Indiana’s state parks offer adventure and jobs
With the changing of the seasons and approaching warmer weather, more Hoosiers will begin to venture outdoors. I know my family is eager to go on a trip, and being Hoosiers, we have a lot of options right in our home state.
Not only is a road trip across Indiana a beautiful drive, but it can be affordable while supporting local businesses. Our state is home to 24 state parks, providing a variety of experiences for guests while maintaining Indiana’s unique natural landscapes and culture.
There is a state park within an hour of every Hoosier, contributing to our health, recreation and outdoor education. We are fortunate to have two state parks in our neck of the woods, including Versailles State Park and Clifty Falls State Park.
The Versailles State Park is Indiana’s second largest, offering plenty of water recreation like fishing, row boating, kayaking, canoeing and swimming. This state park is a perfect fit for the outdoor enthusiast, with hiking and mountain bike trails, a large campsite for RVs and tents, as well as parking for horse trailers with 20 miles of horse trails to explore.
Along the Ohio River is the scenic Clifty Falls State Park, located near historic Madison. Clifty Falls is named after the many waterfalls that are located throughout the park. There are four named waterfalls, and a dozen more trickling throughout the park. Along with the rugged terrain, this park offers an impressive view of the mighty Ohio River and our neighboring state of Kentucky. Hiking trails, camp sites, tennis courts and a pool with a slide are a few of the amenities offered, along with the famous Clifty Inn and Restaurant.
All of Indiana’s 24 state parks are commemorating 100 years of serving Hoosiers. This celebration is in conjunction with Indiana’s bicentennial events planned throughout the year to commemorate our state’s milestone birthday. On Saturday, April 16, Indiana residents will be allowed to fish without a license at various locations. These “Family Learn to Fish Workshops” are among the many upcoming events being hosted by the state in recognition of Indiana’s bicentennial. More information can be found at www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/.
This week, our state parks are celebrating National Volunteer Week. Those who want to help our local parks are encouraged to volunteer and can visit www.stateparks.IN.gov for more information.
Our state parks also provide job opportunities, including lifeguarding, maintenance, grounds keeping and customer service. Job postings are listed online at www.in.gov/dnr.
As always, please contact me with questions or input at (317)234-3827 or by email at h67@iga.in.gov. I always appreciate hearing from you in order to better represent our district.
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Rep. Frye (R-Greensburg) represents Ohio and Switzerland counties, as well as portions of Ripley, Decatur, Jennings, Jefferson and Dearborn counties.
