The Zionsville Parks Foundation has been awarded a $14,970 nature grant from Duke Energy Foundation. Grant funds will convert 3.5 acres of the Zionsville Golf Course to pollinator meadows with added interpretive signage to inform visitors of the restoration project.
The grant is part of Duke Energy’s program to support a wide range of environmental initiatives that help communities protect their natural resources and mitigate the effects of climate change. Reduced mowing acreage at Zionsville Golf Course will not only result in fewer carbon emissions and recurring costs but also improve the habitat for native pollinators.
“This project supports the goals outlined in Zionsville’s Climate Action Plan, the Mayor’s Monarch Pledge and the conservation mission of the parks department and my administration,” said Mayor Emily Styron. “I was a beekeeper at one point in my life and saw firsthand how threatened pollinators are. I look forward to this project.”
The mission of the Zionsville Parks Foundation is to preserve, enhance and grow green spaces in Zionsville. The Town’s partnership with the Zionsville Parks Foundation has helped establish the 2022 Butterfly Trail, augment Winterfest programming and send children in need to summer camp with a scholarship.
“We are very honored that Duke has chosen to support this initiative for our community, and we hope that it will serve to educate and excite all who use the golf course and beyond,” said Zionsville Parks Foundation Founder and President Nancy Carpenter. “Pollinator and bird populations are declining at an alarming rate so it’s vital that our parks and yards support valuable habitat wherever possible.”