Two men have been charged with trespassing and criminal mischief, causing at least $50,000 in damage to Fort Harrison State Park’s Chinquapin Rookery Nature Preserve.
The two are accused of creating and/or maintaining an illegal mountain bike trail that runs for several miles through the nature preserve. They have been charged in Marion County Superior Court.
The preserve is a protected rookery (an area of nests or breeding grounds for birds) and is home to such wild life as great blue herons and egrets. It was created in 2011 and covers more than 100 acres.
Fort Harrison State Park (stateparks.IN.gov/2982.htm) is at 5753 Glenn Road, Indianapolis, 46216.
To view all DNR news releases, please see dnr.IN.gov.
Media contact: Capt. Bill Browne, DNR Division of Law Enforcement, 765-509-0207, wbrowne@dnr.IN.gov