Visclosky Pursues National Park Designation For Dunes
The lakeshore includes 15 miles of shoreline.
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowCongressman Pete Visclosky (D-1) has introduced legislation to designate the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore as a national park. If passed, the lakeshore would be renamed Indiana Dunes National Park and would be the first national park in Indiana and the 60th in the U.S.
He says the goal is to allow the lakeshore to receive the full tourism benefits and recognition that would come with being a national park. The Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore encompasses 15,000 acres and includes 15 miles of Lake Michigan’s southern shore. In 1916, the first National Park Service Director proposed designating the land "Sand Dunes National Park." The process was shelved once the country involved itself in World War I.
The full Indiana Delegation is in support of Visclosky’s measure, which is awaiting possible consideration by the House Committee of Natural Resources.
In a statement, Visclosky said "the recognition of being a National Park is the final step of an effort that began a century ago. It is past time that the rest of the nation recognizes the environmental wonder and significance of the lakeshore dunes in Northwest Indiana. I thank my Indiana House colleagues and all the Northwest Indiana community leaders and officials for supporting this initiative that will ultimately attract more visitors and further stimulate our regional economy."
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