Environmental Sustainability
Newfields is committed to providing exceptional experiences with art and nature for current and future generations. We value the conservation of our environment as much as we value our artworks.
It’s an honor for us to lead by example in sustainability as a non-profit organization. Our position allows us to inspire meaningful change, and we strive to set the standard for others to follow in building a more sustainable future.
Over the years, we’ve made great strides toward environmental sustainability. Our dedicated efforts to reduce energy consumption led to a wide range of green technologies and strategies.
Not only did these strategies work, they reduced our annual operating budget by more than $200,000. Read on for extensive details about the greening of Newfields, department by department.
Key Highlights
In 2024, Newfields created a Bioretention Rain Garden in The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park parking lot, made possible by The Indianapolis Garden Club. The enhanced lot was designed as a bowl which drains entirely into a central, over-sized bioretention basin which keeps 100% of stormwater onsite with a zero impact to the flow of the adjacent White River.
Newfields is home to the Wild Birds Unlimited Native Pollinator Meadow, a 2.5 acre garden. Composed of more than 80 species of native plants with close to 50,000 individual plants, it is the largest native pollinator meadow in Indianapolis. The meadow is made possible through support from local philanthropists and founders of Wild Birds Unlimited, Nancy & Jim Carpenter.
Sustainability Committee
The Newfields Sustainability Committee, Chaired by Director of Natural Resources Lisa Milton, is a cross departmental team that leads the way by encouraging other cultural institutions in Indianapolis and throughout the state to realize more sustainable practices.
We actively research and implement waste reduction methods, host sustainability speakers, and explore renewable energy options to reduce reliance on non-clean energy sources. Additionally, we proudly partner with other organizations to promote species conservation, sustainable best practices, and to improve and protect water resources in Central Indiana.
Departments represented include: Advancement; Collection Support; Conservation; Curatorial; Facilities; Guest Experience; Horticulture; Natural Resources; Interpretation, Media, and Publishing; Marketing & Communications; Public Programs; Education; and Security.
McKinney Climate Fellows
We also engage the next generation through active internships with students specializing in sustainability. Newfields has participated in the McKinney Climate Fellowship (MCF) program through the Environmental Resistance Institute.
McKinney Climate Fellows gain valuable experience working full-time in a professional setting; partners receive assistance in sustainability and climate planning from talented students; and Indiana benefits from this critical sustainability work.
Newfields has an amazing team of environmentally minded staff who work tirelessly to ensure Newfields continues on its path of sustainability. My work on the waste audit helped streamline future efforts to implement sustainable practices at Newfields and shows their commitment to the greater Indianapolis community.
– Caroline Pennington, Summer 2025 McKinney Climate Fellow
Horticulture Fellows
The Horticulture department at Newfields has hosted a three-month summer student program for over thirty years. In the past decade, Newfields Horticulture Fellow graduates have accepted positions at incredible places like Denver Botanic Gardens, Mount Cuba Center, Longwood Gardens, Dow Gardens, Atlanta Botanical Garden, state/county extension agencies, other public horticulture institutions, and beyond. This paid professional fellowship program is designed for students in secondary education settings or recent graduates and is packed full of learning experiences for those interested in pursuing a career in horticulture. All of this is made possible through a generous legacy grant made by the Horticulture Society, a membership affiliate group that focused on programming and fundraising on behalf of The Garden at Newfields for many years.
Natural Resources Interns
The Natural Resources department at Newfields hosts a three-month Natural Resources Intern each year thanks to generous support by individual donors. The Natural Resources Internship focuses on land management, native garden care and maintenance, tool and equipment operation, responsible herbicide application, data tracking through use of ArcGIS software, and other elements of land management and maintenance of a public park. You can read about last year’s internship experience here:
