Indiana Dunes National Park

A northwest Indiana steel maker has agreed to make upgrades to prevent spills in Lake Michigan’s waterways and pay $3 million in penalties.

The fees vary depending on the method used to enter the national park. The rate for people who walk, bike or boat in will be $15, up to a maximum of $25 per family.

The northwest Indiana park has seen a surge in visitors during the past two years, and the new fees would help finance park maintenance, public safety and programming, officials said.

Officials at Indiana Dunes National Park want to hear from visitors as they develop a strategy to add services at the park, ranging from food or beverage sales to organized tours.

The 425-acre Miller Woods wildfire in Gary started April 2. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The wildfire took place in Gary in Miller Woods and was contained Saturday evening.

The Wieboldt-Rostone House and the Florida Tropical House were featured in the 1933 Worlds Fair in nearby Chicago but were moved after the fair closed.

The Indiana Dunes National Park has launched a coronavirus safety campaign urging visitors to the northwestern Indiana park to practice social distancing and other precautions when they hit the beach.

National park rangers and local officials will monitor park beaches and lots for overcrowding and dangerous conditions and will close them if needed to protect public health.

A parks advocacy group says U.S. Steel's revised consent decree doesn't ensure protections for Indiana Dunes National Park.