The Cope Environmental Center is dedicated to providing both environmental education and action to help slow the tragic loss of natural resources. The Cope Environmental Center is the education center of the Parks Foundation and is located on a beautiful 100 acres of land in Wayne County, Indiana. The Center conducts a variety of programs and events, and demonstrates practical technologies to help reduce negative impacts on our world. The Center demostrates alternate energy sources, including solar electricity, solar heating of water for domestic use, and passive solar design for heating. A Clivus Multrum composting toilet has been installed to demostrate human waste composting technology.
Large gardens show safe, organic gardening techniques.
Francis Parks was a dedicated botanist, horticulturist, and conservationist. He served as the superintendent of grounds for Oberlin College in Ohio, and then for Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana. He was also the horticulturist for Hayes Arboretum. Through the Foundation, they preserved the 29 acres of land the Copes had lovingly owned and cared for since 1947. This became the Cope Environmental Center.