Eagle Creek Park is the largest park in Indianapolis, and one of the largest municipal parks in the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. It is located at 7840 W. 56th Street in Indianapolis, Indiana

Indianapolis, Indiana

Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...

 and covers approximately 1,400 acres (5 km²) of a reservoir and 3,900 acres (16 km²) of land. There are about 10 miles (16 km) of paths within it. Eagle Creek Park serves primarily as a nature reserve. Before coming into the possession of Indianapolis

Indianapolis

Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...

, the land was owned by Purdue University

Purdue University

Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...

, and by Josiah K. Lilly Jr.

Josiah K. Lilly Jr.

Josiah Kirby Lilly, Jr. was a pharmaceutical industrialist and President of Eli Lilly and Company from 1948 to 1953. Lilly, a 1914 graduate of the school of pharmacy at the University of Michigan, was the last family member to run the company. He was named for his father, Josiah K. Lilly, Sr.,...

 before that. The Eagle Creek Park Foundation serves to promote volunteerism and provide funding for the Park and its programs. The NCAA Rowing Championship

NCAA Rowing Championship

The NCAA Rowing Championship is a rowing championship held by the NCAA for Division I, II and III women's heavyweight collegiate crews. It was first held in 1997. In 2002, the NCAA added championships for Division II and Division III. All races are 2,000 meters long...

s were held in the Park in 2003 and the World Rowing Championships

World Rowing Championships

The World Rowing Championships is an international rowing regatta organized by FISA . It is a week long event held at the end of the northern hemisphere summer and in non-Olympic years is the highlight of the international rowing calendar.The first event was held in Lucerne, Switzerland in 1962...

 were held there in 1994. The 1987 Pan American Games

1987 Pan American Games

The 1987 Pan American Games, officially known as the X Pan American Games, was a major international multi-sport event which was celebrated in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, from 7 August to 23 August 1987. Over 4,300 athletes from 38 countries in the Americas competed in 30 sports earning...

 used the park for regatta

Regatta

A regatta is a series of boat races. The term typically describes racing events of rowed or sailed water craft, although some powerboat race series are also called regattas...

 and archery

Archery

Archery is the art, practice, or skill of propelling arrows with the use of a bow, from Latin arcus. Archery has historically been used for hunting and combat; in modern times, however, its main use is that of a recreational activity...

.

Park activities/buildings

• Amphitheater
• Bait shop
• Bark Park
• Boat ramp and slips
• Cross-Country Skiing
  Skiing
  Skiing is a recreational activity using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding....
  
   Paths
• Earth Music Center
• Fitness Course
• Fishing
  Fishing
  Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
  
   areas
• Golf
  Golf
  Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
  
   course (36 hole)
• Lilly Lake Pedal
• Marsh & Bird sanctuary
• Earth Discovery Center
• Orienteering
  Orienteering
  Orienteering is a family of sports that requires navigational skills using a map and compass to navigate from point to point in diverse and usually unfamiliar terrain, and normally moving at speed. Participants are given a topographical map, usually a specially prepared orienteering map, which they...
  
  
• Peace Learning Center
• Picnic areas and shelters
• Pistol/Archery
  Archery
  Archery is the art, practice, or skill of propelling arrows with the use of a bow, from Latin arcus. Archery has historically been used for hunting and combat; in modern times, however, its main use is that of a recreational activity...
  
   Range
• Pontoon
  Pontoon (boat)
  A pontoon is a flotation device with buoyancy sufficient to float itself as well as a heavy load. A pontoon boat is a flattish boat that relies on pontoons to float. Pontoons may be used on boats, rafts, barges, docks, floatplanes or seaplanes. Pontoons may support a platform, creating a raft. A...
  
   and Sunset Canoe Trips
• Retreat Centers (2)
• Sailboat marina
  Marina
  A marina is a dock or basin with moorings and supplies for yachts and small boats.A marina differs from a port in that a marina does not handle large passenger ships or cargo from freighters....
  
  
• Sailboat
  Sailboat
  A sailboat or sailing boat is a boat propelled partly or entirely by sails. The term covers a variety of boats, larger than small vessels such as sailboards and smaller than sailing ships, but distinctions in the size are not strictly defined and what constitutes a sailing ship, sailboat, or a...
  
  / Rowboat/ Canoe rentals
• Sailing Day Camp
• State Nature Preserves (2)
• Swim Beach
• The Indianapolis
  Indianapolis, Indiana
  Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
  
   Rowing
  Sport rowing
  Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
  
  Center
• Woodland Wildlife Preserve
• Ornithology Center (Coming 2008)

External links

• Eagle Creek Park
• Eagle Creek Park Foundation
• Peace Learning Center