Origin as a park name is audacious, thematic, and aspirational. We didn’t arrive at this name accidentally. The name Origin comes from the landscape upon which the park will be built. Our first learning about this place came from the people that know it best. They shared with us their stories. Stories of beginnings. Stories of pain. Stories of hope. What may look to some at first glance as “the Bajas” comprised of dump sites, junkyards, abandoned rail lines, and overgrown fields is actually one of the most interesting parts of the entire Ohio River Valley. These 600 acres were the home of First Nations for over 10,000 years.
The very start of what became the State of Indiana in the colonial era began on these 430 acres. Here was the launching point for one of the greatest road trips ever, the Corps of Discovery which gathered on the future park’s shoreline. For the freedom-seeking families running for their lives on the Underground Railroad, their feet first hit “free land” here at this site. Stories of the past started here, and we hope the story of a rebirthed, rewilded, and renewed Ohio River shoreline begins here too, as the park grows in the coming years. This site speaks to the origins of the past, and we hope, the origins of our future.
Origin Park Design Goals:
- Positively shape the trajectory of our region for generations to come through excellence in design, stewardship, and visitor experience.
- Consistently deliver a beautiful park for everyone all 12 months of the year.
- Build park amenities around what most people do when they visit a park – walk, run, and bike.
- Shape a landscape that celebrates the stars of the community – our native plants and wildlife.
- Honor all of the rich and diverse cultures that have walked across this landscape for thousands of years.
- Embrace and celebrate the wild Ohio River.
