In 2016, we celebrate not only the bicentennial of Indiana's statehood, but also the centennial for the Indiana State Parks. The state parks of Indiana were started as a gift to Indiana as it celebrated it's own centennial in 1916. In the 100 years since, our park system has grown in not only size, but the diversity of users, recreation types, and total visitorship.
Colonel Richard Lieber, an Indianapolis businessman and German immigrant, recommended that a state park system be created as part of Indiana’s celebration of its centennial as a birthday gift to Hoosiers. With the help of people like Juliet Strauss, other members of the State Park Committee and donors, McCormick’s Creek in Owen County was purchased and opened as our first state park in the summer of 1916 with a July 4th picnic and local dedication. Both McCormick’s Creek and Turkey Run were presented to the state as a centennial gift on December 16, 2016. Lieber became the first Director of the Indiana Department of Conservation when it was established in 1919, serving until 1933. A key Lieber philosophy was that users of the parks should be charged a user fee and that money from all fees should be dedicated and used to defray the operational costs. Today, user fees cover approximately 70% of our day-to-day operational costs.
Modern day use bring horseback riders, bicyclers, and geocachers out to explore our diverse state park system. Today, geocachers make up a growing group of park users whose hobby allows them to explore the parks from a new angle.