Feature: Walking trail and labyrinth funded by Northeast steering committee

In January, the Northeast Steering Committee approved an exciting proposal to build a walking trail and labyrinth on the property of former IPS School 11.

Pastor Denell Howard, who is pastor at Hovey Street Church and leader of the organization Plant to Plate, is currently working through the process of turning the property into an education and community center. Though the building sits empty and requires a large amount of remediation before opening to serve the community, the outside of the building is beginning to take shape.

Autumn Lowry, owner of From the Ground Up Foods, currently utilizes the land behind the old school building for her urban farm. Over the past year, the farm has grown tremendously including increasing the variety and quantity of plants, engaging more residents in farm activities, and even adding chickens.

As Lowry points out, “Labyrinths are used world-wide as a way to quiet the mind, calm anxieties, recover balance in life, enhance creativity and encourage meditation, insight, self-reflection and stress reduction.”

Once finished, the walking trail and labyrinth will be open to the public and long-term, Ms. Lowry and Pastor Howard would like to collaborate with Purdue Extension and the Indiana Native Plant Society to provide educational workshops as well as working with local schools and apartment complexes in the Northeast to encourage physical activity.

“We also hope this space will encourage community building and allow the residents to get to know each other. Access to resources, including fresh produce and nutrition education will also be provided. This project will support good environmental stewardship and help us to preserve a rare piece of beautiful land in the city."

DIP-IN is excited to be partnering with Ms. Lowry, Pastor Howard, and all the other players that are working to turn old School 11 into a thriving community hub. Construction is expected to begin early summer, so follow along with our future quarterly updates for progress on the walking trail and labyrinth, as well as other developments at the site.