January 5th 2025.
Save the Dunes, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the natural beauty of the Indiana Dunes, is excited to deepen their partnership with the Indiana Dunes National Park this year. During a recent Northwest Indiana Green Drinks conference call, Executive Director Betsy Maher shared their plans for the future.
Maher expressed their enthusiasm for finding new sources of funding for the national park, and believes that the community is fully supportive of this partnership. With the name change from Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore to Indiana Dunes National Park in 2019, there are now more resources available to tackle important projects.
According to Maher, Save the Dunes will be entering into a philanthropic partnership agreement with the national park, which will allow them to not only advocate for resources as they have always done, but also seek out funds from the philanthropic community. This will enable them to address crucial issues such as restoration work at Miller Woods, which will be privately funded by U.S. Steel, a neighboring company of the national park.
One of the main focuses for Save the Dunes is a plastic reduction project for vendors and visitors. Maher explained that plastics are a major challenge for the national park, as well as for the dunes and lakefront in general. In order to reach the no-plastic goal for all national parks by 2030, Save the Dunes is working directly with the park to develop a plan to reduce the amount of plastic entering the park through vendors and visitors.
Additionally, Save the Dunes is also working on increasing accessibility for all visitors to the dunes. Through a grant, they have been able to purchase accessible equipment such as wheelchairs and kayaks, which can be rented or used for special occasions. Maher expressed their excitement for these initiatives and their partnership with the park.
Despite their efforts to work closely with the park, Save the Dunes continues to advocate for federal resources as well. For the past 13 years, they have been the Indiana state lead for the Healing Our Waters coalition, advocating for federal resources for the Great Lakes, including the Indiana Dunes. They have also been involved in a state-level appeal with the Department of Natural Resources in protecting the shoreline for public use.
This involves establishing the “natural ordinary high water mark,” which determines what is public and what is private property. Maher explained that Save the Dunes is committed to preserving the natural state of the beaches and ensuring that development does not encroach on public space.
In addition to these ongoing efforts, Save the Dunes has also received funding for a climate resilience project in the Calumet region, which includes the Indiana Dunes as one of its focal areas. This project will address threats to the ecosystem and the people who live there, with the help of a conservation coordinator who will oversee the project.
Another exciting development is the NWI THRIVE grant, worth $20 million, which will connect communities and areas within the national park through bike trails. This grant will also improve signage and develop visitor information hubs at trailheads.
Overall, Save the Dunes is dedicated to protecting the natural beauty and resources of the Indiana Dunes and is proud to work closely with the national park to achieve this goal. They continue to advocate for federal resources, while also seeking funding from the philanthropic community. With their various projects and initiatives, Save the Dunes is committed to preserving the dunes for generations to come.
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