bike, birdwatch, gather, and view the raw awe of the Ohio riverscape –

nearly every day of the year.