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These words are just a few used to describe the efforts of River Heritage Conservancy to create Origin Park, a groundbreaking, 430-acre park in Clarksville, Indiana. Once filled with landfills, junkyards, and wetlands, this landscape is being reclaimed and reimagined as a place where history, nature, and recreation converge.
The story of Origin Park begins in 2014, when the Regional Cities Initiative sparked a refreshed vision for the Ohio River Greenway, supported by strategic leadership and forward-thinking investment. This effort stretched from the Big Four Bridge in Jeffersonville through Clarksville and west to Silver Creek, setting the stage for one of Indiana’s most ambitious park transformations.
This region holds a pivotal place in national history. From the nearby Falls of the Ohio, where Lewis and Clark launched their historic westward expedition, to its role as the cradle of the Indiana Territory, the area tells the story of America’s early expansion. Origin Park connects and celebrates this rich heritage, tying together the river towns of Jeffersonville, Clarksville, and New Albany with Louisville, Kentucky, just across the river.
Guided by the River Heritage Conservancy, the park already owns or has agreements in place for over 80% of the required land, including key parcels for its landmark features. Among these is the Event Center, a 14,000-square-foot venue currently in the early stages of construction, and a 35-acre Outdoor Adventure Center inspired by the U.S. National Whitewater Center. This dynamic hub will feature Olympic-caliber whitewater rapids, 100-foot zip lines, rock climbing walls, and stages for concerts and festivals, alongside restaurants and beverage stations.
The Outdoor Adventure Center is projected to generate over $18 million in gross annual revenue, with net revenues exceeding $2.8 million. This income will ensure the park’s sustainability, funding operations and environmental restoration projects, including the preservation of Buttonbush Woods, a vital natural wetland habitat.
With its proximity to the Falls of the Ohio State Park, home to world-renowned Devonian fossil beds, and its stunning Indiana shoreline along the Ohio River, Origin Park has the potential to become one of Indiana’s next national parks. Unlike anything else in the state, this urban park will combine history, recreation, entertainment, and natural landscapes, creating a destination that draws visitors from near and far.
It’s worth noting that over 21 million people live within a four-hour drive of Origin Park, making it not just a Southern Indiana gem but a true statewide and national destination.
Want to be part of the legacy? Visit originpark.org to learn more and join us in shaping the future of this remarkable place.