Indian Creek Nature Area Submitted by Faith Russell, 2007, with photos by Helen Mogill and Jim Russell
The Indian Creek subdivision is a 160 acre parcel, subdivided in the late 70's. Due to the creek, a large portion of the land was identified as flood plain, and thereby unusable for home construction. The developers used all of the available "high spots" as building lots, with the remaining bottom land, about 60 acres, to be used in common by the homeowners. Originally this common area was used as pasture on the Eastwood family farm. Family and friends often used the areas east of the Eastwood Court to camp, fording the creek at a shallow spot just east and a little south of the water tower. Cattle chewed off most new growth of good trees, leaving the thorny honey locust, hawthorn, buckeye, osage orange, and tons of multiflora rose. Once the cattle were removed, the mutiflora quickly took over all available open space. By 1986, some areas were solid rose, up to 8 feet high. In 1987, some association homeowners began working with the state forestry division to reclaim the common areas. They found an area contractor who had equipment to deal with the mutiflora and paid him $3000 to chop (mow) all of the open areas. Subdivision volunteers worked to lay out a grid for new tree plantings, and one Saturday Illinois State University and Illinois Wesleyan University Key Clubs planted over 6000 free tree seedlings including red oak, white pine, black cherry, and sugar maple. Once the mutiflora was down, homeowners used an old Ford tractor with a mower to maintain the roadsides and the original trails. Today, neighborhood volunteers continue to maintain and improve these areas. The Indian Creek common area is a unique neighborhood asset. Home to a variety of birds, deer, wildflowers, berry bushes, and senior trees such as burr oaks, red oaks, walnut, and hickory, it provides a welcome respite for neighborhood nature lovers. Its various trails lead to wooded areas, benches along the creek, or open meadow. Neighbors are always welcome to appreciate and care for our common nature area. Page 1 of 2
In spring, the forest floor is covered with a carpet of bluebells. (Photo by Jim Russell)
Indian Creek Nature Trail Map
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