INDIANAPOLIS — The Community Alliance of the Far Eastside (CAFE) recently unveiled its new CAFE Nature Park at Broganville Farm, located at 11650 E 30th Street, offering Eastside youth a welcoming space where they can connect with nature, explore Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), and engage in hands-on outdoor learning.
The CAFE Nature Park is funded by a $45,000 grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. through its Lilly Endowment Capital Project and Equipment Grant. The park will feature a pond, fish, a nature center, and native landscaping. The new infrastructure supports the continuation and growth of CAFE’s STEM programming for youth.
According to the American Psychological Association, spending time in nature is linked to cognitive benefits, improved mood, better mental health, and overall emotional well-being. A SAVI Talks study found that in Marion County, low-income residents and individuals from minority communities have less access to greenspace and the many benefits they provide. To help bridge this gap, CAFE has spent the past three years hosting STEM camps for students in grades four through eight.