Big Car has transformed an overlooked, overgrown spot along Bean Creek on our Tube Factory campus into a beautiful public place for peaceful reflection, socializing, and learning about nature. Visit this peaceful area by the creek next time you come to Tube Factory!

Thanks to donor and funder support we were able to:

1. Remove a section of asphalt currently located very near Bean Creek, where we created a space for an outdoor classroom and gathering area. This intimate space — inspired by the Happiness Garden located in the 19th Century utopian community of Zoar, Ohio — features permeable landscaped paths surrounding native pollinator plants.

2. Add a path near the creek and stones as steps down that will allow visitors better access to this year-round waterway enjoyed by fish, water birds, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals like muskrats and mink.

3. Continue to work with experts to remove invasive plants in the area near the creek, replacing these with native plantings.

4. Clean up any trash and junk in the section of Bean Creek that borders our campus.

5. Begin planning to program the area on First Fridays and with special small events to bring social and educational activities, conversations, and performances from commissioned artists.

6. Begin to collaborate with our neighborhood organizations and cultural partners on social and arts-focused gatherings.

7. Repair the parking lot area adjacent to the new restorative space.

8. Highlight the existing rain garden on our campus by replanting it with native pollinators.

9. Create an outdoor classroom and social space surrounded by native plants adjacent to Bean Creek.

10. Build a privacy gate that will include additional awnings and educational displays. This gate will hide away our dumpsters and restrict access to our storage area, creating a safer environment for young visitors.

This project was made possible through our Water World campaign with Patronicity & The Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority and by the following donors:

Malina S. Bacon ; Polly Harrold ; Kimberley Pflueger ; Benjamin F. Rose ; Paul J. Hinton ; Beth Webber ; Holly J. Sommers ; Marisol M. Gouveia ; Hannah S. Campbell ; Norbert Krapf ; Heath Hurst ; Matthew L. Gonzales ; Shauta Marsh & Jim Walker ; Georgia Cravey ; Wendy Castillo ; Ursula David ; Raymond McMaster ; Molly Martin ; Matthew J. Rooney ; Jason Burk ; Jane A. Henegar ; Diana Mutz & Howard Schrott ; Bernie Price ; David & Caryn Anderson ; Joshua S. Compton ; Cari Guichelaar ; Frank & Katrina Basile ; Kerry Dinneen & Sam Sutphin ; Jungclaus-Campbell Co., Inc. Charitable Fund ; Ben & Connie Berg ; Linda & Cory Brundage ; Synscapes of Indiana, LLC ; Jenifer & Sean Brown ; Christopher & Ellie Clapp ; Katie & Bwana Clements ; Anne Laker & Joe Merrick ; Friends of Garfield Park ; Garfield Park Neighbors Association ; Cheryl Dillenback ; Katie Sanford & Stephen Evanoff ; Bean Creek Neighborhood Association via Villa Baptist Church ; Ed & Mary Jayne Mahern ; Patronicity & IHCDA ; the Big Car staff ; and the TeenWorks Summer 2024 crew.

This was also made possible through Central Indiana Community Foundation’s Summer Youth Program Fund, with Capital support from Lilly Endowment Inc. & Program support from Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation Inc. for the 2024 TeenWorks Summer Program at Tube Factory.

Thank you to all who made the Bean Creek outlook and Happiness Garden educational space possible!

Find more pictures on our Flickr.

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