Indiana American Water, City of Muncie Throw Prairie Creek Visitors Off Guard
7.24.2025 / Daisy Dale / munciepostdemocrat.com
MUNCIE, Ind. — After an announcement last week that the Prairie Creek Reservoir would no longer have ATV and horse trails, many are left wondering if a better solution could have been provided to keep the trails accessible. The decision was made after Indiana American Water told the City of Muncie it wanted to get rid of the service by the end of 2025, however in the interest of staying on good terms with the water company the Muncie Parks Board decided to end the service by August 1st.
As written by Muncie Communications Director Amber Greene: “The City of Muncie, in collaboration with Indiana American Water, is announcing a series of changes to the rules and operations at Prairie Creek Reservoir Park. These changes are being implemented to ensure long-term water quality and environmental sustainability of this vital resource, which serves as a source of drinking water for our community.” While the press release mentions environmental sustainability there are many individuals, including members of the Muncie Light Horse Club, who are confused about the closure of the trails. The club has raised money for maintaining of the area and in the past has worked with Cardinal Greenway on fundraising as well.
While Indiana American Water cites unmanaged ATV and horse trails as factors involved in the decision, alongside “over-permitted docks” and “a wastewater system in extreme disrepair”, club members have been outspoken about their own efforts at maintaining the trails while the city has not been expected to. According to their president, Greg Wilkins, the club over the years has had approval to spend over $12,000 on maintaining the trails despite the recent decision. Wilkins told the Post-Democrat it includes roughly $1,500 spent by the club for signage while several thousand have come from grants.
Indiana American Water has a tax abatement on the area, through enrollment in the DNR Classified Wildlife Program. The trails go through seven different parcels of land, and five of which are the specific acreage set for wild life habitat.
Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour said to the Star Press that there was to be “zero intrusion” according to the lease, however Wilkins responded that “guidelines from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources allows for horse trails in such areas.” Under the Classified Forest and Wildlife Program, horseback riding and maintaining of trails are permitted.
Ridenour has also said that the horse trails were never approved before in writing, however recorded minutes from a meeting held by the Muncie Park Board on April 17th, 1990, show that it was in fact approved.
The Star Press reported that Wilkins believed the closure was “collateral damage” in his view for the city’s inaction when it came to sewage issues. Wilkins clarified that while Ridenour is correct that tests haven’t shown any E. coli in the water, cyanobacteria and high algae levels have been found. This was also brought up at a Parks Board meeting on May 20th.
The horse club has attempted to reach out both to the City of Muncie as well as Indiana American Water. Club members are in talks of putting together a petition and more to advocate for keeping the trails available.
