We are excited to shares news of a 73-acre addition to Meadowbrook Nature Preserve and Conservation Center, located north of Valparaiso. The property contains SHLT’s organizational headquarters and serves as a regional conservation destination with over 300 protected acres, more than four miles of trails for passive recreation, and exceptional facilities that support educational programming.
Meadowbrook is part of the greater Moraine Forest Conservation Area, an area that has long been a conservation priority for us. The 73-acre addition has been a part of a family farm for over 100 years and contains working agricultural land, emergent marsh wetlands, and upland forest. Acquisition of the property supports many of the goals we have prioritized through strategic planning, including agricultural land preservation, stewardship, public access, and public engagement.
The Meadowbrook expansion is a good example of partners and funders coming together to create a lasting impact for local conservation. Funding to support this acquisition project came from the Porter County Commissioners and Porter County Council and the State of Indiana’s Next Level Conservation Trust Program.
“The Porter County Commissioners and Council Members are pleased to be a part of such a worthwhile endeavor,” said Porter County Commissioner Barb Regnitz. “We congratulate Shirley Heinze Land Trust on their continued innovation and vision in local conservation. Porter County residents can count themselves lucky to have such a vital resource in our community.”
“We’re thrilled to learn of this exciting expansion, made possible through collaboration and strategic investments by Shirley Heinze Land Trust and its partners at the State and local levels,” said Executive Director of Indiana Land Protection Alliance Andrea Huntington. “We commend SHLT on their conservation leadership and extend our immense gratitude to state and county elected officials and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources for their support of this important project.”