Touching Grass
Special Thanks
CAMi Long-term Residents
Stephanie Williams
Christen Baker
India Hines
Jules Persaud
Blake Miller
Sylvia Thomas
Leaves of 3 LLC
Marion County Soil & Water Conservation District
Bean Creek Neighborhood Association
Department of Public Works
The restoration of the pilot site began in May 2026, after the removal of 40-years-worth of Poison Ivy. This, coupled with the removal of a significant section of Trumpet Vine in order to save a Black Walnut tree, was carried out at the advice of the Marion County Soil & Water Conservation District and expertly executed by Leaves of 3.
Following the vine removal, the Long-term Artists in Residence at the Contemporary Art Museum of Indianapolis removed extensive Asian Bush Honeysuckle growth and decades of debris. Throughout this process, on-site hardscape (including a skeletal Ash that had fallen during a heavy rain) was rearranged to support the grade and filter runoff, creating a terraced foundation. This foundation was then reinforced with native Wildflower seed-infused erosion netting and capped with a layer of compost and topsoil.
The upper zones are held in place with a mix of Yellow Prairie Grass and Canada Wild Rye while the western edge is knitted together with Sideoats Grama and Virginia Wild Rye. Between the grasses is a cascade of Prairie Oval Sedge spilling over into a matrix of Calico Penstemon, Cardinal Flower, Great Blue Lobelia, Autumn Sneezeweed, and Blue Mist Flower. The palette, created in consultation with Spence Restoration Nursery, will stabilize the slope, mitigate flooding with deeper root networks, and provide habitat for local fauna.