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Washington, D.C. – Congressman Pete Visclosky today announced that the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore will receive $501,000 in funding from the National Park Service (NPS). The funding will support five projects intended to preserve and protect the dunes ecosystem and improve energy use and sustainability within the park.
“Northwest Indiana’s unique dunes ecosystem is a national treasure and a tremendous asset for the region,” said Visclosky. “These improvements to the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore will help preserve and protect the park so that future generations can enjoy its natural beauty, further our objective of improved energy use, and help the park continue its contributions to the local economy.”
“This is very good news for the National Lakeshore,” said Tom Anderson, Executive Director of Save the Dunes Council. “We know that there are significant restoration needs and this funding will help.”
The funding will be used to control invasive plants to protect natural resources, install exterior solar lighting for park facilities, remove invasive plants near trails and the overlook at Inland Marsh, remove invasive plants to preserve communities around Ly-co-ki-we Trail, and replace roofs on two buildings using sustainable practices. All projects are NPS priorities and meet the Recovery Act's rigorous criteria of addressing highest mission needs, generating the largest number of jobs in the shortest period of time, and creating lasting value for the American people. According to the most recent figures from the NPS, 2.1 million people visit the Lakeshore each year, generating $55.3 million in local revenues. |
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