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INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL PARK: Beginning on August 2nd, the hours of operation for Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk at Indiana Dunes National Park will be temporarily shortened to 8:00 am – 9:00 pm due to a spike in overnight vandalism and illegal beach fires. Gates will be locked at 9:00 pm and remaining vehicles will not be able to be retrieved until the following day.
Several fires have been lit on the beach which could spread and endanger both the park’s natural resources and the nearby homes in the Town of Ogden Dunes. In addition, the lifesaving ring on the breakwater has been stolen three times this summer. Without this important lifesaving equipment in place, a life can be lost due to drowning that would otherwise be saved.
Along with the shorter operating hours in the evening, the National Park Service is pursuing other means, including electronic monitoring, that will help identify individuals committing criminal acts at Portage Lakefront. The public is urged to help by reporting suspicious or criminal activity to the park’s 24-hour dispatch at 1-800-PARK-TIP (or 219-727-5847).
www.nps.gov
Indiana Dunes National Park is one of more than 400 units of the National Park System ranging from Yellowstone to the Statue of Liberty. Located in Northwest Indiana, the park includes 15 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline and 15,000 acres of biodiverse beaches, woods, prairies, and marshes. Over 3 million visitors come to the Indiana Dunes each year.
Last updated: August 1, 2024