The new Habitat Hall at the Holliday Park Nature Center will open to the public on Saturday, April 25. The project is part of a $3.2 million capital campaign by The Friends of Holliday Park (FHP), which also includes a renovation of The Ruins at Holliday Park. The space offers an exciting new experiential learning opportunity for children and families. The new Habitat Hall is free and open to the public, providing a one-of-a-kind resource to the community.
The renovation, made possible through the generosity of Lilly Endowment Inc. and other donors, transformed the space with hands-on elements allowing visitors to learn about the natural world though sight, touch, sound and smell. The new exhibits include the White River Water table, Music of the Wetlands exhibit, an elevated Hardwood Forest viewing area allowing visitors to experience the forest canopy, and a Scent Mural. The space offers imaginative play encouraging visitors to utilize animal costumes, games, puzzles and books.
Holliday Park Manager, Adam Barnes notes, “The new Habitat Hall provides fun, hands-on experiences for families to learn about Indiana nature and is an amazing new resource for Indy Parks. There are so many interactive pieces in the new space, we are excited to open it to the community and see what visitors enjoy most!”
Design and construction of the new space was completed by Taylor Studios, Inc. The Nature Center has established the park as a leading provider of environmental education in central Indiana serving over 700,000 program participants and visitors since its inception in 2000. This new attraction will draw even more visitors from around the city and state.
The grand opening of Habitat Hall is scheduled for this Saturday, April 25 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.featuring special crafts and activities.
