News

The Challenges of Development and Conservation - When two sides collide

2021 was a bad year for trees, streams and natural resources in Pike Township. Development initiatives led to the loss of over 50 acres of forest canopy, numerous alterations to streams, and the displacement and death of wildlife, creating irreversible consequences. The impact was significant from an economic standpoint, as preserving green space, and removing trees, vegetation, and soil compaction directly impacts the infrastructure system as a whole. Mature trees and established ecosystems are not a replaceable commodity.

So how do we protect environmental assets, support economic development and create a more livable community when it seems we are on opposing sides. The push and pull between environmentalists, neighborhoods and developers mostly favors new construction at the detriment to trees and green space. Indianapolis zoning regulations and policy are in place, however city policy and environmental plans don't always follow their own recommendations. Sometimes a narrow focus on dollars produces narrow results, which are not conducive to promote the quality of life they claim to protect.

The removal of acres of trees and green space, altering natural aquifers, planting non-native grasses, and then spending millions to install concrete storm drains and water catchment areas are in opposition. Why not take a holistic approach and thoughtfully incorporate sustainable practices for good stewardship of money and resources. You can learn more about city code set in place to protect our trees at https://www.indy.gov/activity/zoning-and-subdivision-ordinance-indy-rezone. Look for the Green Factor Section. Also, The Indiana Forest Alliance is presenting thier "Forest for Indy" report at this year's Neighbor Power. Neighbor Power events are great opportunities to learn more about your community and the issues impacting them. http://www.inrc.org/neighbor-power-indy

Find out more and support the work of IFA by visiting indianaforestalliance.org/

Augusta - Then & Now

Augusta was one of the first communities to settle in the area. Founded in 1834, by Joseph Boardman, along Michigan Rd. between 71st & 79th streets, the Boardman home still stands. Underneath the current brick facade lies a log cabin built by father and son from materials gathered from the nearby Crooked Creek and woods. Old deeds and family records say the cabin was built on a bluff above Crooked Creek. It’s hard to see today because of the road construction, but the eastern portion of the bluff still exists, hidden behind the refractory along the northern point of Parallel During that time, the Augusta area was a hub of activity and home to many small shops, a general store, mill, tannery and local school. In 1852 a railroad was built just over a mile west and parallel to Michigan Rd. Settlers and shop owners recognized the benefit of this modern transportation, productivity, and moved to form the new community of Hosbook, now New Augusta. During the late 1800’s those remaining in Augusta continued to utilize the power of Crooked Creek to operate the mill and tannery, damming portions of the creek and arguing over water rights and land ownership. Many of the ``old” Augusta structures, excluding Boardman’s log cabin, are harder to find outside of written deeds, stories and family diaries. Another historic site is the Augusta Cemetery overlooks an old arched bridge and the Crooked Creek stream. Grave Sights that are legible display the names of early settlers and soldiers from a long ago era.

From 1845 to 1919, much of the land in Augusta was sectioned off, sold, built on, resold, farmed, used to settle debt, and turned over to the state for taxes. Reading through property deeds and wills is like reading through a novel. Then, several investors emerged in 1921 with an interest in the area, and joined together to form the Alliance Co-Operative Realty Co. The early covenants revealed a different time, when Prohibition was in effect, early automobiles were driving up and down Michigan Rd., and electricity was a luxury. Unfortunately, the project never took off. This is also the time that the Great Depression was looming just around the corner. After many years the project dissolved, with just a few homes complete.

Fast forward another 50 years and Augusta Heights area shows sporadic growth. Then, in the spirit of the Boardman family’s log home, a resident who still lives in the area purchased a lot and decided to build their own piece of Augusta history. Michelle Mattingly, former IPS teacher, business owner and mother of 4 tells her story of settling in Augusta. “Mike and I built this home in 1986. It was truly a labor of love. I had dreamed of having a log home

IndyGo Announce February Schedule Adjustments

 On Sunday, February 14, IndyGo will make minor schedule adjustments to improve on-time performance on selected routes.

Downloadable schedules are now available online and printed schedules will be available by

Calling IndyGo Customer Service at 317.635.3344.
Visiting the IndyGo Customer Service Center, located in the Carson Transit Center

To ensure that riders have accurate information, IndyGo encourages riders to consult new schedules before planning trips.

About IndyGo

IndyGo, the Indianapolis Public Transportation Corporation, is committed to connecting the community to economic and cultural opportunities through safe, reliable, and accessible mobility experiences. To learn more, visit our website, follow us on Twitter @IndyGoBus, or call 317.635.3344.

Media Contact

Faith Chadwick, Public Information Officer

Webinar Series

Resilient Pike's Creation Care Ambassador Carlos Perkins and Bethel United Methodist Church will be streaming live on Wednesday, February 10th at 7:00 pm for the first of four Webinars around environmental sustainability, energy and social capital. Join on Resilent Pikes webpage, Bethel United Church Website or through youtube. Contact 317-634-7002 for more information. Speakers include Ray Wilson, Dori Chandler and Carlos Perkins.

https://www.facebook.com/Resilient-Pike-102643724845686

Senate Environmental Committee Passes Bill Eliminating State Wetland Protections Wetlands bill: Authors have ties to building industry

This is an excert from an IndyScrub article by Sarah Bowman London Gibson Published on February 8, 2021. "Indianapolis Star pushing for the measure deny any conflict of interest, but the industry connections could help explain why the legislation is moving through the Republican-controlled General Assembly at such a fast clip, despite reservations from the party's top state official, Gov. Eric Holcomb."

He has expressed concerns about the measure's environmental impact. And in an unusual move, he allowed his state environmental and natural resource agencies to openly oppose it during a recent hearing.

Environmental advocates and at least one good government expert say the possibility that lawmakers might personally benefit from the bill should raise questions about what's motivating the push to approve it." Exert from story published. IndyStar data reporter Emily Hopkins contributed to this report.

Call IndyStar reporter Sarah Bowman at 317-444-6129 or email at sarah.bowman@indystar.com. Follow her on Twitter and Facebook: @IndyStarSarah. Contact IndyStar reporter London Gibson at 317-419-1912 or lbgibson@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @londongibson.

Connect with IndyStar’s environmental reporters: Join The Scrub on Facebook. Full Story at Indy Star: https://www.indystar.com/story/news/environment/2021/02/08/indiana-wetlands-bill-authors-building-industry/4336352001/?fbclid=IwAR3KmZsOYl_8f1EwyR3GTabiXQDs7GnXEA-pdNH78naxks3TUG7g-KdMj08

Watershed Monitoring

Our watershed is an important ecological resource. Sign up to monitor Crooked Creek Near your neighborhood. Need partners at 52nd St., 86th and Grandview.

Planting Trees

Pike Fire Station #64 Plants trees with Resilient Pike

The fire fighters of Pike FD Station 64 planted four trees today. When mature, they will convert enough CO2 to 02 to support one person for six months. They will add beauty for many more.

Volunteer Opportunities

Lots of litter, and planting - we need your help.

Urban Forestry News

100's of trees at risk of being removed at 7825 Michigan Rd.

Land Use

Public Hearing and relevant land use cases in Crooked Creek / Michigan Rd. Corridor - see below

News

Reconnecting to Our Waterways Wants to hear from You

Join ROW as we listen to community members about their hopes and aspirations for Indy's waterways spaces in the future.

About this event

Have some ideas about how Indy could be connecting and reconnecting to waterways?

ROW just celebrated 10 years of the collective and the success of a decade of collective efforts. Now we are looking to the future and need to hear from you! We seek input from a broad spectrum of community members, partners and organizations to inform our new strategic plan.

Join ROW and our leadership as they facilitate a one-hour session of discussion where we want to hear your ideas, thoughts, dreams, feedback. How can ROW help you and your neighbors appreciate the spaces around Indy's six waterways: Central Canal, Fall Creek, Little Eagle Creek, Pleasant Run, Pogue's and White River? What opportunities exist to improve and enhance the waterway nearest you? How can we ensure equitable access to our waterways for all? How can you get directly involved to help us make it happen?

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/planning-the-future-of-indys-waterways-tickets-230989334317

Pike Environmentalist Honored

Celebrating John Gibson with Bench Memorial

"I think John Would like that."

November 7 was an unusually warm, clear and sunny day. Almost perfect for spending time outdoors and in nature remembering long-time Pike resident, community activist and environmental leader (Russel) John Gibson. John passed away during Covid and many of his friends were not able to gather to recognize his legacy. John wore many hats but this dedication was to recognize his work as the founder of Earth Charter Indiana, and Resilient Pike. This warm clear day was a sign that perhaps John was smiling down on his family and friends who gathered to share stories of his life. The dedication of the bench and White Oak would stand to remind those using the nature trail, to rest in and revel in its nature’s beauty.

Richard Clough, who leads Resilient Pike initiatives and was good friends with John, continues work of its founder. Richard (Dick) Clough is pictured here, sitting on the bench contemplating his friend and said he thinks of John every day; “either something he said, something he did, something he told me when I was frustrated. Everyday I’m grateful for John the way he lived, the way he died. The bench is made from 100% recycled materials, I think John would like that. The tree is a white oak, Quercus alba, with a life span of 200+ years and will reach 50 to 80 ft tall with a spread just as wide. I think John would like that. The tree will be host to a wide variety of insects, and because of this, birds are attracted to it, and the acorns provide food to a wide range of wildlife. At maturity, it will absorb 50-60 pounds of carbon dioxide and produce 240 pounds of oxygen a year. It’s an incredibly impossible task to come up with words that express what John meant to us and so we leave you with the bench to remind us that he, “led us to declare our responsibility to one another, the greater community of life, and to future generations.”

The Long and Winding Road

Maneuvering through challenges at PikeTownship schools, a look back.

How many times, while traveling down the road, have you heard, “are we there yet, how close are we? Well it feels the same for those following contract negotiations for our teachers in Pike Township. On Dec. 9, I drove through 79th and Zionsville Road, to a familiar site, I’ve seen on this road before. The crowds had shifted north to this busy corner, but the message remained the same. Teachers, parents, students and community advocates stood on the south-east corner as car horns blared in support of teachers, drivers and staff. The parking lot was full for this public meeting to share budget appropriations before the official MSD Pike Board meeting. The parents, students, staff and concerned community members in attendance, passionate about valuing educators who care for our most precious commodity, the students. Note: The negotiated contract will go up for review, and then vote, at two special board meetings to be held on Monday (12/13) & Thursday (12/16). Currently our schools are going through a transition that started years ago.Check out our blog to discover why.

Over the last two years, because of Covid, Pike Township students, parents and residents have traveled down new roads of educational experiences. Virtual classrooms, restrictive sports gatherings, events, masks in classrooms, lunch in homerooms, and finally a semblance of normality this spring. The path now began to swerve and erode again, as calls for closings and at home learning due to transportation challenges, classroom staffing and fair pay.

The night after the 12/09 board meeting, brought wind, and hard rain that seemed to clear the air and wash the grime and dirt off the roads. It felt like an omen of new beginnings that are hopefully carried over to Monday’s special meeting to discuss the terms of the teacher’s collective bargaining agreement. Or, others may associate the storms that knocked out power and downed trees, is indicative of how we all feel worn down. A second meeting is scheduled for Thursday 12/16 if needed. Both can be live streamed by visiting the online portal. Moving toward a resolution is hopefully right around the corner. The road toward quality education and expected outcomes is winding, with new turns, new avenues, new directions, to follow and explore. All of these, leading us back to what holds us together, the sense of belonging to something bigger than ourselves and our community with experiences shared, and standing together for what we believe is right.

ADDENDUM: On January 9, 2022 Dr. Larry Young replaced Richendantar as interim superintendent.