Town of Plainfield Obtains Nearly 2,000 Acres of Land

NEWS RELEASE from the Town of Plainfield

PLAINFIELD (March 2, 2018) – After a few years of working the deal, the Town of Plainfield successfully closed on 1,800 acres of land near the Indianapolis International Airport (IND) on Tuesday. The Indianapolis Airport Authority announced their interest in selling the land in 2015 as part of their Land Use Initiative to return non-aviation land back to the surrounding communities and local tax rolls. Nearly three years later, the Town of Plainfield will take control of the land with a vision of a world-class conservation area, while also achieving adjacent economic development.

The Town of Plainfield paid $ 1,588,609.06 for the land, which includes protected wetland areas as well as critical habitats for the endangered Indiana Brown Bat and other animal and plant species. The land already includes the Sodalis Nature Park, which features nature trails, picnic areas and a 5.5-acre pond for public use managed by the Hendricks County Parks Board. The Town would like to improve the recreational amenities in the area.

“Plainfield is known for award-winning parks and trails and this deal really magnifies our continued devotion to our community by providing more features,” said Town Council President, Robin Brandgard. “Our long-term vision for this land is to capitalize on the opportunity to provide additional recreational use and create a regional park. We hope it can also be an opportunity to educate people about endangered species in Indiana and the methods for protecting them. Ultimately, our efforts with this property will be for the betterment of the endangered Indiana bats.”

“This is a prime example of airport land contributing to the quality of life for local communities and economic development,” said Mario Rodriguez, Indianapolis Airport Authority Executive Director. “We’re excited to see how our neighbors and key community partners, the Town of Plainfield, enhance this area through ongoing conservation efforts for the benefit of all.”

While more than 1,700 acres of the land is protected and reserved for conservation, more than 140 acres is unrestricted and available for other uses.

“Plainfield’s investment in the local economy and the growth it has generated directly supports the parks and amenities that we offer,” Brandgard continued, “This will be another great project to support those important quality of life initiatives that make Plainfield a great place to live.”