Visclosky Secures Over $700,000 for National Lakeshore Infrastructure

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Pete Visclosky has secured $703,000 for infrastructure improvement projects for the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore in the Interior Appropriations bill approved by the House of Representatives late last night.

The projects, which will begin after the bill is signed into law, are part of Visclosky’s vision to invest in Northwest Indiana’s natural resources.

“Lake Michigan is one of our greatest resources, and we must invest in it to create jobs and improve the quality of life for everyone in Northwest Indiana,” said Visclosky. “Once these funds become available, the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore will have the resources necessary to move quickly to enhance its facilities.”

Specifically, Visclosky secured two projects for the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (IDNL), which is part of the National Park Service. One project dedicates $497,000 for the West Beach Trail Enhancement, which would allow IDNL to repair and replace the boardwalk portion of the West Beach Succession Trial.

The other project dedicates $206,000 for the Dunbar Beach Visitor Facility. These funds will provide for the construction of a permanent restroom facility with water/wastewater capabilities, paved parking and solar lighting at IDNL’s Dunbar Beach parking area.  The completion of this project will improve sanitary conditions for the 75,000 visitors who visit the site annually.

IDNL Superintendent, Dale Engquist, said the funds are a welcome source of investment for the region. “Congressman Visclosky has delivered the resources for projects that are vital to the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore,” said Engquist. “The end result will be more people enjoying Lake Michigan.”

IDNL, authorized by Congress in 1966, is located approximately 50 miles southeast of the City of Chicago in the counties of Lake, Porter, and LaPorte in Northwest Indiana.  The national lakeshore runs for nearly 25 miles along southern Lake Michigan, bordered by Michigan City, Indiana on the east, and Gary on the west.  The park contains approximately 15,000 acres, 2,182 of which are located in Indiana Dunes State Park and managed by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

Indiana Dunes is ranked 7th among national parks in native plant diversity.  Research conducted over the last two decades has revealed 1,418 vascular plant species within park boundaries, of which over 90 are on the state of Indiana's threatened or endangered list.