Indiana Dunes Administrative History

Operations, 1984—1987 (continued)

1986

The Gramm—Rudman—Hollings Act, a measure designed to gradually reduce and eliminate the Federal budget deficit, necessitated a $160,000 reduction in the park's fiscal 1986 base funding of $3,729,400. An additional $7,400 assessment imposed by the Washington Office mandated that park management utilize creative thinking to maintain operations. Fewer seasonal employees were hired, permanent positions were either abolished or their filling deferred, and some construction projects were rescheduled.

Despite these setbacks, the lakeshore continued to progress. In planning and development, final design for the East Unit Transit Center underwent review by the Denver Service Center and Midwest Regional Office. The design called for a large interpretive area, sales desk, restrooms, and an initial parking capacity of 500 cars. A preliminary draft environmental impact statement for altering the Porter/LaPorte County Line Road was also completed which was tied to the transit center's design. Preliminary study and design of the East Unit Campground resulted in plans for 300 camping spaces featuring both tenting and recreational vehicle (RV) choices, store, amphitheater for interpretive programs, and a shuttle service to the beach and lakeshore visitor center. Two public meetings were held in July to obtain comments on alternatives for specific developments at the former Beverly Shores golf course site.

Planning to reorganize the Bailly Administrative Area was undertaken in 1986 and renovations continued on Building 102. For Building 101, the Bailly Ranger Station, a new dispatch room, training facility, and restrooms were completed. Planning for changes on the West Unit Access Road did not significantly progress, although park and Regional Office staff worked on modifying the design to permit improved access to the area shopping center.

Efforts to reactivate the Coronado Lodge bore fruit in 1986 when the Kankakee Valley Job Training Center indicated its willingness to rehabilitate the structure and convert it to a hostel/canoe livery geared to overnight camping for environmental education. Planning for relocating the five World's Fair Houses in Beverly Shores, listed as a district in the National Register of Historic Places during the year, was initiated on the recommendation of an operations evaluation team suggestion. The same team recommended the lakeshore study necessary modifications at comfort stations throughout the park.

In Interpretation, lack of fiscal and human resources resulted in more than 8,000 students being denied requests for environmental education programs, although 31,114 students were served in 1,325 classes. For the public at large, 1,313 programs were delivered to 24,294 people.

At the Chellberg Farm, sixteen acres continued to be farmed under a special use permit. For the first time, the Chellberg garden was plowed by horse rather than by tractor. A new event, Walpurgis Night, was held at the farm to celebrate the Swedish festival which greets the onset of spring with a bonfire of straw and corn stalks.

Interpretation's staunch supporters, Friends of Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, grew from 560 to 693 individuals and 22 corporate members. The Friends' Singing Sands Almanac surpassed 50,000 subscribers. Additional publications included a brochure on Indiana Dunes wildflowers, a festival poster, and a lakeshore 20th anniversary poster and flyer resulting in a savings to the Service of more than $10,000. Duneland Harvest Festival attendance reached 5,200 with the Friends assuming complete cost for the performers and craftspeople. Friends volunteers kept the Bailly Homestead open to the public on weekends from June through October and sponsored the Maple Sugar Time event.

In August 1986, the Friends of Indiana Dunes officially incorporated under the laws of the State of Indiana. The move was intended to promote the organization's future growth and benefit to the lakeshore. The Friends continued to fund dunes—related scientific research projects as well as administering the Paul H. Douglas Fund for Environmental Education. The group helped the national lakeshore, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Indiana University Northwest, and Save the Dunes Council cosponsor the First Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Science Conference, May 1 through 3, held at Indiana University Northwest, in Gary. With a theme of "A Century of Scientific Inquiry at the Indiana Dunes," forty papers were read to an audience of 170.

The Maintenance Division completed its reorganization. First proposed in 1985 to include five operational groups, the approved reorganization resulted in only four units: General Maintenance, Roads and Trails, Motor Vehicle Shop, and Douglas Unit (West Beach). The division maintained sixty—five park structures, forty—four miles of trails, seven miles of beach, as well as picnic areas, roads, and parking lots. Projects included the above—mentioned changes to the Bailly Ranger Station; completion of the Long Lake Trail stairways and boardwalks; resurfacing of the Bailly Cemetery Trail; new stairways, bridges, and boardwalks in the Bailly/Chellberg ravine area; parking lot surfacing, tree removal, and stairway and fence construction at Pinhook Bog; and design and installation of new entrance signs which incorporate the lakeshore's new blue and orange logo of sun, dune, and waves. The division also helped the Town of Beverly Shores mitigate damage from erosion to beaches and roads. Although Congress mandated the implementation of a Maintenance Management System (MMS) in 1984, Indiana Dunes had its own ongoing computerized maintenance operations program which included financial and personnel information, tracking task activities, and a sign inventory. With the park's admirable lead in this area, full implementation for MMS at Indiana Dunes was scheduled for 1987.

New maintenance contracts included the renewal of custodial services begun in 1985 with Michiana Industries for a savings of $32,000. This same firm was awarded a concession for parking and custodial services at West Beach. Under another contract, workmen replaced the water supply system at the Bailly Administrative Area with fire hydrants installed for fire protection.

Assistance from the Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) continued in 1986 for ten weeks. Out of twenty—one enrollees, sixteen were assigned to the Maintenance Division. While base funding for YCC totalled $27,700, the workers completed projects worth an estimated $89,162.

In historic preservation, a three—year interior restoration of the Chellberg Farm house began with gas and heating system installation which was completed by year's end. Restoration of South Shore Railroad Car No. 33 continued while Cars No. 6 and No. 107 were sent to the Indiana Transportation Museum for preservation and stabilization treatment. The remaining cars were housed free—of—charge at the USX (formerly U.S. Steel) plant in Gary.

Resource Management and Visitor Protection completed its Fire Management Plan, Little Calumet River Management Plan, and Resources Management Plan during 1986. It was the second year utilizing the formalized Fire Team concept (technically in use since 1976) composed of twenty—five members of the lakeshore's general staff. Twenty—four wildland fires claiming 1,322.4 acres burned at Indiana Dunes, the largest at Inland Marsh on March 25 when 654 acres burned. Three prescribed burns, the first in the national lakeshore's history, were also undertaken on forty—five acres. Conducted primarily for research purposes, the first prescribed burn took place at Howes Prairie on April 18. Resource Management specialists were assisted in their on—going research program through the initiation of an internship program with Indiana University Northwest.

Erosion remained a primary resource management concern. The Great Lakes continued to experience high water levels which established a record for the century. The Park Service continued to assist the towns of Beverly Shores and Ogden Dunes where damage to homes and to Lake Front Drive threatened. Both the Rostone House and Florida Tropical House remained in danger of falling into Lake Michigan. The high lake levels necessitated the closure of Central Avenue Beach when the waves swept away the sand and left only a slippery clay surface. This, combined with rubble washed out from Lake Front Drive, created an unacceptable safety hazard to swimmers. With the loss of Central Avenue Beach and the largest beach access parking lot in the eastern half of the lakeshore, annual visitation dropped seven percent to stand at 1,680,160 for the year. Adverse spring and summer weather conditions also contributed to the visitation decline. In response to the erosion dilemma, Congress authorized a long—term beach nourishment program at Mount Baldy and eastern Beverly Shores and appropriated $108,000 for initial planning and design going to the Corps of Engineers.

Rangers instituted a voluntary ban on radio—playing at West Beach during the summer season. They discouraged radio use inside the bathhouse and on the beach east of stand number three. Most of the visitors reacted favorably to the establishment of the "radio—free zones."

On October 14, 1986, the National Park Service signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the city of Gary to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the proposed Gary marina. While the Service acted as the lead agency on the EIS, funding came through the city's grant from the State of Indiana's Lake Michigan Marina Development Commission. The national lakeshore and the Midwest Regional Office held public meetings on October 22 and 23 to solicit recommendations for the scope of the marina EIS.

For many years the city tried to obtain funding for the EIS from Congress, but to no avail. Blocking the effort was Congressman Sid Yates, Chairman of the House Interior Subcommittee on Appropriations, who refused to appropriate the funds on the basis that the development was too large and incompatible with the National Park Service's mission. Yates said that if Indiana Dunes got a marina, every unit in the System bordering on water would request a similar facility. Indiana's Marina Development Commission, however, demonstrated the State's resolve to promote improved marina access to its lakeshore. In addition to Gary, marina developments in Hammond, East Chicago, Portage, and Michigan City are also to be evaluated.

On May 6, 1986, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear, and thereby denied, the Save the Dunes Council's request to intervene in a suit concerning the condemnation of Crescent Dune within the boundaries of the National Lakeshore. The Council challenged the Justice Department's ruling that while Crescent Dune was condemned within the specified two—year period, the action did not qualify as acquisition. The Justice Department joined NIPSCO in recommending that the condemnation suit be dismissed. With the Council's legal options nearly exhausted, the events prompted the Park Service to consider negotiating an agreement with the utility company not to develop its property. [12]

1987

The year saw a $350,000 increase in the park's operating base ($3,818,300) for improved maintenance and facility rehabilitation. The base figure also provided $1 million for land acquisition and $260,000 for planning and design to rehabilitate Coronado Lodge. Special add—on appropriations were targeted for a reforestation study, fire research burns, aquatic vegetation study, dune forest research, and a clean up of storm damage along beaches in the lakeshore's eastern area. The special funds helped the park complete these projects which had been postponed because of fiscal constraints.

While the funding situation improved, visitation dropped six percent because of a change in the method of collecting visitor use data. The new base figure under the new system will be used to judge future visitation trends. Visitation for interpretive and environmental education programs, however, registered healthy increases. With increased staff and programming as well as the first full year of operation for the Paul H. Douglas Center, environmental education programs realized an eleven percent increase, up from 31,000 to 34,500 visitors. General interpretive contacts went from 25,000 to 30,500, an impressive twenty—two percent increase.

Good news came in March 1987 when the level of Lake Michigan, which had attained century high marks throughout 1986, began a steady decline. The levels measured in December 1987 were nearly two feet below the mark established twelve months previously. The lowering level of Lake Michigan resulted in an overall wider expanse of beachfront, the reopening of the Central Avenue Beach, and a marked decrease in the rate of shoreline erosion.

On May 3, 1987, Superintendent Engquist attended a dedication ceremony to recognize U.S. Highway 12 as a link in the "Lake Michigan Circle Tour." New signs for the 1,100—mile route were also unveiled.

The lakeshore observed the 200th anniversary of the U.S. Constitution by hosting the traveling play, "Four Little Pages." Simultaneous with this event was Indiana's hosting of the Pan American Games with some events held in Michigan City. The "Four Little Pages" troupe participated in the opening ceremonies and gave six performances to lakeshore audiences. The lakeshore and the Michigan City public library hosted the traveling Constitution exhibit during the two—week period of the Pan American Games. Lakeshore protection staff provided back—up support for local law enforcement agencies during the games.

Two new staff positions were filled during 1987. The park planner position was redescribed and Raymond Gunn became the first Management Assistant in July. The following month, Dori Partsch entered on duty as the first Park Historian, a move which reflected the lakeshore's growing cultural resources management program which revolved around the Bailly/Chellberg complex, the South Shore Railroad Cars, and the World's Fair Houses. One of the longest tours of duty ended during the year when Chief of Interpretation Larry Waldron, a ten—year Indiana Dunes veteran, transferred.

In the realm of park planning and development, the park made considerable progress. Preliminary design analysis and plans were prepared and approved for the East Unit Transit Center and the requisite Environmental Assessment (EA) was reviewed in—house in December. The draft East Unit Campground EA went on public review with the Service's preferred alternative calling for 100 conventional campsites, twenty—five walk—in sites, and forty to fifty recreational vehicle sites as well as a single entrance from U.S. Highway 12. A draft EIS for the 1—94/East Unit Access Road went on public review in August and that input was incorporated into a final draft EIS for release in 1988. Yet another draft EIS for the Gary Marina, approved by the city, national lakeshore, and Midwest Regional Office, awaited final approval from the Washington Office.

Other park planning initiatives included the Coronado Lodge, Goodfellow Camp, South Shore Railroad Stops, Land Protection Plan, and World's Fair Houses Relocation Plan. For the Coronado Lodge, two meetings with Denver Service Center (DSC), consultants, and park staff involved an assessment of structural integrity and potential future uses. A consultant for the Goodfellow Camp was selected with similar preliminary planning underway. Initial design analysis and plans for the South Shore Railroad Stops were reviewed by the park and region and awaited DSC review. Park staff revised the Land Protection Plan to address lands added in 1986 and public review preceded the plan's approval in November 1987. A draft plan to relocate the World's Fair Houses to a central site near the proposed campground went on in—house review at mid—year.

Actual achievements in park development were significant as the lakeshore began a program of upgrading temporary facilities. Workers expanded the East State Park (or Kemil) Road parking lot to one hundred spaces as recommended in the General Management Plan and installed permanent restroom and lifeguard facilities. Plans for 1988 and 1989 call for the same measures to be implemented at Mount Baldy and Central Avenue. Portable toilets began to be replaced with new facilities parkwide at all visitor access areas. Picnic areas began to be rehabilitated and shelters installed. Where the former Red Lantern Inn in Beverly Shores once stood (a victim of erosion) planning for a new visitor facility began.

In Administration, the park's Datapoint computer system grew into a sizeable network encompassing each division. The system expanded from a 1986 level of two processors, seven terminals, and three printers centered in Administration to five processors, seventeen terminals, and six printers. Staff participants grew from fifteen to thirty—five users.

Superintendent Engquist hosted a parkwide staff meeting on June 18, 1987, to introduce newly-appointed Midwest Regional Director Don Castleberry to park employees. Castleberry, who served as Indiana Dunes' first Assistant Superintendent from 1974 to 1978, re-established an easy rapport with the staff as he discussed the role of Indiana Dunes in the future of the National Park System.

In Interpretation, the division completed its reorganization at mid-year with the establishment of two districts led by two GS—11 interpreters. The division initiated a new "Junior Ranger" program at the Douglas Center which attracted more than 100 youngsters between the ages of five and eighteen. The Junior Rangers helped clean up the Miller Woods environmental study area and, together with their parents, established a closer park—community bond.

The Friends of Indiana Dunes thrived with more than 700 individual and twenty—two corporate members. The Friends continued to provide invaluable interpretive support by staffing the Bailly Homestead where they greeted more than 3,500 weekend visitors from June through October, supported the Maple Sugar Time event, and funded scientific research projects.

The Maintenance Division progressed on the phased restoration of the Chellberg Farm house and completed the final segment of the West Beach Dune Succession Trail as well as an overlook at Long Lake. In addition, construction and paving of a 34,000 square foot "boneyard" for vehicle, heavy equipment, and lumber storage was also realized. Park and Regional staff implemented the Maintenance Management System (MMS) on October 1, 1987, by computerized inputting of data and utilizing specified work schedules. The Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) program assisted the division with twenty—five participants during a ten—week period.

In Resource Management and Visitor Protection, resource managers concentrated on fire management activities in light of an increased incidence of wildfires. Provisions of the Little Calumet River Management Plan were executed as log jams were removed to allow unrestricted canoeing on the river. More than 30,000 sprigs of marram grass were planted at a one-acre dune restoration area at Ogden Dunes under a Federal Lands Day Project. In the spring, more than 200 Portage Girl Scouts participated in a day—long "Take Pride in America" project at Inland Marsh by picking up litter. Resource managers worked closely with NIPSCO to ensure minimal impacts when workers mowed the utility corridor paralleling the South Shore Railroad tracks, a practice undertaken once every ten years. Monitoring activities included the initiation of a farm fields inventory to study succession and a threatened and endangered species program.

Visitor protection specialists implemented a team patrol concept whereby two groups led by Supervisory Park Rangers worked four ten—hour days. The arrangement provided better lakeshore patrol coverage and manpower utilization. The rangers monitored a new concession, a mobile canteen service operating at Mount Baldy and other public use areas. Perhaps the most favorable media coverage for the year came when the staff rescued a white pelican which became entangled in a fishing lure and line at Long Lake. Rangers rescued the injured bird, which was a rarity in the area, and had it treated by a local veterinarian. [13]

The Indiana Dunes Field Land Acquisition Office closed at the end of the year. The office, which functioned as a separate entity at the national lakeshore for almost twenty years—even before park administrative staff arrived—was commemorated by the park at a September 25 farewell party. The land acquisition office played a significant role in making Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore as well as other Midwest Region parks like Sleeping Bear Dunes a reality. Closure of the office reflected an emphasis at the national level which discouraged land acquisition. In the Midwest Region, all such offices were closed and the land acquisition function was centralized in Omaha. [14]