List of Indiana state parks

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:State parks of Indiana map The U.S. state of Indiana has 25 state parks maintained and operated by Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR).<ref name=Statistics /> In addition, a separate state agency operates White River State Park in downtown Indianapolis.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Marion and Clark are the only counties to have two parks. Brown County, the largest state park, has the greatest number of visitors, followed by Indiana Dunes State Park.<ref name="Statistics">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Richard Lieber was instrumental in the foundation of the Indiana State Park system. The first state park in Indiana was McCormick's Creek State Park, in Owen County in 1916, followed in the same year by Turkey Run State Park in Parke County. The number of state parks rose steadily in the 1920s, mostly by donations of land from local authorities to the state government. Of the initial twelve parks, only Muscatatuck State Park is no longer a state park, having been given back to Jennings County in 1968.<ref>History Template:Webarchive</ref> It was during the Great Depression of the 1930s that much infrastructure was built within the parks, constructed by New Deal agencies such as the Civilian Conservation Corps and the Works Progress Administration, with the majority of this Depression-era construction still in use in the 21st century. This delay in infrastructure was due in part to Richard Lieber's belief that the parks should be kept as natural as possible.<ref>Ralston, Patrick. Template:NRHP url</ref>

Initially, the state parks were intended to feature natural environments in Indiana. The establishment of Mounds State Park for its historical nature and Shakamak State Park (an abandoned strip mine) purely for recreational purposes represented changes from the initial purposes of the Indiana state park system.<ref>Ralston</ref>

While Indiana does not have as many state parks as some other states, it has avoided obtaining too many smaller properties that would be hard to manage. A goal of having at least one state park within an hour's drive for every Hoosier was met when Prophetstown State Park was established in 2004.<ref>DNR - State Parks & Reservoirs: History & Culture</ref>

It is possible to view the Milky Way at 3 of the 25 Indiana State Parks,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> which are Shades State Park, Tippecanoe River State Park, and Turkey Run State Park.

State parks

Park Name	Image	City	County or Counties	Year Established	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Remarks<ref name="Guide" />
Brown County	File:Brown-County-Szmurlo.jpg	Nashville Template:Coord	Brown	1929	Template:Convert	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Chain O' Lakes	File:Stanley School at Chain O'Lakes.jpg	Albion Template:Coord	Noble	1960	Template:Convert	Features eight connected kettle lakes<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Charlestown	File:Fourteen Mile Creek waterfront.jpg	Charlestown Template:Coord	Clark	1996	Template:Convert	Built on the grounds of the old Indiana Army Ammunition Plant<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Clifty Falls	File:Clifty Falls at Clifty Falls State Park.JPG	Madison Template:Coord	Jefferson	1920	Template:Convert	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Falls of the Ohio	File:Fossil beds on the Ohio River.JPG	Clarksville Template:Coord	Clark	1990	Template:Convert	Offers views of the Falls of the Ohio and Louisville, Kentucky<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Fort Harrison	File:Fort Ben - Fall Creek Boardwalk.jpg	Indianapolis Template:Coord	Marion	1996	Template:Convert	Built on the site of old Fort Benjamin Harrison<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Harmonie	check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	New Harmony Template:Coord	Posey	1966	Template:Convert	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Indiana Dunes	File:Indiana Dunes-State-Park-02.jpg	Porter Template:Coord	Porter	1925	Template:Convert	Attached to Indiana Dunes National Park<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Lincoln	File:Lincoln state part1.jpg	Lincoln City Template:Coord	Spencer	1932	Template:Convert	Across from Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial, it was the last state park established by Richard Lieber.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
McCormick's Creek	File:McCormicks Creek falls Indiana.JPG	Spencer Template:Coord	Owen	1916	Template:Convert	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Mounds	File:MoundsHouse.jpg	Anderson Template:Coord	Madison	1930	Template:Convert	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
O'Bannon Woods	File:O'Bannon Woods Entrance.jpg	Corydon Template:Coord	Harrison	2004	Template:Convert	Formerly the Wyandotte SRA, renamed in honor of the late Indiana governor Frank O'Bannon.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Ouabache	check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Bluffton Template:Coord	Wells	1962	Template:Convert	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Pokagon	File:Potawatomi Inn Pokagon State Park.jpg	Angola Template:Coord	Steuben	1925	Template:Convert	Well known for its toboggan run<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Potato Creek	check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	North Liberty Template:Coord	St. Joseph	1969	Template:Convert	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Prophetstown	File:Prophetstown State Park.jpg	West Lafayette Template:Coord	Tippecanoe	2004	Template:Convert	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Shades	File:Deer Mill Covered Bridge Indiana 4.jpg	Waveland Template:Coord	Montgomery	1947	Template:Convert	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Shakamak	File:Shakamak Nature Center 181.jpg	Jasonville Template:Coord	Clay, Greene and Sullivan	1929	Template:Convert	Used to be a strip mine<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Spring Mill	File:Spring Mill Gristmill.jpg	Mitchell Template:Coord	Lawrence	1927	Template:Convert	Featured a pioneer village, numerous caves, and a memorial to Gus Grissom<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Summit Lake	File:SummitLakeStatePark.jpg	New Castle Template:Coord	Henry	1988	Template:Convert	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Tippecanoe River	File:Tippecanoe R SP Indiana TheRiver P1300080.jpg	Winamac Template:Coord	Pulaski	1943	Template:Convert	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Turkey Run	File:Turkey Run SP, IN 4.jpg	Marshall Template:Coord	Parke	1916	Template:Convert	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Versailles	File:036 34A Busching, Versailles SP, Versailles Cty.jpg	Versailles Template:Coord	Ripley	1943	Template:Convert	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
White River	File:C4241-Indianapolis-Canal.jpg	Indianapolis Template:Coord	Marion	1979	Template:Convert	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Whitewater Memorial	File:Whitewatersign.jpg	Liberty Template:Coord	Union	1949	Template:Convert	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

See also

• List of Indiana state forests
• List of national parks of the United States

External links

• Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of State Parks and Reservoirs