The idea came from Lieutenant Colonel Russell Harrison, son of recently deceased Benjamin Harrison, who wanted to keep a military facility in Indianapolis due to the legacy of such Indianapolis military facilities as Camp Morton.

It acted as classrooms, soldier support, and troop reception for all United States military activities from World War I to Operation: Desert Storm.

[5][7] During the 1970s and 1980s, the area around Fort Harrison was attracting residents of Asian descent and, to a lesser extent, Hispanics.

[8] The athlete village for the 1987 Pan American Games was built inside Fort Benjamin Harrison.

Prior to the formation of the park, it had been a nurses dorm during World War II and later a VIP residence.

When state governor's mansion was finished, the O'Bannon's moved out and the Harrison House was once again available for the general public to use.

[11] Current plans include moving the Bell Ford Bridge from Jackson County, Indiana, into the park, allowing an additional way for pedestrians and bikers to cross Fall Creek.

[14] The wildflowers take the place of the ravines and steep hillsides typical of state parks in southern Indiana.

Beaver, deer, frogs, squirrels, and turtles are the most commonly seen wildlife in the park; a heron pond is off-limits for visitors.