Fishers AgriPark Provides Recreation and Education for the Community

A unique, urban park has been serving Fishers, Indiana, for the past few years, offering residents the chance to experience a taste of Hamilton County’s agricultural roots.

At Fishers AgriPark, the focus is on education and fun. This 33-acre working farm is free and open to the public, with new offerings each year. Featuring U-pick vegetables, seasonal festivals, farm animals and an array of agricultural programs for the community, the park continues to grow and expand.

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Whether by volunteering at the park, picking fresh vegetables or learning from a teacher-in-residence, visitors of all ages can grow their knowledge of agriculture at the public park.

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Rooted in Education

The park had its beginnings in July 2020, after the city decided to open a new park with a distinctive twist, designed to pay homage to Hamilton County’s agricultural roots. As of 2022, the county was home to more than 500 farms producing mostly grains, dry beans and peas, vegetables, poultry, and livestock. While Fishers has urbanized over the years, Fishers AgriPark was part of the city’s effort to maintain local farmland.

Over its six years of operation, the park has grown to accommodate growing popularity within the community. Today, the park is open to the public year-round, whereas previously it was only open from May through October, Indiana’s prime growing season.

The park provides a hands-on farm experience to all visitors. A new building with public restrooms and an upgraded second grade classroom were recently completed, along with a brand new playground and sensory-friendly area.

“The main mission is education,” says Adam Wagner, Fishers AgriPark agricultural coordinator.

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A Classroom for All Ages

Thanks to a Hamilton Southeastern Schools grant, the park was able to hire a second grade teacher-in-residence, allowing every second grader in the district to visit the farm three times a year and have an in-class lesson on agriculture in the winter months. The program helps educate children about where their food comes from, with the goal of inspiring a future generation of farmers.

“We’ll get kids who maybe have never stepped into a field or picked a plant before,” Wagner says. “They take ownership and pride in the fact that they helped plant vegetables, then get to pick it and eat it.”

The learning doesn’t stop inside the classroom, however. The park offers community courses on beekeeping, hydroponics and composting for those interested. From interacting with farm animals such as goats, potbellied pigs and Spirit the horse to attending the annual Fall Festival, there are opportunities for fun and learning that cater to every age.

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Community Harvest

Within the past two years, the park started a new volunteer program with 24 available spots for those who want to help out and get their hands in the dirt. Three years ago, a new greenhouse also helped expand the farm’s offerings.

Over the years, a favorite attraction at Fishers AgriPark has been the U-pick produce. The park grows between 40 and 50 varieties of plants, most of them edible.

“This is the only park in Fishers that is a farm where you can pick fresh produce,” Wagner says.

In winter and early spring, hardy greens such as kale, spinach, collards and mustard greens are abundant in the fields. As the weather grows warmer, jalapeños, tomatoes, sweet corn, onions and much more are on demand. The sweet corn has become so popular that it is rotated across different fields from July through Labor Day.

Currently, the park produces 100,000 to 250,000 plant starts each year, with many of those going back to the community, allowing aspiring farmers or gardeners a chance to get started at home.

As it continues to grow and flourish, Fishers AgriPark stands as an important educational and recreational resource for the community. The park gates are always open to those willing to learn and experience more of Hamilton County’s agricultural heritage.

“It’s all about education, learning and growing what you can to be a little more self-sustaining,” Wagner says.

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