Whitewater Memorial State Park

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Whitewater Memorial
Designation State Park
Location Indiana USA
Nearest City Liberty, Indiana
Coordinates 39°36′50″N, 84°57′55″W
Area 1,710 acres
Date of Establishment 1949
Governing Body Indiana DNR

Whitewater Memorial is the sixteenth state park in Indiana. It is located 47 miles (76 km) west-southwest of Dayton, Ohio. At twenty-three thousand acres, it is the third-largest state park in Indiana; its seventeen miles (27 km) stretching between Brookville, Indiana, and Liberty, Indiana, paralleled by Indiana State Road 101.[1] [2]

The park was established as a memorial to those American soldiers who lost their lives in World War II. Four counties gave up part of their land so that the state of Indiana could create such a memorial state park: Fayette, Franklin, Union, and Wayne.[3]

Part of the facilities available to visitors to Whitewater Memorial State Park include Brookville Reservoir. Brookville Reservoir was created as an artificial lake by the United States Army Corps of Engineers in 1974, spanning 5,260 acres (21.3 km²). The dam which enables the lake is 181 feet (55 m) high and 2,800 feet (850 m) long.[4] Whitewater Lake itself is 200 acres (0.81 km²).[5]

Popular recreation options in the state park include houseboats, five hiking trails, a nine-mile (14 km) horse trail, and lake swimming. Bass, bluegill, and other small fish are the attractions for fishermen. An archery range is available by the reservoir.[6] Hayrides are also occasionally offered.[7]

Hunters are attracted to the deer, rabbits, raccoons, and wild kids. Non-hunted wildlife are woodpeckers and owls.[8]

Within the state park is the Hornbeam Nature Preserve, which features the rare hornbeam trees. It is thirty-seven acres in area, and was established in 1974.[9] [10]

Whitewater Memorial State Park is scheduled to host the Vietnam Memorial Moving Wall from September 4-8, 2008. It will be placed at the beach's southern edge where it's grassy. Surviving veterans of the four counties will be specifically honored.[11]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Conn, Earl L. My Indiana:101 Places to See (Indiana Historical Society Press, 2006). pg.172
  2. ^ McKinney, Sally. Hiking Indiana (2000) p.111
  3. ^ Conn 172
  4. ^ Conn 172, 173
  5. ^ Information page containing trip reports, weather, and a complete set of maps for Whitewater Memorial State Park, an Indiana State Park
  6. ^ Conn 172, 173
  7. ^ Guided Trail Rides LLC | Giddy Up!
  8. ^ McKinney 111
  9. ^ Property Map
  10. ^ McKinney 111
  11. ^ Liberty will host Vietnam Memorial Moving Wall meeting Feb. 28 Accessed February 19, 2008
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Indiana State Parks
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