Origin Park 2025 Annual Report

2025 ANNUAL REPORT

Building a Shared, Sustainable Legacy.

Dear Friends and Supporters,

2025 was a year of transformation and momentum at Origin Park. Each day, the vision of turning long-neglected riverfront land into a vibrant, accessible, and restorative park comes closer to reality. Today, River Heritage Conservancy owns or controls 80% of the park’s footprint. A milestone made possible by the generosity of our partners and the dedication of our team.

Last year, the story of Origin Park was one of reclamation and renewal. Lands once scarred by industrial use and neglect are now cleared, restored, and ready for nature to reclaim its place. Across the park, volunteers and staff worked side by side to remove debris, restore woodland areas, and prepare new spaces for the community to explore. Guided hikes, educational programs, and public tours allowed people to witness these transformations firsthand, connecting residents, donors, and partners to both the land and our vision for its future.

In 2025, we launched our membership program, creating a new way for individuals and families to engage with the park and support its growth. Alongside this, Give for Good Day and our annual Golf Scramble achieved record results, reflecting the generosity, enthusiasm, and belief of our supporters in the park’s promise. Together, these efforts strengthened connections, inspired participation, and fueled momentum for the park’s long-term sustainability.

Construction at The Vista progressed steadily, reaching 70% completion. When it opens, this event center will provide a sustainable revenue source while offering a welcoming space with sweeping views of the Ohio River. Meanwhile, Wildwater at Origin Park advanced from vision to design, outlining the plan to transform previously abused land into a dynamic, nature-forward adventure destination that will offer recreation, education, and connection for years to come.

The story of 2025 is one of progress, hope, and collective effort. Together, we are reclaiming land, restoring ecosystems, and building a park where nature, adventure, and community thrive side by side. Thank you for being part of this journey.

Park Activation

Origin Park has continued to deliver on a powerful promise to our community: transforming long-neglected riverfront land into an accessible, vibrant, and restorative public space. With every parcel we acquire, River Heritage Conservancy makes a dual commitment: to protect the land and to begin its healing. That work starts with removing salvage vehicles, clearing trash and debris, and addressing the physical remnants of past industrial use so the land can begin its return to nature.

Before:

After:

In 2024, Kentuckiana Wood Products and the Poole Family answered our call to action with the generous donation of 1.73 acres, marking another bold step forward for Origin Park. This site, once home to a pallet factory and later a junkyard, bears visible scars from decades of industrial use. Yet this gift represents a turning point. Throughout 2025, significant effort was dedicated to debris removal and land clearing, laying the groundwork for ecological restoration and future public access.

Before:

After:

Additional progress was made on a 5.5-acre site once occupied by the Silver Creek Country Club gambling facility, and long before that, a portion of the historic Buffalo Trace, carved by migrating bison. More recently operated as a junkyard, this land was acquired by RHC and cleared in collaboration with the previous owner, restoring another critical piece of the riverfront landscape.

The work ahead to fully realize Origin Park is substantial. Still, we move forward with a deep understanding that the industrial scars present today are only one chapter in a much longer story. Each step brings us closer to creating a park that serves our community while supporting nature’s ability to reclaim and renew these once-abused spaces.

Environmental Stewardship

Stewardship of natural resources remained a core responsibility in 2025. River Heritage Conservancy completed year two of a three-year EQIP grant focused on invasive species removal at Buttonbush Woods and hosted a volunteer cleanup to support ongoing restoration goals. Year two of a three-year Tree Mitigation Monitoring Program was also successfully completed.

Together, these efforts reflect RHC’s commitment to responsible land stewardship, regulatory compliance, and the creation of resilient, healthy ecosystems that will benefit the community for generations.

Park Programming

In support of park activation, RHC continued to expand its programming in 2025. From bird walks and guided hikes to writing workshops, knowledgeable local leaders introduced participants to new areas of Origin Park while educating them on a wide range of topics from the environment to the arts.

Led by Interpretive Naturalist

Jeremy Beavin, one guided walk explored the park’s trails at a relaxed pace while examining invasive species, their impacts on native ecosystems, and practical ways individuals can support native plant growth at home.

Another seasonal hike, led by Lydia Robertson, focused on hiking fundamentals and offered participants a behind-the-scenes look at forest ecology during the fall months.

Community Engagement

Community engagement remained central to RHC’s mission in 2025. The organization hosted 35 guided park tours, connecting residents, partners, donors, and visitors with the evolving landscape and vision of Origin Park.

Social media played a key role in sharing behind-the-scenes work and fundraising efforts with a broader audience. RHC’s digital presence grew significantly, with an average reach increased by 170,000 impressions per quarter demonstrating both organizational growth and strong community interest in the project. Through a $21,000 grant, the Community Foundation of Southern Indiana supported a strategic website upgrade that significantly strengthened community engagement and outreach for Origin Park, more than doubling website traffic within months of launch and demonstrating increased public interest in the park’s development and stewardship.

Visit the Official

Explore Origin Park anytime, anywhere at originpark.org

Learn more about our history, vision, leadership, park happenings and much, much more!

Volunteer engagement also continued to expand, highlighted by a coordinated Indiana Members Credit Union volunteer cleanup day. Public wanders and a guided bike tour offered additional opportunities to share the vision for Origin Park, provide transparency into ongoing progress, and preview what the future holds for the community.

Tours also included a behind-the-scenes visit from the Community Foundation of Southern Indiana’s Youth Philanthropy Council, offering young leaders an in-depth look at Origin Park’s long-term impact. Guided tours provided a meaningful way to engage local leaders on site, strengthening partnerships, and sharing an inside view of Origin Park's evolution.

Development

The launch of RHC’s membership program, combined with personalized community outreach, led to increased donor retention, growth in first-time donors, and stronger relationships with local businesses and private foundations.

Give for Good Day Louisville 2025 was RHC’s most successful to date, raising more than $19,000, nearly double the total from the previous year. This milestone reflects the generosity of our supporters and the growing momentum behind Origin Park.

OVER $19,000 RAISED

The annual Golf Scramble brought together supporters from across the region for a day of community and celebration, raising more than $60,000 for the park. Attendance and funds raised both doubled compared to the previous scramble, underscoring RHC’s continued growth and the power of community support.

Golf Scramble – $60,000

The Vista Construction

Following the groundbreaking of The Vista in November 2024, construction of the event center advanced steadily throughout 2025 and remains on track for a May 2026 opening.

With the hiring of Director of Sales and Events

Kirstie Adanick, the operational and revenue framework was fully established, including booking systems, pricing, vendor partnerships, and brand identity. As the building takes shape, early design elements, abundant natural light, sweeping views of the Ohio River, and a spacious outdoor patio, are bringing the original vision to life.

Give for Good – $19,000

EVENT FUNDS RAISED –

$79,000

Early bookings have confirmed strong demand for the space, reinforcing The Vista’s role as a long-term revenue generator that will support the sustainability of Origin Park for years to come.

Wildwater at Origin Park

Wildwater at Origin Park reached a major milestone in 2025 by advancing schematic design, announcing the planned location, and further defined its role as a flagship regional destination. New partnerships were announced with Perkins&Will, Calibre, and ERi to design a Wildwater facility that blends nature and adventure while transforming two former landfills into a dynamic, community-centered destination.

Throughout the design process, the creation of a park has remained central to the mission. By properly capping and reclaiming the landfills, Wildwater will restore abused land and transform it into a nature-forward park with integrated adventure components, providing opportunities for outdoor recreation, activity, and connection to the riverfront.

These conceptual designs reflect a shared commitment to ensuring that, even as Wildwater emerges as a regional attraction, the heart of Origin Park remains at its core.

FINANCIALS

River Heritage Conservancy’s financials reflect a thoughtful balance between diverse revenue sources and strategic investments. By leveraging philanthropic support, grants, and earned revenue, the organization is able to responsibly steward resources while advancing land restoration, park development, and long-term operations.

The charts below illustrate how funding is generated and how it is reinvested to deliver lasting

Revenue Recap

River Heritage Conservancy’s funding is powered by a diverse mix of public and private support. Contributions from individuals, foundations, grants, and earned revenue collectively advance land restoration, park development, and long-term sustainability. Revenue reflected in this chart does not include state appropriations, which are reported separately and restricted to designated uses.

Expense Recap

Expenses reflect River Heritage Conservancy’s commitment to responsible stewardship, directing resources toward land acquisition, environmental restoration, park operations, and program development that ensure lasting community impact.

2025 ORIGIN PARK SUMMARY

SUMMARY OF ASSETS

Cash and Equivalents

Park Land, Building and Capital Assets

Other Assets

LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS

Liabilities

Unrestricted

Temporarily Restricted, Donor Restricted

Total Liabilities and Net Assets

Total Assets $13,258,000 $34,123,000 $1,428,000 $48,809,000 $34,689,000 $12,818,000 $48,809,000 $1,302,000

Partner and Donor Recognition

The progress made at Origin Park in 2025 would not have been possible without the generous support of our partners, donors, and volunteers. We are deeply grateful to the individuals, families, businesses, foundations, and public agencies who believe in the transformative power of this project and invest in its future.

From land donations and professional expertise to financial contributions and volunteer time, our partners have played a vital role in helping reclaim the riverfront, restore damaged ecosystems, and bring the vision of Origin Park closer to reality. Their commitment reflects a shared belief that this land matters, and that its future should be one of access, beauty, and connection for all.

We extend our sincere thanks to everyone who supported our work in 2025. Your trust and generosity fuel our momentum and inspire us as we continue building a park that will serve our community for generations to come. Environmental and community impact at Origin Park.

Origin Park’s Team & Vision Statement

VISION STATEMENT:

Origin Park is recognized and valued throughout the Falls region and beyond as an exceptional reclaimed landscape, providing an unparalleled nature experience located in the heart of the Falls Region, connecting our communities, and improving the quality of life for generations to come.

STAFF BOARD

Dennis Schnurbusch II

Chief Executive Officer

Kirstie Adanick Director of Sales and Events

Kevin Beck Director of Park Operations

Molly Blake Office Manager

Clinton Deckard

Project Manager

Vern Eswine

Director of Communications

Melissa Holst

Associate Director of Park Operations

Shannon Jenkins Chief Financial Officer

Avalon McAffrey

Membership and Development Manager

Susan Rademacher

Senior Advisor

Lauren Wagoner

Associate Director of Development

James Wright

Park Maintenance

Kent W. Lanum RHC Board Chairman; President, Ogle Foundation

James D. Kenney, III

RHC Board Secretary; General Counsel & Senior VP (Retd.), Farm Credit

Tyler Allen Co-founder, USA Image Technologies

William L. Burns, Jr. Broker/Owner, Remax First

Keith Baumann Project Manager, AML Construction

Dana Huber VP, Distribution & Public Relations, Huber's Orchard

Rudy Spencer Managing Director, BlueSky Foundation

Greg Zoeller Chairman, Indianapolis World Trade Center

Charlotte Ipsan RHC Board Vice-Chairman; Senior Vice President & Chief Hospital Officer, Norton Women's & Children's Hospital

Bill White

RHC Board Treasurer; Market President, Indiana Members Credit Union

Kevin Baity Town Manager of Clarksville, IN Non-Voting Member

Terry Coleman Deputy Director, Indiana State Parks, DNR

Randall F. Koetter President, Koetter Woodworking

Steve Stemler

President & Owner, The Stemler Corporation