STATEHOUSE (March 5, 2019) – The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently announced it will purchase 134 acres of land on the southeast side of Prophetstown State Park to resolve a previous discrepancy over the placement of power lines.
The property will be purchased for $1.1 million from the trustees of the Opal Hatke Trust, with funding provided through the Natural Resources Foundation. Purchasing the Hatke land will allow the DNR to avoid the drawbacks presented by the other power line routing options.
“This decision is the product of perseverance,” Alting said. “The people of our community brought their concerns to local officials who then took their concerns to the governor. I can’t thank Gov. Holcomb and the DNR enough for not only listening, but ensuring the Prophetstown State Park is properly maintained as a historic landmark.”
The Hatke land, which is part of the park’s original master plan to expand, has been sought by the DNR since the 1990s. The DNR also plans to develop a lake on the property into a recreational facility for the state park. Duke Energy worked closely with the DNR to provide viable alternatives for the power line relocation that would avoid the lines running through the lake.
“The purchase of this property allows the Prophetstown State Park to achieve a long-term goal, helping the park to grow and remain a scenic place where members of our community can take a step back in time and enjoy themselves.”
Prophetstown State Park, which was founded in 2004, is home to hundreds of acres of restored tallgrass prairie, offering visitors the opportunity to partake in recreational activities, learn about the history along of the Tippecanoe and Wabash rivers, and roam The Far, a 1920s farmstead that focuses on farm life during the 20th century in Indiana.
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For a high-resolution photo of Sen. Alting, click here.
