Upland Prairie Meadows
Overgrown vegetation blocking traffic sight lines and sidewalks are turned into beautiful, beneficial meadows at a key Millersville intersection by the Fall Creek Trail
Volunteers with vision make a great thing happen
An untended spot growing tangled, tall and wild – where streets, sidewalks, and the Fall Creek Trail come together – is now safer, prettier and more ecologically sound. Volunteers and donors transformed problem hillsides into upland prairie meadows with purpose.
Before (2023):
After (2025):
Volunteers saw a problem and decided to fix it
They saw a lot of invasive vegetation reducing visibility at a busy intersection – Emerson Way at Fall Creek Parkway North Drive. It was also blocking sidewalks and access paths leading downhill from the Parkway to the Fall Creek Trail, so it was dangerous for drivers, pedestrians and bikers alike. They imagined a way to make this place more safe. And at the same time, more beautiful and more environmentally beneficial. They came up with a plan, then lined up funding, workers and other resources to make it all come to life.
This project included:
- Project planning and application for funding through grants
- Partnering with support organizations
- Onsite volunteer work and managing additional landscaping services
- Clearing out invasive honeysuckle and Tree of Heaven, weeds, and trash
- Planting, watering and weeding wildflowers and prairie grasses
Our upland prairie meadows:
- Improve visibility, accessibility and safety in the area
- Help stablilize the hillsides and filter stormwater run-off from streets to Fall Creek
- Provide better habitat for animals, birds and pollinators
- Prevent invasives regrowth and beautify Millersville
Many thanks to these amazing supporters!
- Indianapolis Department of Public Works, Office of Land Stewardship – for project approval, initial site clearing, seed selection, “Do Not Mow or Spray” signs, and prairie establishment consulting
- Marion County Soil & Water Conservation District – for upland prairie establishment consulting, educational sessions held on site, numerous hours of labor removing and managing invasives, multiple seedings and plug plantings, and overall site management
- Millersville volunteers – for project management and on-site activities
Funding provided by:
- Indianapolis Neighborhood Resource Center (INRC) – Most of an $8,500 INRC grant was used for this project.
- Marion County Soil & Water Conservation District provided in-kind contributions for this project, funded from $2,800 in State of Indiana Cooperative Invasives Management grants donated to the Circle City Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area, Indiana Invasives Initiative.