Park Stewardship

    Let's get outside! Explore our nature programming

    Park Stewardship

    Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation (CCPR) connects the community with nature! CCPR manages and maintains over 500 acres of park land. Throughout Carmel, you will find 13 parks and 4 greenways offering greenspace, playgrounds, access to natural resources, and education through interpretive signage.

    We are dedicated to maintaining and improving our parks, and ensuring our community – that’s you! – understands their role in our natural resources both today and in the future.

    Park Stewardship gives the community an opportunity to play a larger part in maintaining and developing our natural resources and better understand our parks. Through Park Stewardship programming, events and volunteering the community is invited to get out to the park to explore, engage and connect by planting trees, identifying species at a BioBlitz event and so much more.

    Reward for removing invasive species

    Are you up to the challenge? We’re working to eradicate invasive species and we need your help! In celebration of Earth Day (April 22), Arbor Day (April 26), and Indiana’s Invasive Species Awareness Week (April 7 – 13) we challenge you to trade invasive for native. Remove an invasive Bradford pear tree or bush honeysuckle shrub on your property, or volunteer with us in April and you will receive a free Indiana native tree or shrub seedling.
     

     

    Join us for our next BioBlitz

    Become a scientist for a day! Volunteer with park staff and local experts to identify as many species as possible in West Park and University High School. 
     
    Date: May 4
    Time: 8am-10pm, time slots available
    Location: West Park, 2700 W. 116th Street, Carmel, IN 46032
    Price: FREE
     

    Be a steward + volunteer with us!

    Help us keep the parks a healthy, clean and safe place to visit not only for humans but for plants and wildlife.
     
    Gain hands-on experience and knowledge with a variety of environmental restoration projects including invasive plant removal, trail restoration, and litter cleanup. Along with park improvement projects such as playground mulching, refinishing park benches, branch cleanup, and many more.
     

    Learn about our parks + natural resources

    Video link

    Yes, parks are pretty, but my hope is to help our community recognize their intrinsic value, and that everyone has a stake in it.

    Brittany McAdams, natural resources coordinator