Mud Creek Conservancy (MCC) kicked off its 30th Anniversary in 2024 by closing on the future “Blue Heron Nature Preserve”, its second land purchase, permanently protecting nearly 12-acres of forests and wetlands bordering Mud Creek and located off Sargent Road between 75th Street and Fall Creek Road. This achievement piggy-backed off the success of the organization’s first acquisition in 2021, thanks to a grassroots funded capital campaign securing over half a million dollars for the 26-acre “Sargent Road Nature Park” which opened in June 2024. Approximately half of this parcel contains old-growth bottomland forest abutting Mud Creek. This portion of the property has remained intact and relatively undisturbed for as far back as we have evidence (>125 years). The other 6-acre portion of this land was in active agriculture from the late 1800s until the 1960s when it was developed into a pool club (Fairwood Hills/Mackinac Swim Club). The swim club ultimately was closed in the 1980s and sold and demolished in the early 1990s. With the new owners came plans to build a new and improved swim club for the community, “Blue Heron Swim Club”. While those plans never did unfold, 30 years later, the owners worked with Mud Creek Conservancy to sell the property for appraised value through a one-time DNR grant opportunity called the “Next Level Conservation Trust”. This property will live on as both a community amenity and another protected natural area through MCC’s plans for “Blue Heron Nature Preserve”. Since 1994, Mud Creek Conservancy (a 501c3 land trust) has permanently protected over 96 acres along Sargent Road and Mud Creek in NE Indy.