Aiming to connect communities across Boone County and highlight the Big 4 Trail, the Boone County Economic Development Corp. and Friends of Boone County Trails installed a hammock park along the Big 4 Trail.
Located in Hazelrigg Park, which is maintained by the Friends of Boone County Trails, the hammocks are approximately 5 miles west of the Sam Ralston Road trailhead in Lebanon, between Lebanon and Thorntown.
The hammock park consists of several posts secured in the ground. Open hooks allow trail-goers to attach their own hammocks. There also are three permanent hammocks donated by the Boone EDC.
“We are pleased to partner with the Boone EDC to help create destination points along the Big 4 Trail,” said Dan Warkentien, president of Friends of Boone County Trails.
Megan Swain, director of community development at the Boone EDC, said her vision for the Big 4 Trail is to generate inter-local tourism. She wants to encourage people to use the trail to dine, shop and explore neighboring towns.
The concept is part of a larger placemaking effort. Since joining Boone EDC in August 2017, Swain has coordinated projects such as monarch gardens in Lebanon, Whitestown and Jamestown; community chalkboards in Zionsville and Whitestown; and the hammock project at Hazelrigg Park, all with the intent to help businesses grow by leveraging the county’s assets.
“The goal of placemaking in Boone County is to make it the ideal place to live,” Swain said. “We want people to want to work, play and live here in Boone County. Businesses are looking for quality of life for their employees.”
Swain said she would like to install a hammock park in Zionsville but has not yet secured a spot. She is working with Amanda Vela, director of communications and community relations for the Town of Zionsville, to install hammocks by spring 2019.
For more, visit betterinboone.org.
