We are proud to announce that V3 has won a 2025 ACEC IN Engineering Excellence State Finalist Award for our work on Virgil Park. This annual award recognizes exceptional ideas and innovations in engineering, and we’re honored to be celebrated for this nature-inspired park that connects residents with native plants and wildlife. Learn more about how our team took cues from the land to create an inviting greenspace.
Project Goals
Located along central Indiana’s B&O Trail, Virgil Park was ideal for a trailhead park development that would connect the Brownsburg community and provide park land in an area that lacked public greenspace. In design and execution, the goal was to take cues from the land and create the Town’s first nature-inspired park to connect residents with native plants and wildlife.
V3’s civil engineers challenged conventional stormwater management practices to transform a flat, isolated, 6.7-acre space into a natural wetland with flood control measures hidden throughout the park. From native planting to permeable pavers, every inch of Virgil Park is intentionally designed to naturally address stormwater issues while providing beautiful amenities for all visitors.
Project Approach and Complexity
This project proved to be a great use case for how to develop a remote, underserved area.
Virgil Park was originally flat, which proved challenging in developing the necessary elevation for stormwater flow. Working within the park’s existing topography drove most of the design choices, and while the flat, remote location was not optimal from a development perspective, creative thinking and passion resulted in a beloved public space for all to enjoy.
Because the site had limited utility access, engineers had to build new infrastructure to support the site, extending services from a quarter mile from Brownsburg to provide sanitary and public water build a restroom, water fountain, and irrigation.
Client and Community Impact
Virgil Park introduced new green space to an underserved area. Located off central Indiana’s B&O Trail, it was an ideal site for a community trailhead and offloading point for those walking and riding long distances. This benefits public health by providing a space to get outside and embark on an adventure, spending less time on the road and more time in fresh air.
This area of Brownsburg has been difficult for pedestrians to navigate due to the lack of sidewalks. The first part of a larger multi-use trail was installed with this park to begin addressing pedestrian safety issues.
In creating the wetlands, the environment benefits as well. Selective culling of invasive species helped ensure only native plantings could take hold in the area, boosting local biodiversity. Wet-tolerant plants filter stormwater and improve water quality; as these plants continue to mature, that benefit will only increase. The parking lot also utilized permeable pavers for continued stormwater quality treatment.
Using natural resources also provided economical benefit. Virgil Park was built with very limited use of concrete pipe; gravel was chosen for most of the trails instead of concrete. By modifying traditional stormwater methods through creative thinking about stormwater detention, we reduced the need for heavy earth moving activities and reduced our reliance on concrete pipe.
Work with V3’s Engineering Experts
We are thrilled to be honored alongside this year’s Engineering Excellence winners. Connect with our team to get started on your next project.