Morgan County Parks began in 2004 under the direction of the Morgan County Commissioners and was made up of a seven member board of volunteers who are appointed by various organizations throughout the county. The appointing entities included: The Morgan County Council, The Circuit Judges, The Morgan County Commissioners, The Soil and Water District, and The Purdue Extension. The county park board was compliant with Indiana Law IC 36. In May 2019, the County Council chose to dissolve the county park board and give the jurisdiction to the County Commissioners.
Morgan County Parks currently holds four amazing properties:
Burkhart Creek County Park sprawls over 83 acres that were donated by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources in conjunction with Indianapolis Power and Light in 2007. Trails opened in 2010. Burkhart Creek is maintained as a nature park with a prairie wetland, hiking trails, and rentable shelters. The seasonal changes in color, life, and sound of this park can be enjoyed throughout the year. *Currently, there are no restroom facilities at Burkhart Creek County Park.
Landersdale Trail is a piece of a larger plan to have a pedestrian path through the entirety of Morgan County. The trail consists of 1.5 miles along Landersdale Road in Mooresville. The trailhead currently begins at the Mooresville High School Soccer Fields and heads east to the Heartland Crossing Golf Links. *Currently there are no restroom facilities along the trail or in the parking area.
Old Town Waverly Park is the vision of Kenny Hale. This property was purchased using FEMA funds to reduce property damage caused by flooding. Wander the park and you can find historic remnants of a place that was once considered for Indiana’s state capitol. A network of interpretive panels can tell you the stories from the land. Two gazebos are available for rent, and the park also hosts a blacksmith workshop, a trades center, a gorgeous town square with native plantings, and a lot of open space for kite-flying and frisbees! This property also serves as the gateway to the White River Greenway Trail, an approximately 2 mile paved trail along the White River that boasts a variety of flora and fauna, fishing spots, access to a sand bar in the river, and beauty all along its path.
The Wilbur Schoolhouse is the newest part of our county parks system. This brick building is on the historic registry. For years, it was managed by a group of citizens in Wilbur. In early 2019, the Schoolhouse was transferred to the county parks system. Big plans are in store for this amazing building! Soon, we will have it ready for rentals and programming.
We would love to see you out at our parks! For more information, please call or text us at 765.318.2685 or via email at parks@morgancounty.in.gov.