A $20 million Lilly Endowment grant will support a sweeping project that aims to make Northwest Indiana’s Lake Michigan shoreline more accessible both to residents and visitors who arrive on the South Shore Line.
The funding will launch NWI Thrive, a multi-faceted project that will include new trails, trail improvements, educational campaigns, Indiana Dunes National Park programs and Discover Hubs at South Shore Line train stations.
Legacy Foundation President and CEO Kelly Anoe said it will elevate the Region through nature, culture and wellness, connecting people to Northwest Indiana's natural wonders.
"Today marks a historic milestone for Northwest Indiana," Anoe said. “This project focuses on building upon key recreation and transportation assets spanning the Lake, Porter, and LaPorte County region — Indiana Dunes National Park, expansion of the South Shore Line double tracking project, and the Marquette Greenway Trail which will extend from Illinois to Michigan once complete.”
The Legacy Foundation, Crown Point Community Foundation, Unity Foundation of LaPorte County and Porter County Community Foundation are collaborating in the effort to improve trails, greenways and Lake Michigan access. NWI Thrive will coordinate efforts across three counties and 11 municipalities.
"I'm deeply excited to continue this journey and build upon the momentum," Anoe said. "This $20 million is more than just a grant. It's a powerful vote of confidence in what Northwest Indiana can achieve when we come together and a symbol of the endless possibilities that emerge when we share a common goal, work in unison and focus on elevating each other. NWI Thrive stands on the shoulders of decades of collaboration, regional planning and strategic investments, all aimed at improving the quality of life for Northwest Indiana residents. This is part of a much larger vision that will ripple out across generations."
Lilly Endowment gave the Legacy Foundation the grant, one of 30 awarded statewide to improve quality of life.
"When the Lilly Endowment announced gift aid and with more than $1.6 billion in new investment in local transit, parks and trails across Northwest Indiana, the leadership team of the Community Foundation recognized a once-in-a-generation opportunity for a coordinated strategy for improved placemaking and improved trail networks throughout the Region, to connect our communities to these important natural and cultural assets," Crown Point Community Foundation President Mary Nielsen said. "While ambitious, NWI Thrive builds on decades of partnerships and regional planning to respond to community needs, ensuring investments in transit and greenspace include meaningful connections to the vibrant downtown districts and communities in our Region."
The funding will help Northwest Indiana residents access Region amenities like the Indiana Dunes National Park, the Marquette Greenway Trail and the South Shore Line. It will install artistic kiosks at train stations with information about local businesses, attractions, trails and environmental assets.
"We have been told over the years by the Lilly Foundation staff members that the Lilly family wanted to leave Indiana better than they found it. We do too. We all want to leave Indiana better than we found it," Unity Foundation of LaPorte County President Maggi Spartz said. "We are delighted that the Lilly Endowment has the trust that all of you have in your community foundations. We are really excited about what's going to come from all of this."
The project will aim to make Gary and Michigan City hubs for visitors to either end of the Indiana Dunes National Park.
Michigan City is looking at developing a new cultural trail that will connect the new downtown South Shore Line station to the lakefront and the Marquette Greenway Trail, which runs 60 miles from Chicago to New Buffalo.
Michigan City Mayor Angie Nelson-Deuitch said it was a "momentous occasion."
"This investment is a game-changer for Michigan City, marking a pivotal step in shaping our future while honoring our past as well," she said. "One of the most exciting developments is the creation of a unique cultural trail that will serve as the heart of our city's connectivity."
Gary will look to connect its new downtown South Shore Line station to the Marquette Greenway Trail and Union Station to the newly reopened Paul Douglas Environmental Education Center.
"It is going to be transformational for us in Gary," Gary Chief of Staff Ellis Dumas said. "Through NWI Thrive, the addition of Discover Hubs to our downtown and Miller Beach train stations will create vibrant spaces that highlight our city's unique culture, history and resilience."
NWI Thrive also will include educational campaigns about the Calumet Region wildlife and habitats, as well as placemaking efforts that highlight its natural areas.
"This is a land of sand and steel. It's a place where industry and biodiversity co-exist," Indiana Dunes National Park Superintendent Jason Taylor said. "We have a place where we have steel mills that won world wars directly adjacent to the fifth most biodiverse park in the National Park system with 1,400 plants and 350 to 400 bird species. It's just a magical place, a place where you can spend a day with your family or sit alone quietly listening to the waves lap or crash, depending on the season, along the shores of the fifth-largest freshwater lake on the planet. There are a lot of globally rated systems in the park. It's a fantastic place. It's a place of restoration, recreation and reconnecting."
Multiple partners will collaborate on the project, including the National Park Service, the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission, the Northwest Indiana Forum, the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District, the Regional Development Authority, Save the Dunes, the Dunes Learning Center and the Calumet Heritage Area Partnership.
"A lot of things happen in this Region due to collaboration and folks working together to make them happen, and this is no exception," Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission Executive Director Ty Warner said. "This will create a high-powered system of trails that will attract even more residents to this area and make this a much better, higher-quality place to live. It creates a connected Region."
Northwest Indiana Forum President and CEO Heather Ennis described NWI Thrive as a "pivotal moment for Northwest Indiana." She said it will enhance the Region's appeal to both visitors and new resources.
"What an exciting day for Northwest Indiana," Ennis said. "The Northwest Indiana Forum is proud to be a partner in NWI Thrive, which represents a bold step forward, shaping the future for our Region's natural amenities. Together with the community foundations and other stakeholders, we will ensure these projects deliver tangible, lasting impacts for all who call Northwest Indiana home."
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