V3’s landscape architecture team connects people with nature and each other through thoughtful community spaces. Learn how we worked with the Town of Brownsburg Parks to create a trailhead park that celebrates the site’s existing natural features and its history while looking to the future and supporting a growing, active community.
Uncovering what was lost
V3’s history with Virgil Park began as a wetland mitigation project in 2017. V3 partnered with a developer client to enhance an existing wetland on this fallow farm field site. After implementation of the wetland, the Town of Brownsburg engaged V3 to create a master plan in order to pursue Land & Water Conservation Funds through the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). The site is located along the B&O Trail, a regional rails-to-trail conversion in central Indiana, and was ideal for a trailhead park development that would connect the Brownsburg community regionally while providing park land in a community area that lacked public greenspace.
Working with the Town of Brownsburg Parks, our landscape architecture team developed a master plan for Virgil Park in 2020. This work involved researching current zoning, building codes, and performing environmental assessments, as well as a thoughtful analysis into how humans have used this space over time.
The design concept for Virgil Park focused on taking cues from the land and human relationships to the environment, taking into consideration how the B&O railroad brought people, trade, and ideas to the area. We referenced hedge rows used as wind breaks in agriculture as a nod to its agrarian use and found inspiration in how native peoples of Indiana may have used this land, borrowing geometries from these cultures.
By infusing the master plan with benefits to the ecological habitat for plants and animals and a rich celebration of the site’s heritage that focused on people, we were able to help the Town successfully acquire Land and Water Conservation Funding towards park development. The plan also incorporated opportunities for education and communion with nature for the Brownsburg community of today and the future.
Reimagining what is possible
The Town was excited to introduce its first nature-inspired park into its existing system and echoed our vision to connect residents with native plants and wildlife. Educational signage throughout the park displays information about the vibrant habitat, while a nature-themed playground encourages curious and thoughtful play.
Protecting the wetland and prairie topography was a top priority as well. Native vegetation was chosen to attract local birds and insects, and a permeable parking lot allows for enhanced stormwater management. The park’s pathways include crushed limestone and boardwalks to provide a softer material to traditional paving materials and inspire leisurely walks through the wetlands and prairie landscape.
Virgil Park is named in honor of Diana Virgil, a Brownsburg resident who loved trails and passionately advocated for the Henricks County trail system. She raised over $12 million in grant funding for the B&O trail, purchased 19 miles of railroad corridor, and saw 6 miles of the B&O Trail paved before she passed. This love and spirit is felt throughout the park, where people can step outside their daily hustle and connect with the natural world around them.
Our team helped carry this vision through from start to finish, providing services in:
- Master Planning
- Landscape Architecture
- Natural Resource Assessment
- Site Civil Engineering
- Construction Documents & Estimating
Years in the making, Virgil Park is now open to the public and has made tremendous community impact.
“It’s so wonderful to see folks of all ages utilizing Virgil Park. Our team’s mission is to connect people to nature and each other, and Virgil Park is a premiere example of how that mission is lived. The design concept for Virgil Park focused on taking cues from the land and how people have used this space over time. We thank the Town of Brownsburg for trusting us to deliver this special project and serve your community.”
Sarah Evans, V3 Indianapolis Landscape Architecture Group Leader
“Our community has embraced the transformation of Virgil Park. We are immensely grateful to V3 for envisioning this nature space in Brownsburg, ensuring that the values of health, well-being, and environmental stewardship are accessible to all.”
Shawn Pabst, Town of Brownsburg Assistant Town Manager
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