Indiana Dunes is Our Newest National Park

Rangers celebrate their Park's new designation. NPS photo.

After a century of dispute over the necessity of further protection for the dunes, marshes, forests, and rivers which lie along the southern shore of Lake Michigan, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore is now Indiana Dunes National Park. 

The Park offers natural beauty and recreation to 2.1 million annual visitors. Diego Delso photo.

Less than 50 miles from Chicago, the Park is conveniently located for enjoyment by city-dwellers looking for a break from the bustle. However, the close proximity to densely-populated areas has consistently threatened the native plants and animals, making stringent protections all the more important.  

Related: The Senate Just Protected More Than 1M Acres of New Public Lands

Located near several urban areas, the Dunes' new designation will make them the 14th most visited National Park in the nation. Google maps graphic.

The area's re-designation was included in House Joint Resolution 31, the recently signed bill which also increased funding for border security.