It seems unusual to close public nature trails, but one detail is especially concerning. Culp’s stated that the property was transferred with “the expressed intent that it become a blessing to the community.” Restricting access and pursuing trespass enforcement directly limits that community benefit and appears inconsistent with the spirit—and potentially the obligations—attached to that understanding. Additionally, closing access to the old bridge and the former Culp preserve conflicts with the organization’s mission statement: “owns and protects natural and working lands, inspiring people to value, appreciate, and support these places for the benefit of all.” Preventing public access and threatening legal action against visitors undermines that mission rather than advancing it. Public lands cannot inspire appreciation or stewardship if they are effectively inaccessible. Reopening these areas to responsible public access would better honor both the original intent of the land transfer and the organization’s stated commitment to community benefit. Restoring access would reaffirm that these natural spaces are meant to serve the public, not stand as closed and restricted properties removed from the people they were intended to benefit.

I have another question: A great amount of planning, coordination and expense went into obtaining from Indiana Department of Transportation access to Stark Nature Preserve from State Highway 120. Is it ACRES plan to give up that access point and allow the State to remove it? Once it’s gone it will be difficult if not impossible to get it back,

ACRES will maintain access to Stark Nature Preserve for stewardship activities, research and events.

I have a question. Would entry to a closed Nature Preserve be considered trespassing by the ACRES management? Will ACRES mark the properties as “No trespassing”?

Thank you for your question. Entering a closed preserve without written permission from ACRES Land Trust is trespassing. Our stewardship staff is in the process of removing parking lots and constructing gates and "NO TRESPASSING" signs at recently closed properties. For more information about obtaining permission to visit a closed preserve, please call the office at 260-637-2273. -Bridgett Hernandez, ACRES Communications Manager

In Indiana the penalties for trespassing are rather severe. If ACRES intends to maintain a no trespass policy for closed preserves, is it ACRES policy to prosecute trespassers? Will a member of ACRES who’s dues are supporting the organization and the preserves be prosecuted for trespassing on a preserve that he/she is supporting?

As part of ACRES commitment to protect the land it owns, ACRES prosecutes illegal activities that occur on its properties – when advised to do so by law enforcement. Many activities are remedied by law enforcement through means other than formal prosecution. An ACRES membership does not provide immunity from any local, state, or federal laws. To inquire about obtaining permission to visit a closed property, please call the office at 260-637-2273.

I am wondering why you retire trails. Too many visitors? Too many invasive species being tracked in? How long do you keep them closed? Does anyone go in and check on things? A short article on the reasons for retiring trails would be great!

Thanks for your question, Mary. ACRES is permanently retiring trails at about 20 nature preserves by the end of 2024. Our goal is to reduce the total number of trails we offer so that we can improve visitor amenities at our preserves that will remain open to the public. These improvements include new signs, more parking and better maintained trails. Criteria for retiring trails included proximity to other trail systems, size, inaccessibility due to flooding, low visitation and the inability to enhance visitor amenities to our new standards. You can read more about the project at https://acreslandtrust.org/raisingourstandards/. Although daily public access to these properties will end, ACRES will continue to dedicate the same level of stewardship to these areas. In fact, the majority of the land ACRES protects is closed to the public. Some preserves are closed to protect sensitive areas or natural features. Others are life estates, where a land donor lives and retains land use rights.