Zionsville Matters-April/May 2021

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MATTERS A T OW N OF ZIONS V IL L E P UBL IC AT ION

GETTING

OUTSIDE AGAIN

ISSUE

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SPECIAL INSERT

20 21 APRIL/MAY

2021-04-19 9:51 AM

MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR

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decade ago, I lived in the “Village” and across the street from Elm Street Green. I remember how much I appreciated observing the butterflies, birds, deer and other wildlife roaming among the prairie meadows right outside my backyard. As we enjoy the warmer weather this month, I can’t help but think how special our corner of the Earth is. We are an environmentally conscious community that prioritizes both

the health and wellness of residents and the Earth. My administration will continue to take steps to preserve and protect the environment, working with our Parks Department, our residents and our businesses on conservation and sustainability initiatives.

This month I issued a proclamation declaring Arbor Week in the Town of Zionsville on April 26–30, 2021. For 19 years Zionsville has been named a Tree City USA in recognition to our ongoing community forestry program. This year I also declared April 29, 2021, as Lana Funkhouser Day, honoring one of Zionsville’s most passionate and greatest civic leaders. Lana Funkhouser was instrumental in founding the Tree City designation and Arbor Week in Zionsville. I am thankful for Lana’s dedication to our community and her legacy.

Late last year we introduced our first Climate Action Plan that highlights greenhouse gas reduction strategies and promotes substantial-

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TOWN HALL QUICK HITS What You Need to Know This Month

reconfiguration project will add a customer-centered Municipal Action Center on the first floor. During this time, Town Hall remains closed to foot traffic but open by appointment only.

Mayor Emily Styron

The Zionsville Fire Department reminds residents to learn before you burn! Indiana’s open burning laws and rules make it illegal to burn trash and generally

Town Hall renovation work has started. This

ity among the community. Recently, the Parks and Recreation Department was awarded a community recycling grant from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management to install recycling receptacles and temporary recycling/compost bins and for the creation of compost collection sites. You will also see new portable recycling units in programming, park events and community gatherings like the Zionsville Famers Market. Implementing this recycling program within our park system will further promote the character and vision of our community.

I hope your family finds time to observe the wildlife in Elm Street Green, to walk the trails in Starkey Park to see the wildflowers growing, to bike the Big-4 Rail Trail and to visit our farmers market starting May 22. My family is thrilled to get back outside and will look forward to seeing you and your family out and about too.

prohibit open burning in Indiana, except for exempt burning activities.

Learn the rules of residential open burning by visiting in.gov/idem/ openburning.

The Zionsville Nature Center is now open in its new location on the first floor of the Hussey-Mayfield Memorial Public Library. The hours are Tuesday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Visit with our educational animals and talk with our staff.

For more information visit www. zionsville-in.gov/naturecenter.

Heavy Trash Collection takes place the week of May 3, 2021, on your regular trash collection day. This service provides Zionsville residents in the urban service district a means to dispose of objects and materials not normally accepted by the weekly trash service.

Items must be placed curbside by 7 a.m. on your regular trash collection day in order to guarantee collection.

For more information, visit zionsville-in.gov/152/ Heavy-Trash-Collection.

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Work with us and among 500plus acres of parkland and 20 parks! The Zionsville Parks and Recreation Department is hiring for full-time, part-time and seasonal positions. For more information, visit zionsville-in.gov/jobs.

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MEET YOUR NEIGHBOR:

NANCY

CARPENTER Writer // Janelle Morrison • Photography // Laura Arick

Many of you may already know longtime Zionsville resident and nature conservation enthusiast Nancy Carpenter. Nancy and her husband, Jim, founded Wild Birds Unlimited in the early ’80s and have lived in Zionsville since 1987, where they raised their two daughters.

A PASSION FOR THE GREAT OUTDOORS

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ancy shared that she and her family enjoy the outdoors and the lifestyle that it offers.

“We live out in the ‘country’ or what more or less used to be

country,” Nancy said. “It’s all changing very quickly. We have horses, donkeys and beehives. We also make our own maple syrup. We have embraced the outdoors in this area, so it’s been a perfect place for us to live.”

When I asked her about the importance of maintaining beehives, Nancy replied, “I started dothe more people that try to keep healthy hives, the

Nancy’s passion and commitment for preserv-

Nancy and I discussed how one of the greatest

better. I think everybody knows how important

ing and expanding the community’s green spaces

amenities in Zionsville—and in Boone County,

sustaining pollinators are to the whole ecosystem,

did not diminish but only grew stronger and

for that matter—are our green spaces, parks and

so that’s why I got into it—to help the bees and the

more persistent.

trails. While we don’t have mountains, beaches or

honey [produced] is an added benefit.”

ESTABLISHING THE ZIONSVILLE PARKS FOUNDATION

“The [former] foundation still had a little bit of

oceans, we do have these remarkable treasures

money sitting in an account with the Community

that promote healthier living and enhance our

Foundation of Boone County,” Nancy said. “That

community’s overall quality of life.

is how this whole Zionsville Parks Foundation

“The health of our community, its residents

was sort of reborn. I went to Mayor Emily [Styron]

and the health of the economy all tie into having

Space Foundation that was established for acquisi-

and told her that we had this money sitting in

green space and trails. Being able to get out into

tion of real estate and/or conservation easements

this account that could be available for Zionsville

nature and enjoy [outdoor] activities is very

for park or nature preserve use two decades ago.

parks. She was very interested, so we met. Long

important to me—it always has been. Starting

story short—there are many components to this—

this [foundation] up is really exciting to me and

was known as The Zionsville Green Space Founda-

the idea of starting a new foundation that we call

is providing me a second chance to really make

tion in 2001,” Nancy shared. “The idea was to get

the Zionsville Parks Foundation was born, and I’m

an impact.”

donations as well as support from the community

really excited about this.”

Many of you may recall The Zionsville Green

“I, along with some other folks, started what

to buy more greenspace for parks, wildlife habitat

Nancy continued, “We’ve got an initial board of

Look for more information to come as the Zionsville Parks Foundation is currently awaiting

and so forth. We had some successes, but it was

six women who are really dedicated, competent

its 501(c)(3) status from the IRS. Nancy shared that

kind of short-lived. It was one of those small foun-

professionals, and I think we’re going to have great

she expects the board will have that designation

dations that once the main key people had kind of

success in helping Zionsville preserve, enhance

soon and plans for the foundation will immediate-

moved on, it didn’t continue.”

and grow open space and parks.”

ly be rolling out.

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ing it because I know that bees are in trouble and

2021-04-19 3:15 PM

Town of Zionsville’s Public Information Officer:

Amanda Vela Writer // Submitted • Photography // Submitted

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Amanda Vela is the Town of Zionsville’s Public Information Officer. In this role, she ensures all levels of town communications accurately and effectively promote the Town of Zionsville and mayoral priorities and messaging. She leads external communications through press releases and media relations, developing content for the website, newsletter, social media, emergency and nonemergency alerts and special publications. She also leads internal communications and provides general communications support for all Town departments.

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n 2020, several initiatives were accomplished, including adding a new alerts platform to send mass notifications, an employee newsletter and the launch of Live Sessions and Facebook Live videos with the mayor and town staff. Amanda also manages the town’s social media platforms.

“In my role, I appreciate the collaborative and cross-functional relationship with all departments.

In a way, I serve as the ‘public relations agency’ for all town departments, and I work closely every day with department heads to create transparent two-way communication. Our team is made up of experienced and intelligent individuals who are not only experts in the field but experts in our local community. They ‘get’ Zionsville and the uniqueness and special qualities of our town.”

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Having worked as a writer and freelancer for several local newspapers and magazines, including the Indy Star, Indianapolis Monthly, the former Times Sentinel, Bloomington’s Indiana Daily Student and Bloomington’s “Bloom Magazine,” Amanda has experience in print journalism. Previously, Amanda worked for Downtown Indy, Inc. as communications manager and promoted downtown Indianapolis as a leisure destination. She helped shape the narrative of downtown Indianapolis to broaden the brand and drive demand to live, work and play downtown. She helped plan, coordinate and market some of Indy’s largest events, including Circle of Lights and Motorcycles on Meridian, as well as the activation of Georgia Street. She previously served as a freelance publicist for Bohlsen Group and previously worked as manager of Lululemon Athletica, a job that combined her love of community relations, brand strategy and fitness.

Amanda has a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from Indiana University and a Master of Arts in public relations from IUPUI. She is a self-proclaimed grammar nerd and enjoys the ins and outs of grammar and AP writing style.

“I also ‘geek out’ learning about government—government policies, strategic planning, and local operations.

I love learning from our team members how a sewer construction project works, how potholes form or how water gets treated in our wastewater plant, and then breaking down that information to make it more digestible and interesting to citizens.”

Amanda and her husband have two children—Jack, age 3, and Lily, age 1, and a spoiled chocolate Lab, Ellie.

In her free time, she enjoys hiking, biking, running, traveling with her family, learning to become a better gardener and yoga. Most weekends are spent with her family exploring parks and trails or doing house projects on their ’60s house.

“Finally, I get to work in a community that is thoroughly engaged. Our citizens want to know what is going on in their town, whether it be event related, service related or initiatives and programs within their town government. I enjoy the process of understanding what messaging needs to be communicated and coming up with solutions to provide both external and internal communications that educate and inform our citizens.”

“Looking to the future, it’s exciting to see our government mobilize to create more opportunities.

We’re taking action on climate change, we have added a much-requested dog park, we have broken ground on the future Overley-Worman Park, we’re expanding the Big-4 Rail Trail both north and south, we’re in initial planning stages for a community center, we’re reconfiguring Town Hall to add a customer-centered Municipal Action Center, we’re awarding grants to local nonprofits. It’s an honor to work for this community and in a municipality that puts 110% in every day to offer the best customer service possible.”

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TALK A WALK, READ A BOOK: THE ELM STREET GREEN STORYWALK IS HERE Picture yourself walking through a park and seeing a page from a children’s book, laminated and mounted on a stake in the ground. As you walk along the path, you discover another page, and then another, and you realize you’re reading a story.

That is the essence behind StoryWalk.

“This feature at Elm Street Green supports our mission to provide unique and accessible services that inspire people to learn, play and engage,” said Director of Recreation Services Mindy Murdock.

“The Zionsville Parks Department has enjoyed years of partnership with the library. This collaboration allows us to continue to develop exciting recreational opportunities and reach new commuFunding for the purchase of the permanent

arrived at Elm Street Green thanks

exhibit structures and supplies was made possible

to a collaborative partnership

through a $9,000 grant from the HMPPL Founda-

between Hussey Mayfield Memo-

tion. The Zionsville Parks and Recreation Depart-

rial Public Library (HMMPL) and

ment donates the time and maintenance of the

Zionsville Parks and Recreation. These structures

exhibit and HMPPL provides the story schedule

allow park visitors to enjoy a self-guided story in

and updates the books.

the outdoors.

The free, multistation exhibit is located along

“The Library Foundation board was very excited about this grant,” said HMMPL Chief

the half-mile paved loop around the prairie

Development Officer Tracy Phillips. “The project

meadows section of the park. As you stroll along

is a wonderful partnership between the library

the path, you’re directed to the next page in the

and the Parks Department and brings the library’s

story—a great way to spark a love of the outdoors

mission of lifelong learning out of our campus and

and reading at an early age. StoryWalk helps build

into our community.”

children’s interest in reading while encouraging

StoryWalk Project was created by Anne Fergu-

healthy outdoor activity for both children and

son of Montpelier, Vermont, and developed in col-

their grown-ups.

laboration with the Vermont Bicycle & Pedestrian

StoryWalk is a win-win for all: Families play out-

Coalition (VBPC) and the Kellogg Hubbard Library.

side, children build school-readiness skills and every-

StoryWalk has now spread to all 50 states, but this

one experiences fresh air and physical movement.

is the first one for Zionsville.

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nity members.” ast month, a permanent StoryWalk

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Holliday Farms Golf Course Set to Open in 2021 Writer // Janelle Morrison • Photography // Submitted

Zionsville will soon welcome golfers with wanderlust to its championship golf and par 3 course designed by iconic course architect Pete Dye. Having been raised in Carmel, Indiana, I am no stranger to the remarkable legacy that Pete and his late wife, Alice, left to not only the professional golf community but to the communities that feature Pete’s beautiful and striking signature golf courses. Holliday Farms Golf Course was recently named a “top 18-hole golf course openings for 2021” by LinksMagazine.com and was listed among prominent international courses such as St. Patrick’s Links in Ireland, Ballyshear Links in Thailand and Yas Acres in Abu Dhabi.

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Opening Summer of 2021 20-plus-year project coming to fruition, the course was designed

by Pete before his death in January 2020 and is the prominent amenity within the 600-acre

Holliday Farms development—developed by Steve Henke—in Zionsville. It is slated to open this summer. The course boasts an 18-hole championship

“It’s been a remarkable experience watching the

course and a nine-hole par-3 executive course that

construction of Holliday Farms’ premier Zionsville

wraps around the driving range. Each nine has two

golf course unfold. The entire course is folded into

par 3s, five par 4s and two par 5s. The course also

the natural landscape and with views of Eagle

features a 9,000-square-foot putting green and a

Creek, this will be another standout amenity in

7,000-square-foot chipping green with bunkers.

Zionsville. I am grateful for their investment in our

The course site incorporates picturesque landscapes complete with rolling hills, woods, creeks

community.”

The short game practice area and driving range

and lakes and features such as 200 bunkers that

are included for both types of memberships and

are a signature of a Pete Dye championship golf

provide all golfers, or those looking to learn, with

course. Holliday Farms is located near downtown

a place to develop their game, receive instruction,

Zionsville and West Carmel off US 421.

camps, clinics or just a quiet and private place to

“The expertise, artistry and genuine passion the Henke Development Group puts into their golf courses is unrivaled,” said Mayor Emily Styron.

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putt in a beautiful setting near the Clubhouse.

For more information, visit hollidayfarmszionsville.com.

2021-04-19 3:41 PM

ZIONSVILLE CELEBRATES ARBOR WEEK AND REMEMBERS LANA FUNKHOUSER

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ionsville met all four standards to become a Tree City USA community. Tree City USA communities must have a tree board or department, a tree-care ordinance, a community forestry program with annual expenditures of at least $2 per capita and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.

In coordination with Arbor Week, the Town of Zionsville and People of Zionsville for the Aesthetics of Zionsville (PZAZ) committee are honoring Lana Funkhouser, founder of PZAZ, vice president of the Board of Zoning Appeals, longtime Plan Commission president and member and community leader.

On Jan. 22, 2018, Lana lost the fight against cancer, but her legacy lives on. Mayor Emily

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planting of one tree will be a beautiful token, but walk downtown and look around. All around you, displayed in all its village glory, stands the true and magnificent legacy of Lana Funkhouser, one of the greatest leaders in the history of Zionsville.”

Lana was also a member of the Zionsville Historical Society and the SullivanMunce Cultural Center. Away from Zionsville, Lana had a successful career in hospital administration and human resources at St. Vincent and IU Health West Hospital.

In addition to promoting tree planting and Zionsville’s appearance, Lana and the PZAZ committee created a tree ordinance that addressed the placement of trees and shrubs in commercial development. That ordinance has been slightly modified over the years and can be found in the Town of Zionsville’s Code of Ordinances. An updated list of trees that are best suited for being planted in Zionsville—many native to Indiana-can be found at zionsville-in.gov/treelist.

While most holidays celebrate something that has already happened and is worth remembering, Arbor Week represents a hope for the future. The simple act of planting a tree represents a belief that the tree will grow to provide us with clean air and water, cooling shade, habitat for wildlife, healthier communities and natural beauty—all for a better tomorrow.

About the People of Zionsville for Aesthetics of Zionsville (PZAZ) Committee The PZAZ committee is set up to promote urban forestry and streetscape beautification for Zionsville. PZAZ was founded many years ago by Lana Funkhouser for the purpose of beautifying Zionsville and replacing and planting trees. In addition to urban forestry, going forward, PZAZ hopes to put more focus on projects that promote town aesthetics and beautification and help to preserve and maintain the historically unique charm, specifically in the Village.

MEMBERS: Brad Burk Tom Casalini Mervyn Cohen

Greta Sanderson Nancy Tikijian

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The Town of Zionsville is celebrating Arbor Week April 26–30. For 19 years the Town of Zionsville has been named a Tree City USA community for our committment to urban forestry. The town has earned this national honor from the Arbor Day Foundation, the nation’s largest nonprofit organization dedicated to planting trees.

Styron has proclaimed April 29, 2021, Lana Funkhouser Day. Lana’s life and her contributions to the community will be celebrated with a dedication ceremony for a memorial tree planted in her honor on the Zionsville Town Hall Plaza near the Rail Trail.

“I am happy to see Lana honored with this fitting tribute for all of the contributions she made to the town’s aesthetic value,” said PZAZ member Greta Sanderson.

Lana founded PZAZ in 1995 to promote urban forestry and streetscape beautification and, as Lana once said, “to look out for the aesthetics of Zionsville.” Lana made aesthetics a priority and worked yearly with a landscaper and town staff to plot out rightof-way tree planting locations and species as part of the town’s Urban Forestry initiative.

“I remember her talking about in her early days here, she remembered streets lined with trees and the canopy they made over the streets. Her efforts to preserve that look and feel are what drove her in her work with PZAZ, along with her love of Zionsville,” said John Yeo, former Town of Zionsville clerk treasurer.

Lana also worked to upgrade the physical appearance of Zionsville through landscaping, cleanups within the downtown area and preservation of the architecture and historic character of the village.

Former Town Council and Plan Commission member David J. Carr said, “Having worked with Lana, I can personally vouch for her boundless dedication to the Town of Zionsville. I sat right next to her on the Zionsville Plan Commission, and I happily report that on her watch, no developer, no greed-infused bounder, nor any other scoundrel put anything through the Plan Commission for building in Zionsville without Lana’s careful scrutinizing to make sure the ‘Zionsville look’ stood safeguarded. The beautiful, quaint nature of Zionsville, particularly the village, offers a living testament and memorial to her outstanding civic leadership. Beautifully dressed and coiffured, most often with accessorized glasses, Lana reigned supreme over the Plan Commission.

Never harsh or argumentative (my job), she displayed, always, the sharp scimitar of wit and battle-ax of logic, to win the day. The

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BOARD/COMMITTEE/COMMISSION SPOTLIGHT:

ZIONSVILLE ARCHITECTURE REVIEW COMMITTEE (ZARC)

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he Zionsville Architectural Review Committee (ZARC) administers the Downtown

RECENT AGENDA ITEMS

Facade Rehabilitation program, which offers monies to property owners in the

• 135 South Main Street – During the March meeting,

downtown Village Business District (VBD)

David Rausch of David Rausch Studio presented an appli-

as an incentive to rehabilitate their building facades. The

cation for a Facade Rehabilitation Program grant for a new

program is meant for substantial facade restoration or

restaurant at 135 South Main Street, the former location

repair. The committee administers the program in accor-

of Serenity. Currently, Shari Jenkins (the owner of Noah

dance with the Architectural Facade Design Guidelines.

Grant’s and Salty Cowboy) has proposed remodeling the

The committee is comprised of eight members appointed by the Town Council. Term of service is one year.

DOWNTOWN FAÇADE REHABILITATION PROGRAM In 2008, the Zionsville Town Council established

space for a new restaurant, Tipsy Mermaid. The design includes exterior renovation, an expanded kitchen, a four-season room, outdoor dining and more. The Facade Rehabilitation Program funding would be utilized for work on the existing building and not on any

the Downtown Facade Rehabilitation Program with an

additions to the building. Final approval will be deter-

appropriation of $50,000. The purpose of the program is

mined during the ZARC’s April meeting once other design

to offer monies to property owners in the downtown VBD

details are available.

as an incentive to rehabilitate their building facades. The program’s annual appropriation of $50,000 of funds come

• ZARC facade grant boundary expansion – During the

from the Food and Beverage Tax. These funds from the

March meeting, the committee discussed expanding

Food and Beverage Tax are specifically earmarked by the

the existing facade grant boundary, which is currently

Town Council for use in downtown improvements.

defined as all commercial use properties in or immedi-

The eight-person ZARC committee has been estab-

ately adjacent to the VBD zoning district. The proposed

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lished by the Town Council to administer the program.

boundary is all non-single-family residential use property

The facade grant program provides for a reimbursement

in the areas indicated, contiguous with all commercial

of the owner’s funds for up to 40% of the project total. Eli-

zoning districts in or adjacent to the VBD zoning district.

gibility for the program should initially meet three criteria:

The key change is expanding eligibility for the grant from

• The property must be in or contiguous to the Zions-

only “commercial use properties” to “all nonsingle family

ville Business District.

• The rehabilitation must be visible from a public way.

residential use property.” The committee will establish an updated map.

• The rehabilitation project must contribute to the enhancement and character of the building as well as the Zionsville Business District.

MEMBERS • • • • • • • •

Todd Rottman – President Tom Casalini – Vice President Michael Billig Steve Freeland Steve Herron Carol Mullet Cara Weber David Rausch

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FUN FACTS

Over the years, the ZARC has funded $558,307.41 in grants with 27 total projects receiving grant money. Two projects are currently on file seeking review from the ZARC: Tipsy Mermaid at 135 South Main Street and COhatch at 75 North Main Street.

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