Indiana American Water supports Shirley Heinze Land Trust ribbon cutting ceremony for Ivanhoe South Nature Preserve dedication event

The Gary community gathered together at Shirley Heinze Land Trust’s Ivanhoe to celebrate a ribbon cutting for the dedication of the Ivanhoe South Nature Preserve. The ceremony took place on Thursday, October 30, featuring organizations such as Indiana American Water who have supported this project.

Bridget Harrison, deputy director of Shirley Heinze Land Trust, believes the beautification of this nature preserve makes it a one-of-a-kind location.

“The goal of adding these amenities to the Ivanhoe South Nature Preserve was to make it more accessible and more inviting to the community,” Harrison said. “This unique property offers an opportunity for people to get out in nature. This is a globally rare dune and swale habitat, so this is a true gem in Northwest Indiana.”

With a total of 22 locations, Shirley Heinze Land Trust is providing a unique variety of natural communities including dune-and-swale, oak savanna, woodlands, prairies, and a variety of wetland ecosystems. These nature preserves are available in Lake, Porter, La Porte, Marshall, Starke, and St. Joseph Counties.

When it comes to benefitting the Gary community, the Ivanhoe South Nature Preserve is one of the most important locations.

“We’ve increased and improved parking, added a new safe bridge, opened our pavilion, and improved the trails,” Harrison said. “We hope people will come to enjoy this property and all that it has to offer. We partner with West Side Leadership Academy, so it’s important for us to get students in the Gary community out here to see the preserve and make memories at our Ivanhoe South Nature Preserve.”

Kris Krouse, executive director of Shirley Heinze Land Trust, is overjoyed at the partnerships that have made this big day possible.

“Between the City of Gary and all of our funding partners, they have helped provide the necessary support for Ivanhoe South Nature Preserve,” Krouse said. “This is a 53-acre habitat that the community, neighbors, residents throughout the city, and the students have access to.”

On May 12, 2025, Indiana American Water provided Shirley Heinze Land Trust with a $150,000 Water and Environment grant. This funding opened a door for Ivanhoe South Nature Preserve to catalyze major improvements and make it a premier destination for people to learn about the disappearing dune and swale landscapes just south of Lake Michigan.

“It’s a privilege for all of us to be a part of this,” said Barry Suits, president of Indiana American Water. “This is a project that truly reflects the power of partnership. It’s exciting to see so many different entities being involved in this. To be able to see the transformation is fantastic progress. We’re excited about the $150,000 grant that we provided because it was the largest grant selected across the nation in all of the states that we serve. That’s a testament to the Shirley Heinze Foundation and the partnerships that have made it happen.”

The Water and Environment grant from Indiana American Water focuses on three pillars: water, people, communities. Suits and his team felt that this project with Shirley Heinze aligned perfectly with the grant program.

“This project is special because it helps protect the natural resources that are vital to water quality,” Suits said. “The swales and filter runoff protect water before it reaches Lake Michigan and systems that help protect water before it recharges our aquifers. These are all things that we’re involved in as a water provider, so it’s exciting to look at the environmental impact and educational importance of this.”

Along with Indiana American Water, this preserve received support from Gary Mayor Eddie Melton, Congressman Frank Mrvan, Northwest Indiana Forum, Legacy Foundation, and a plethora of volunteers. Melton considers this project to be a great example of the current trajectory of what’s going on in the Gary community.

“We’re seeing residents who are extremely proud to say that they live in Gary,” Melton said. “We’re not calling it Gary, Indiana anymore. We’re calling it Greater Gary, Indiana. One of our missions is to improve the quality of life, and this project is going to do just that.”

Congressman Frank Mrvan was ecstatic to see a variety of faces who have a strong appreciation for nature and can appreciate the little things that this preserve has available to the community.

“We have a diverse gathering of individuals who are here to say, ‘We are claiming value in nature,’” Mrvan said. “Nature calms me. I love being around Lake Michigan, the trees, the sun, and having a chance to walk in tune with nature. What it teaches you is resilience, but it also teaches you to be able to appreciate the small things in life that make a difference.”

Krouse considers this ribbon cutting ceremony to be a feeling of validation for Ivanhoe South Nature Preserve, cementing it as a resourceful venue for many years to come.

“This is a pinnacle moment for Shirley Heinze Land Trust and the story of the Ivanhoe South Nature Preserve,” Krouse said. “It went from acquisition to restoration to community engagements. The partnerships and the phenomenal support speaks to what we’re able to accomplish, and it will stand the test of time as a great resource.”

Shirley Heinze Land Trust is grateful to celebrate this dedication event with so many partners and funders that helped make the project possible. Harrison is excited to see how the Ivanhoe South Nature Preserve serves as a hot spot for education and community growth.

“We have a pretty robust engagement program at Shirley Heinze Land Trust,” Harrison said. “Bringing students out of the classroom to get a hands-on learning experience and for field trips helps our engagement with the community, whether that’s with the youth or adults. We want to spark an interest in nature and the desire for people to want to connect with nature and conservation for many generations to come.”

For more information on Indiana American Water, you can visit amwater.com/inaw.