It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Historic Prairie Creek Covered Bridge gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Prairie Creek, IN is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
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“Working for Always Best Care has been very rewarding for me to help others in need. Whatever my questions may be or any help I need as a health care provider for my client they have always came through with help.”
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“Great staff. Well trained and kind people.”
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“Mr. and Mrs. Beach are the owners of this location, and they are some of the most caring and dedicated people I have ever met. They truly want to help people get the best care for their loved ones. My grandmother would have loved to have care like this.”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Prairie Creek Park Vigo County Parks and Recreation Department with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Stone Creek Dining Company Plainfield, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Prairie Creek, IN, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Prairie Creek, IN understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Prairie Creek, IN 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
By Jud Fisher, President/CEO, Ball Brothers Foundation—MUNCIE, IN — Ball Brothers Foundation has recently awarded grants supporting several new projects that will enhance outdoor recreation, safety, and connectivity along the White River and Prairie Creek Reservoir in Muncie.“Ball Brothers Foundation is proud to support these projects, which reflect our interest in making East Central Indiana’s rivers and reservoirs more accessible, safe, and welcoming,” said Jud Fisher, p...
By Jud Fisher, President/CEO, Ball Brothers Foundation—
MUNCIE, IN — Ball Brothers Foundation has recently awarded grants supporting several new projects that will enhance outdoor recreation, safety, and connectivity along the White River and Prairie Creek Reservoir in Muncie.
“Ball Brothers Foundation is proud to support these projects, which reflect our interest in making East Central Indiana’s rivers and reservoirs more accessible, safe, and welcoming,” said Jud Fisher, president and CEO of Ball Brothers Foundation. “From new trails to safe river access points, these initiatives expand opportunities for families, students, and visitors to explore and enjoy the water.”
The three projects receiving recent grant support include:
In commenting on the funding, Indiana American Water Company’s Operations Manager Jim Henderson stated, “Ball Brothers Foundation’s continued investment in the White River and Prairie Creek Reservoir is a testament to their vision for a healthier, more connected community. These improvements—especially the multi-use trail extension—will make the reservoir more accessible and enjoyable for everyone, from families to outdoor enthusiasts. Their leadership is helping transform this natural asset into a true regional destination.”
“We are grateful to the Ball Brothers Foundation for their generous support of our community. The extension of the multi-use trail at Prairie Creek, made possible by this $40,000 grant, will provide even more opportunities for recreation and connection on the southeast side of the Reservoir,” added Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour. “Projects like this make Muncie a healthier, more vibrant place to live, and we are excited to see it take shape.”
These grants are part of Project Blueways, Ball Brothers Foundation’s funding initiative dedicated to strengthening connections between people and waterways in East Central Indiana. For decades, the foundation has championed efforts to improve water quality and preserve the region’s natural beauty. Project Blueways builds on that legacy, dedicating a portion of the foundation’s grantmaking specifically to the waterways and watersheds that connect and sustain our communities—including the White River and the Mississinewa River.
To learn more about Muncie and Delaware County’s growing network of “Greenways and Blueways,” visit: www.destinationmuncie.org/whiteriver. You can also stop by Destination Muncie’s downtown storefront to pick up a copy of a new map that shows canoe/kayak launches, parks, trails, and other recreational amenities adjacent to the White River and Prairie Creek Reservoir.
For more information about Ball Brothers Foundation and its grantmaking, visit www.ballfdn.org.
About Ball Brothers Foundation
Ball Brothers Foundation is one of the state’s oldest and largest family foundations. Annually, the foundation pays out more than $8 million in grants to support arts and culture, education, the environment, health, human services, and public/society benefit. The Muncie-based private foundation gives priority to projects and programs that improve the quality of life in the foundation’s home city, county, and state.
By Kara Stevenson Communications Specialist, Sr., I&M—
MUNCIE, IN—The weather in Indiana is ever- changing. Throughout the year, Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) proactively maintains and upgrades the electrical system; however, power outages due to severe conditions remain possible.
In September, I&M is highlighting the importance of being prepared and connected during National Preparedness Month – but this is important to achieve year-round.
“At I&M, the safety of customers and employees is our top priority. When emergencies and severe weather happens, we want our customers to know how to respond, prepare and stay safe,” said Katie Davis, vice president of External Affairs and Customer Experience. “We encourage you to practice these tips with your loved ones and create a plan to stay safe if the unexpected happens.”
Like our customers, I&M prepares to respond if power outages occur. A dedicated team of American Electric Power (AEP) meteorologists monitor and share forecast details before inclement weather arrives. I&M also ensures a contingent of crews and equipment are in place should it be needed. Once it is safe to do so, crews will follow our storm restoration process to restore power as quickly and safely as possible.
For more weather-ready tips, safety reminders and storm information, customers can visit www.IndianaMichiganPower.com/weather.
About Indiana Michigan Power
Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) is headquartered in Fort Wayne, and its approximately 2,000 employees serve more than 600,000 customers. More than 85% of its energy delivered in 2023 was emission-free. I&M has at its availability various sources of generation including 2,278 MW of nuclear generation in Michigan, 450 MW of purchased wind generation fromIndiana, more than 22 MW of hydro generation in both states and approximately 35 MW of large-scale solar generation in both states. The company’s generation portfolio also includes 1,497 MW of coal fueled generation.
The following is an update from the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office:On Thursday, at approximately 3:24 p.m., Heather Wayment, a lost hiker, was reported located on a trail 17.3 miles from her last known location, north of Ketchum.Wayment was the subject of an intense multi-agency search and rescue effort led by the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office. She was reported missing by family members on Wednesday. She was last seen on Tuesday and her vehicle was located in the Prairie Creek area of Blaine County....
The following is an update from the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office:
On Thursday, at approximately 3:24 p.m., Heather Wayment, a lost hiker, was reported located on a trail 17.3 miles from her last known location, north of Ketchum.
Wayment was the subject of an intense multi-agency search and rescue effort led by the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office. She was reported missing by family members on Wednesday. She was last seen on Tuesday and her vehicle was located in the Prairie Creek area of Blaine County.
Wayment was found approximately 17 miles from her vehicle on a remote trail in Camas County by a group of mountain bikers who were not part of the search and rescue efforts.
Wayment was able to provide her name, and the mountain bikers contacted Blaine County Emergency Communications 911 by satellite phone.
Due to the remote location, significant logistics were involved in rescuing Wayment from her discovered location. The air ambulance was on scene by 4:20 p.m., and Wayment was transported by Life Flight 76 at approximately 5:45 p.m. with unknown injuries to St. Alphonsus Medical Center in Boise.
The Blaine County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the members of Blaine County Sheriff Search and Rescue, Idaho Mountain Search and Rescue, Snake River Search and Rescue, Blaine County Emergency Communications, Life Flight 76, the Camas County Sheriff’s Office, and all the members of the public who provided information to assist us in rescuing Heather Wayment safely.
We especially want to thank our Blaine County Sheriff’s Office deputies for their incredible efforts over the past two days, and the mountain bikers who were able to contact law enforcement, guide the Life Flight crew to Wayment, and remain by Wayment’s side offering aid until medical assistance could arrive.
KETCHUM — Police are asking for help in finding a woman who was reportedly last heard from on Tuesday.
According to a news release from the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office, 46-year-old Heather Wayment was reported missing at 9:10 a.m. on Wednesday.
Family members stated her car, a silver Nissan, was found at the Prairie Creek trailhead and said they had last spoken with her on Tuesday morning.
According to AllTrails, the Prairie Creek Hike is a 4.6 mile loop trail near Ketchum.
The sheriff’s office stated license plate reader cameras identified Wayment’s Nissan driving north on Highway 75 through Blaine County at about 3:20 p.m. on Tuesday.
Deputies responded to Prairie Creek, contacting the family. At about 11:30 a.m., the Blaine County Search & Rescue team was dispatched, and a Command Post was established.
Search teams were sent out on foot and mountain bikes, and drones and helicopters have also been used in the search efforts. Hikers, campers and hunters in the area were all interviewed, according to the sheriff’s office.
Search operations were paused on Wednesday evening and resumed at 8 a.m. on Thursday.
According to the release, Thursday’s search operations include teams on foot, mountain bikes, and horseback, as well as canines and drones. Idaho Mountain Search and Rescue and Snake River Search and Rescue have also joined the search efforts.
“We are asking the public to stay away from the area and allow our first responders to do their job,” the release states. “If you were in the Prairie Creek area on Tuesday or Wednesday, September 16-17, 2025, or may have additional relevant information, please contact the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office at 208-788-5555.”
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Press release from Calif State Parks:Jennifer a’Midi, local Humboldt County mosaic artist, will be unveiling a one-of-a-kind mosaic elk sculpture at Redwood National and State Parks. The life-sized, hand-crafted bull elk will be making a home at the Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park Visitor Center, where it will be seen by millions of park enthusiasts every year. The elk weighs approximately 225 pounds and features whimsical scenes of California’s North Coast, including 138 unique habitat types...
Press release from Calif State Parks:
Jennifer a’Midi, local Humboldt County mosaic artist, will be unveiling a one-of-a-kind mosaic elk sculpture at Redwood National and State Parks. The life-sized, hand-crafted bull elk will be making a home at the Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park Visitor Center, where it will be seen by millions of park enthusiasts every year. The elk weighs approximately 225 pounds and features whimsical scenes of California’s North Coast, including 138 unique habitat types, native plants, animals, and fungi, all composed of thousands of carefully arranged pieces of colorful, hand-cut glass. The elk also features museum-quality antlers. “It’s a passion that I have to share my art with the public to hopefully inspire conservation and protection of our forests and all the creatures within,” says a’Midi.
a’Midi has extensive experience creating unique mosaic art projects in her community. The elk will be the fourth mosaic art sculpture featured in a North Coast Redwoods District, park unit by a’Midi. Visitors can explore the mosaic sculpture, Mushroom Connection, featuring a mushroom and river scene with otters and salmonids, at the historic Richardson Grove Lodge. The sculpture was donated by the artist in celebration of the Richardson Grove State Park Centennial in 2023. a’Midi’s famous North Coast Otters mosaic art sculpture, named Tce yac, remains a beloved fixture of the Humboldt Redwoods State Park Visitor Center. And a giant mosaic Entoloma medianox, called Midnight, after the common name of this fungi, midnight Entoloma, graces the Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park Visitor Center as well.
Redwood National and State Parks is honored to host Jennifer a’Midi’s custom-made artwork, and we are thrilled to connect visitors to creative experiences in the parks, which provide inspiration and connection to nature. On September 13, 2025, a celebration will be held for the newest mosaic sculpture at the Prairie Creek Visitor Center. The event will take place between 4pm and 6 pm at Newton B. Drury Parkway, Orick CA 95555.
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MUNCIE, IN — After 35 years, members of the Muncie Light Horse Club have reached the end of the trail, at least as far as Prairie Creek Reservoir goes.On Friday, Aug. 1, the city of Muncie shut down about five miles of horse trails that had been on the west side of the reservoir since 1990.The club's current president, Greg Wilkins, and his wife, Nancy, joined the organization in 1991. They are its longest-serving current members.Indiana American Water Company, which owns the reservoir and surrounding property, mad...
MUNCIE, IN — After 35 years, members of the Muncie Light Horse Club have reached the end of the trail, at least as far as Prairie Creek Reservoir goes.
On Friday, Aug. 1, the city of Muncie shut down about five miles of horse trails that had been on the west side of the reservoir since 1990.
The club's current president, Greg Wilkins, and his wife, Nancy, joined the organization in 1991. They are its longest-serving current members.
Indiana American Water Company, which owns the reservoir and surrounding property, made the decision to close the trails.
While Greg and Nancy Wilkins, and other club members, wish the water company would reconsider its decision, they acknowledge IAWC has the authority to take that action.
"This is the water company's property," Greg Wilkins said in an interview a few days before the trails were closed. "I completely respect that. They can do with it what they want."
At a meeting last spring where the future of the horse trails was discussed, a water company official's remarks might have given some an incorrect impression of the situation.
The Muncie Light Horse Club — which for the past several years had access to a large lot along the western shore of the reservoir accessible to the trails — was not at that location without invitation.
Greg Wilkins said an official with then-Mayor Sharon McShurley's administration "approached our club about adopting this property as our own."
"We were already taking care of the trails, and they knew that," he said.
The property, including a large storage building, had previously been used by member of a model boat club that apparently disbanded.
"This (land) turned into a home for vagrants, people dumping trash," Wilkins said. "We cleared the property up, made it our own. And we've been here ever since.
"We're here because they invited us."
The horse club's use of the property continued during the administration of McShurley's successor as Muncie mayor, Dennis Tyler, who had electricity and water service made available at a small campground used by the horse enthusiasts.
Any suggestions the trails were not well maintained were reportedly inaccurate.
"This is such a jewel for this area," Nancy Wilkins said. "People who aren't horse people don't understand — these are the nicest trails. You would be hard pressed to find any better trails than we have right here.
"We have spent thousands of hours and thousands of dollars of our own money and our own blood, sweat and tears in this trail system."
Since the fall of 2023, more than $12,000 in grant money the horse club received has been invested in maintaining the trails.
This year, $2,000 in grant money was used for removal of invasive honeysuckle from the sides of the trails.
"The trails are in nice shape now," Greg Wilkins said.
Wilkins has acknowledged the trails since 1996 have been classified as "wildlife habitat" but noted guidelines from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources allows for horse trails in such areas.
Water company officials have said horses can't be permitted "around a drinking water reservoir."
Greg Wilkins called the use of the horse trails "the least polluting, most ecological recreational activity out here."
Water company officials have also indicated they can find no paperwork that confirms the company was informed of plans to create horse trails on the west side of the reservoir in 1990.
The city leases the 750 acres of land surrounding the 1,275-acre reservoir for use as a park. Ron Bonham, superintendent of the Prairie Creek park for 38 years who helped create the trails, died in 2016.
After announcing plans to close the horse trails in mid-July, Mayor Dan Ridenour noted the city's lease with the water company "says that the entire west side of the lake is to be preservation and conservation."
Greg Wilkins noted the water company expressed no concerns about the horse trails when they renewed the lease in 2012.
The Muncie Light Horse Club — founded in 1942, and now a nonprofit organization — will remain in operation.
Greg and Nancy Wilkins noted there are other horse trails available, including a 3-mile trail along the Cardinal Greenway south of Prairie Creek Reservoir that many used at the same time they rode the reservoir trails.
Other options include horse trails in Westwood Park near New Castle and those at state parks, including Whitewater or Versailles.
But Greg Wilkins continues to hope that somehow, the decision to close the local trails his organization has used and maintained for decades might be reconsidered.
"We benefit this side of the reservoir by being here," he said.
Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at [email protected].
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