MINNETRISTA NATURE AREA

       Nature education was the original concept for the property known today as Oakhurst Gardens. As the restoration of Oakhurst evolved in the 1990's, it was determined that Oakhurst Gardens would not function as a "nature area" because of the historical significance of the gardens that Frances and Elisabeth Ball had created and maintained from the late 1800 until the1970's.

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       Nature education was a critical mission of Minnetrista and the George and Frances Ball Foundation.  The only remaining place on the Minnetrista campus for nature emersion was an abandoned gravel pit from the late 1800's on Centennial Avenue east of the Delaware County Fairgrounds. During the construction of Minnetrista, the gravel pit was being used as a dump site for excess construction spoils.

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       At the time of building Oakhurst gardens, the desire for "nature education" on the Minnetrista properties led to the creation of an updated campus master plan. The planning process recognized that the Minnetrista has its greatest number of attendees in the people walking or driving through the property.  "Horticulture" was recognized as one of Minnetrista's greatest marketing opportunities.

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       The planning process led Minnetrista to the abandoned quarry as best opportunity for nature education. The program staff described a hope of creating a place where a group of kids could be "in the woods" away from the city, a place where kids play in the water, a place where they could experience biodiversity in a less than one hour experience. The quarry could provide this experience.

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       Efforts to fill the quarry stopped. A site-specific plan for the quarry as a nature education was created. The site program had to:

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1. Serve as overflow and bus parking for Minnetrista.

2. Provide parking for an envisioned weekly farmer's market.

3. Serve as "back of house" horticulture operations.

4. Serve as a natural stormwater treatment area.

5. Demonstrate bio-diversity in

   1. Upland Woods

   2. Prairie

   3. Wetlands

6. Perimeter control using hidden fencing

7. Create a pedestrian connection from St Joseph St to Centennial Ave

8. Focus on youth

 

      The final design of the site included many loop trails with the main trail slowly lowering into the quarry crossing over several dry bed streams until thecity that surrounds the site disappears in sight and sound.

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      The final product includes a prairie, wetland, and upland woods. Many learning stations were created along the trails. A council ring as installed that serves as a point of beginning educational node. This was built by Ball State students. An overlook was constructed outside the fence of the property so people can view in when the gates are closed.

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      20 years after it was built, the Minnetrista Nature Area has become a respite from the urban surrounds for those that have discovered it as a hidden gem in Muncie.

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      The Minnetrista Nature Area showcases how strategic landscape architecture can transform brownfields (a quarry) into immersive community assets.

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