Visitor Improvements Making Newton County’s Kankakee Sands a Regional Destination

The Nature Conservancy’s vision for Kankakee Sands in Newton County is rapidly becoming a reality, thanks to support from the Jasper Newton Foundation.

Staff from the Jasper Newton Foundation visited Kankakee Sands today to present The Nature Conservancy (TNC) with a donation to fund a portion of the improvements. The Foundation’s support will help construct the new improvements, which include:

• Two accessible bison viewing decks with spotting scopes;
• Accessible restrooms at the Welcome Area and Bison Viewing Area;
• Three gathering pavilions with accessible picnic tables;
• Benches for resting along pathways and on viewing platforms; and
• More than 40 wayfinding and educational signs.

“Kankakee Sands improvement is a great example of how the Foundation seeks to support large impactful projects,” said Brienne Hooker, executive director of the Foundation. “These projects ensure that the future of Jasper and Newton Counties will be vibrant, healthy, family-friendly and prosperous.”

Once home to the wondrous “Everglades of the North,” Newton and Jasper Counties are the former heart of one of the largest wetlands in North America. While much of our land is now a critical component in feeding a growing global population, a portion of it has been restored back to a thriving prairie and wetland complex. These 8,400 acres, owned and carefully tended by TNC, comprise one of the largest restoration projects east of the Mississippi.

In 2016, after 20 years of meticulous restoration, TNC reintroduced bison to the Kankakee Sands prairie. The arrival of bison created a surge in visitation to the preserve that hasn’t diminished over the years. But with more than 1,100 acres to roam, TNC’s bison herd has often meant they’re not visible from the existing viewing area.

The new viewing platform will allow visitors to have an elevated view of the bison in their pasture. Additionally, spotting scopes will be mounted on the platform to allow visitors to view them when they are distant.

TNC worked with the National Park Service Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance program—as well as partners, neighbors and other stakeholders—to develop an overall plan to expand trails, improve wildlife overlooks and incorporate neighboring natural areas into the Kankakee Sands visitor experience. A new audio tour of the preserve on TravelStorys will give listeners an overview of the area as well as ecological history, points of interest and other useful information.  

“Improvements to Kankakee Sands will benefit all who visit,” said Larry Clemens, state director for TNC’s Indiana Chapter. “Kankakee Sands is an amazing place, but we want to do more to make it a destination. We want to improve visitor access, experience and education while maintaining the natural beauty of the prairie.”

Newton County residents in particular will benefit from the improvements, Clemens said. “Not only will they benefit from the new and improved setting in which to enjoy nature, but also from the visitors who drive several hours to visit this awe-inspiring preserve. Visitors to Kankakee Sands come from across Indiana, as well as parts of Illinois and Michigan. They fuel their cars, stay in local hotels and dine at local establishments - all of which support the local economy.”