PORTER — Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Superintendent Paul Labovitz held open a book called “America’s National Parks.”
There are 59 parks across the country featured. Labovitz is hoping the next edition will feature 60 and include the Dunes.
“There would be no functional change to the park. It would be the way the place is perceived, nationally and globally. There are 413 National Park Service properties, and only 59 are called national parks,” he said.
U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-Ind., introduced legislation in September to change the name of Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore to Indiana Dunes National Park. The measure has been introduced with the support of the entire Indiana House delegation as original co-sponsors, and it is pending consideration in the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Changing the name of the national lakeshore would be one of several moves local conservationists, park supporters and others feel need to be done in the next 50 years to make the park sustainable in a changing time.
“Unless we are able to revitalize the passion for the park, it will not be sustainable,” McClure said. “We need to ignite the passion again and take the love of the park and turn it into respect.”
Instilling a passion for the park might begin with the youth.
“We’ve got these new generations coming up that are so involved in technology. It is more challenging today to get kids outdoors,” said Lorelei Weimer, executive director of Indiana Dunes Tourism.
“Innovation is critical. How do we engage these other generations to think about preservation?” said Weimer. The key is going to be the key to keep the park relevant to up and coming generations.
Weimer pointed to her group’s 3 Dune Challenge. The Dunes have always been there, she said, but they worked to engage people by creating a challenge and giving people a reason to explore.
Herb Read, who, along with his wife Charlotte, were among some of the first advocates for preserving the dunes, also believes younger people must be better educated about the dunes.
“The land conservation ethic must be carried on by the younger people,” he said. “We have to teach the kids the history of conservation.”
McClure said while there is an “undeniable love” for the Dunes, there is a lack of respect for some of the elements. That, too, is a matter of educating people about the valuable asset the park is to the Region and make it the responsibility of everyone to protect it.
Read also believes people must champion the park to their legislators.
“The parks have been starved for money for years,” said Read. “We have to elect people to Congress that will appropriate funds to take care of the parks."
In the documentary she produced, longtime environmental advocate Lee Botts emphasized that all segments of society must work together to sustain the IDNL and Indiana Dunes in general.
In “Shifting Sands: On the Path to Sustainability,” the documentary talked about how once ferocious rivals, preservationists and industrialists, are beginning to work together.
Whether a residential developer, business person or conservationist, the Dunes are a benefit.
While developers tout being along Lake Michigan’s shore and having a national park in the Region’s background for quality of life reasons, they are beginning to realize they must work to sustain the Dunes in an effort to sustain their own business. And conservationists are realizing they must work with developers to allow growth that will benefit the Region.
“With this goal of sustainability, we are encouraging new kinds of preservation and restoration partnerships, working with industry and residents,” said Botts.
Labovitz said growth of the Region is one of the prime concerns. In particular, they are watching the proposed double tracking project by the South Shore Railroad.
“Every private property within 15 minutes of a train stop will be developed. It will cause the roads to be more congested,” he said, adding that now is the time to discuss “doing it right” to have the development but not adversely affect the park.
Read is concerned it could go one step further.
“There is a growing number of people who will put pressure on all parks to sell off portions of parks. I hope, certainly, that the open space will be here,” he said, adding as the area grows in population, there will be additional pressure on the parks.
Moving people may be the biggest challenge for IDNL over the next 50 years, said Labovitz.
“The challenge is to move people to the beach and other places without a car. We have plenty of beach here, but you can’t find a parking space. We don’t want more parking lots either,” he said.
“This is a crazy park. Once you’re here, you can’t spend money. We are going to work collaboratively to provide goods and services to visitors and residents. We want to be able to work with the private sector. We just have to navigate the personal use rules,” said Labovitz.
He sees, in the not too distant future, people bringing their bikes on the South Shore or being able to rent bikes at the visitor center and cruise trails in and out of the park, ultimately going from the Michigan state line to the Illinois state line.
“This will not be just a beach park, it will be a regional stop on a bike trail,” said Labovitz. “We are trying to make this place resilient. It should be more than a beach destination. It should be a year-round destination.”