A group of politicians from Indiana found themselves standing together in an unusual spot Tuesday morning – the middle of the woods. They were attending a celebration at what is now Indiana’s first national park.
Lawmakers including Gov. Eric Holcomb, U.S. Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.), and U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky (D-Merrillville) showed up for an unveiling of the new Indiana Dunes National Park sign and a ceremonial ribbon-cutting. The ribbon-cutting signified the renaming of the Miller Woods Trail to honor deceased Illinois U.S. Sen. Paul H. Douglas.
Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson says she hopes the new national park status for the dunes will draw economic growth and positive attention to the city.
“We’re excited because it gives us yet another opportunity to showcase something good in Gary, Indiana,” Freeman-Wilson says.
About 15,000 acres of the Indiana Dunes were redesignated from a national lakeshore to a national park in February.
