By Shawndra Miller, Communications director, Central Indiana Land Trust, Inc.
Every October, Bat Appreciation Month gives us a chance to spotlight the unsung heroes of our ecosystems. Bats may not get the same attention as eagles or otters, but they do incredible work. Each night, a single bat can devour thousands of insects, protecting crops and keeping summer evenings more comfortable for people.
Here in Indianapolis, one of the best places to celebrate bats is at the Wallace F. Holladay Preserve at AmeriPlex in southwest Marion County. This preserve exists thanks to the remarkable generosity of Holladay Properties, whose vision has given endangered bats a permanent home in a most unexpected setting: right next to the Indianapolis International Airport.
Back in 2013, Holladay donated 50 acres valued at $4.3 million to the Central Indiana Land Trust, Inc. At the time, the property was surrounded by new development within the AmeriPlex business park. Yet it also contained just what endangered Indiana bats need: forested habitat for summer roosts, open areas for foraging, and quiet stream corridors alive with insects. Along with the land, Holladay gave $125,000 for long-term care of the preserve – a clear sign of their commitment to ensuring the habitat would flourish.
Land Trust President Cliff Chapman noted the gift’s value to the Indiana bat. “It’s not only the economic value of the land,” he said. “It’s the fact that one of our region’s most endangered species proliferates in the surrounding area.”
Land Trust staff and volunteers got to work planting native trees and shrubs, restoring the site, and removing invasive plants. Each improvement strengthened the habitat, creating a healthier home for bats and other wildlife.
Nearly a decade later, Holladay extended the gift. In 2022, the company donated another seven acres, valued at $570,000, bringing the total protected land at AmeriPlex to 57 acres. By then, the site had been named for Holladay’s founder, Wallace F. Holladay.
“This latest gift allows us to further preserve an area that serves as the summer home for one of the state’s largest populations of our region’s most endangered species, the Indiana bat,” Chapman said at the time.
For Holladay Properties, the donations were a natural extension of their values. AmeriPlex was the first Indiana business park recognized as a certified “Wildlife Friendly Habitat” by the Indiana Wildlife Federation. Company leaders described the gifts as a way to balance economic growth with environmental responsibility—leaving space for nature even in an urbanized setting.
Today, the Wallace F. Holladay Preserve at AmeriPlex is thriving. The trees are growing, invasive plants are kept in check, and each summer, Indiana bats return to raise their young. It’s a living reminder that generosity leaves a legacy – and that with thoughtful partnerships, even a business park can be a haven for wildlife.
This Bat Appreciation Month, we celebrate the bats that share our skies, and we honor Holladay Properties for helping ensure they have a safe place to call home.
Headquartered in the Old Northside, Central Indiana Land Trust partners with conservation organizations statewide to preserve the best of Indiana’s natural areas, protecting plants and animals, so Hoosiers can experience the wonder of the state’s natural heritage. Find hiking destinations at conservingindiana.org.
