Sen. Joe Donnelly, D-Indiana and Sen. Todd Young, R-Indiana, are in favor of a bipartisan legislation which would place the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore as a national park, according a press release from Sen. Donnelly's office Thursday.
The bill, introduced and authored by Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-1st District, passed the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously Wednesday night. The legislation must now pass through the Senate before it can go to President Trump's desk to be signed into law.
Donnelly said in the release that he was hopeful the legislation would pass through the Senate and help to further grow northwest Indiana's economy.
"Designating the dunes as a National Park would give the area the recognition it deserves," Donnelly said in the release.
The legislation would retitle the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore as the Indiana Dunes National Park.
Young said in the release that he would be working with colleagues to bring the bill across the finish line.
"This designation will help preserve one of our state's most precious natural areas, and will provide a boost to the local economy," Young said in the release.
The designation would create the first national park in the state and the 60th national park in the U.S.
Katelyn Haas
