Historic Mounds State Park Unveils Accessible Trail, Enhancing Visitor Experience for All
Mounds State Park, a must-see destination in Anderson, Indiana, is famous for its ten unique earthworks made and used by the Adena and the Hopewell cultures. Archeological findings indicate that the mounds, dating back more than 100 years before the birth of Christ, were used as gathering places for ceremonies and for viewing celestial bodies. Still standing more than 2,000 years later, the mounds are a unique historic site in Madison County. The centerpiece of the earthworks, known as the Great Mound, is the largest of its kind at an impressive 300 feet across and is the most famous landmark in the park. However, the earthwork has historically been difficult for those with disabilities to access, as the uneven terrain surrounding the mound is difficult for wheelchair and walking aid users to navigate. Thanks to the fundraising efforts by the Friends of Mounds, a community-based organization focused on supporting, protecting and preserving Mounds State Park, a completely accessible trail has been built around the mound so that it can be experienced by all the state park’s visitors.
This new trail is made up of a paved section of pathway that connects to a special type of non-penetrating boardwalk. According to Scott Crossley, the property manager of the park, the trail was made this way to preserve the mound and the surrounding area. To avoid having equipment and digging near the mound, the paved part does not go near the earthwork, but the non-penetrating boardwalk leads up to an observation platform near the mound instead. Crossley said of this decision, “This was an alternate route we could take to help preserve the mound. It’s a little more expensive and costly this way but it was the right way to do it.”
This project was part of a recent effort by Mounds State Park and the Friends of Mounds to make the park accessible to all visitors. A few years ago, the Friends of Mounds purchased a mobility device that people could check out to get them to the mound, making this trail project the latest in Mound’s commitment to considering the needs of all guests. Crossley said, “We consider folks that have severe disabilities, to folks that just don’t walk as well, to parents with strollers, and having this allows everybody access to our greatest feature...It was a big deal for us to be able to say anyone that comes here now can get access to that mound.” Crossley explained that the most exciting thing for him about this new feature is when he sees guests make use of the trail. “When you see somebody pull up that has a disability, or a parent with a stroller, to be able to see them now not to have to look there at the edge of that gravel and decide whether they can do it or not…I have a son with disabilities as well so it kinda hits home for me. We’ve taken him on it a few times, so seeing people use something that you are a part of and watching them enjoy it [is exciting].”
In addition to the Great Mound, Mounds State Park has a variety of other unique features guests can experience. Mounds is home to the Bronnenberg Home, a two-story house built in the 19th century out of materials from the surrounding forest. Mounds has a nature center that is open year-round, which has a wildlife viewing room, animal displays and interactive games. Mounds also has a campground and multiple playgrounds for kids to enjoy.
When discussing the unique experience of visiting Mounds State Park, Crossley said, “I’ve worked at a lot of state parks — this is my 8th DNR property I’ve worked at — and Mounds has as nice a trail right here in the middle of Anderson. I think it shocks a lot of people that this close to the city you have a trail that has hills and beauty like you would see in Southern Indiana. It’s not quite as big, but you can get kind of lost in that when you’re hiking that trail down by the river and you look up at that hillside. It’s pretty amazing, it kind of takes you back to a different time.”
Alana Weber has been a regular visitor of Mounds since her family moved to Anderson in 2008. Now an adult, she often visits Mounds when she walks her dog, but as a kid, she loved attending Mounds summer programming and camps. She has one fond memory of digging through buckets of sand to find arrowheads one summer, and she was fascinated thinking about how prehistoric cultures would have used the tools. She thinks people should visit Mounds because “it’s a beautiful park. The history behind [the mounds] is extremely important, especially for people who don’t know about the history of Anderson. [Mounds] is a key spot.” She also mentioned that Mounds is worth a visit for its interactive nature center, good summer programming for kids and nice campground.
Indianapolis resident Jane Canada has fond memories of exploring nature in Mounds State Park with her friends when she was growing up in Anderson. She loves the spiritual nature of Mounds and how visitors to the park can feel connected to the past. Canada thinks people should visit Mounds State Park because “It’s a historic site, I feel like there are not enough sites, especially in Indiana, that are actually related to Native Americans and learning about the people who were here before us.”
The implementation of the new trail — and many other projects around the park — would not be possible without the hard work of the Friends of Mounds Group. To learn more about the group and how to get involved, visit the Friends of Mounds website or facebook page.
Exciting programming and events are always happening at Mounds during the summer months. The Bronnenberg Home is open for tours from 1–4 p.m. every weekend and the nature center is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. There are interpretive programs and hikes scheduled every weekend throughout the year. Visit Mounds State Park’s Facebook Page to stay up to date on all of the park’s events and activities.