4,000 Acres of the “Big Eastern” property in rural Stake County has been acquired by Shirley Heinze Land Trust, to protect and preserve the land.
“For over sixty years, the Lucas family has treasured and provided stewardship for this fascinating and biodiverse sand country landscape,” said Marty Lucas, President of Big Eastern, Incorporated, on behalf of the Lucas family. “When we learned of the Next Level Conservation Trust program, we realized the time had come for us to pass the torch. To make perpetual preservation and management a reality, we enthusiastically agreed to facilitate the transition by offering a bargain sale to the Shirley Heinze Land Trust.” Preservation of the Big Eastern supports Shirley Heinze Land Trust’s strategic vision to expand geographically into Starke, Marshall, and St. Joseph counties—none of which were previously being serviced by an Indiana land trust. The strategic vision to expand into these counties to preserve land creates new conservation areas and provides both outdoor recreation and engagement opportunities.
Funding for this endeavor was generously provided by the Next Level Conservation Trust, which is the largest single infusion of state dollars into conservation in the state’s history. The program provides a match of funding to support the acquisition of land that is protected for conservation in perpetuity.
“Whether it’s through the Next Level Conservation Trust also known as the President Benjamin Harrison Conservation Trust, (PBHCT) Hoosiers play a key role in helping us preserve land like this,” said Mark Becker, director of the Division of Land Acquisition at the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. “When Hoosiers choose the blue environment license plate, they’re helping to forever protect land like this in Starke County and across Indiana. We’re proud to work alongside Shirley Heinze Land Trust to protect Indiana’s natural heritage.”
The Big Eastern preserve encompasses over 425 acres of land, preserving black oak dominated sand savanna, sand prairie, emergent marsh, riparian habitat, and woodlands. Plans for the future management of the property include ongoing stewardship efforts to maintain its ecological health, with a focus on sustainable practices. (note – this link is for a 9 page pdf)
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About Shirley Heinze Land Trust:
Since 1981, Shirley Heinze Land Trust has been dedicated to the preservation and restoration of significant natural areas throughout northwestern Indiana. Today, approximately 4,000 acres across Lake, Porter, LaPorte, St. Joseph, Marshall, and Starke counties are permanently protected, and most of these nature preserves are open to the public to explore and enjoy.
To learn more about Shirley Heinze Land Trust’s programs and impact, visit https://heinzetrust.org/
To learn more about Ivanhoe South, visit https://heinzetrust.org/ivanhoe-south/
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Susie Young Baxter, CEO, has published PanoramaNOW Magazine for 31 years. Her hobbies are Camping, Boating, Hiking, Nature, Gardening and Outdoor Activities. She is an Artist, Graphic Designer, an Avid Seamstress, Dabbles in Homemade Crafts and Landscaping. Since her Father was a Health Teacher, she also likes homeopathic Health Solutions. Since blogging started over 10 years ago, PanoramaNow has been added to Newsbreak – a national news affiliate.
