The National Lakeshore Connector Trail
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COLOR KEY ALL DISTANCES ARE APPROXIMATE BUILT TRAIL FUNDED TRAIL (FEDERAL, STATE OR LOCAL) PROPOSED TRAIL (SUBMITTED FOR FUNDING-NOT AWARDED) PROPOSED PENDING (NOT OFFICIALLY SUBMITTED) CALUMET PARK TRAIL MARQUETTE TRAIL, EXISTING TO PROPOSED LINK TO LAKEFRONT TRAIL PHASE 2 (NATIONAL PARK) START: BROADWAY HAMMOND MARINA/STATE LINE LINK END: GRAND AVENUE (MILLER) DIST: 3.5 MILES START: CALUMET PARK END: WHIHALA BEACH COUNTY PARK DIST: 1.6 MILES MARQUETTE TRAIL, PHASE 1 (NATIONAL PARK) THE MARQUETTE GREENWAY PROPOSED ROUTE WIHALA BEACH BARK (LAKE CO. PARKS) START: GRAND AVENUE START: HORSESHOE CASINO END: COUNTY LINE ROAD (AT WEST BEACH) New END: WHITING PARK DIST: 2 MILES Buffalo MICHIGAN DIST: 0.7 MILES DUNES NATIONAL PARK CONNECTOR Chicago Long WHITING EAST SIDETRAIL (WHITING) (NATIONAL PARK SERVICE/PORTAGE) START: WHIHALA PARK START: COUNTY LINE ROAD Beach END: GEORGE LAKE TRAIL END: MINERAL SPRINGS ROAD (CALUMET TRAIL) DIST: 1.5 MILES N the DIST: 8 MILES GEORGE LAKE TRAIL CALUMET TRAIL Potawattamie START: EAST SIDE OF LAKE E END: CALUMET & SHEFFIELD (ENVIRON. CENTER) (PORTER COUNTY PARKS) Lake Michigan Park DIST: 0.9 MILES START: MINERAL SPRINGS ROAD GREENWAY R END: US 12/LAPORTE COUNTY LINE Total Proposed Length Approx. 50 Miles O DIST: 9 MILES H 94 CALUMETTRAIL HAMMOND, PHASE 1 October 2009 S Michigan START: CALUMET & SHEFFIELD E City Trail END: WHITE OAK BLVD. IN EAST CHICAGO SINGING SANDS TRAIL, K DIST: 4 MILES PHASE 1 (MICHIGAN CITY) Creek STATUS: FUNDED 2005 START: US 12/COUNTY LINE A Beverly END: WASHINGTON PARK, MICHIGAN CITY L DIST: 3 MILES 90 Whiting L Shores GRAND CALUMETTRAIL STATUS: FUNDED 2004 A Town of EAST CHICAGO, N Pines PHASE 3 O START: WHITE OAK BLVD. SINGING SANDS TRAIL, T I Indiana Dunes 421 END: KENNEDY AVENUE PHASE 2 (MICHIGAN CITY) N A State Park DIST: 2 MILES START: WASHINGTON PARK 912 S 94 END: LIBERTY TRAIL ROAD N E DIST: 1.5 MILES East D U Dunes GRAND CALUMET TRAIL HAMMOND, A Acres PHASE 7 Chicago I A N START: KENNEDY AVENUE SINGING SANDS TRAIL, N D END: CLINE AVENUE PHASE 3 (MICHIGAN CITY) I Burns DIST: 1.5 MILES START: LIBERTY TRAIL ROAD Ogden END: MEER ROAD (CORPORATE LIMITS) Harbor Porter GRAND CALUMET RIVER TRAIL GARY, DIST: 4 MILES Dunes PHASE 3 ILLINOIS START: CLINE AVENUE US 12 TRAIL Gary END: CLARK STREET 90 DIST: 2 MILES (LAPORTE COUNTY PARKS) TRAIL CORRIDORS START: MEER ROAD NATIONAL LAKESHORE CONNECTOR ROUTE END: MICHIGAN STATE LINE 20 Chesterton BURNHAM/PENNSY GREENWAY CORRIDOR GRAND CALUMET RIVER TRAIL GARY, DIST: 1 MILE Hammond 94 PHASE 2 START: CLARK STREET ERIE-LACKAWANNA TRAIL CORRIDOR END: BRIDGE STREET GREAT LAKES TRAIL 41 90 DIST: 3 MILES (STATE OF MICHIGAN) PRAIRIE-DUNELAND TRAIL CORRIDOR START: MICHIGAN STATE LINE Lake END: DOWNTOWN NEW BUFFALO GRAND CALUMET RIVER TRAIL GARY, DIST: 3 MILES 80 2 mi 80 80 Station 49 DUNES-KANKAKEE TRAIL CORRIDOR PHASE 1 80 Portage 80 2 km START: BRIDGE STREET LINCOLN MEMORIAL TRAIL CORRIDOR END: BROADWAY 912 DIST: 2 MILES 65 STATUS: FUNDED 2005 Implementation Indiana StateTrails Plan Financing implement the facility in a unified fashion. The Marquette Greenway The Marquette Plan Indiana Dept. of Natural Resources No one element of trail development is as A proven mechanism is the creation of an It has been the desire of many in the South Shore region to have an uninterrupted Once one of the United States’ most dynamic industrial centers, the Northwest To realize the development of the MG- (2006): The State of Indiana further crucial as securing the necessary Interlocal Agreement (IA) between all The National Lakeshore ConnectorTrail NLC Trail in the near future, a host of parties outlining their commitment to trail connecting the three states and providing access to numerous points of interest Indiana region experienced a significant decline in the industrial base that had served defined the route of the Marquette finances to proceed. There are many along the lakefront.The cities of Chicago, Hammond, East Chicago, Gary, Portage, as the local economy’s backbone. In response, Congressman Peter Visclosky coordinated strategies will need to be Greenway by identifying it as a potential avenues of funding which should develop the trail orderly and uniformly. A and Michigan City, including the counties of Porter and LaPorte, and the National proposed a unified plan to provide a comprehensive investment strategy for achieving The balance of this poster-plan aims to highlight a critical segment of the proposed Marquette Greenway – the near 10-mile implemented by all stakeholders along the “Visionary Trail” – the highest route be exhausted as they arise. These successful example is the Pennsy Park Service, have been working individually for years on developing their local the ecological, economic, and social rebirth of the region. His vision was realized gap between the east and west landholdings of Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. This gap has been scouted by both NIRPC route. While identifying funding sources designation in the plan in this include the following: Greenway IA which was approved by the segments of this overall vision. During this period of development, many of these with the publishing of the Marquette Plan: Indiana’s Lakeshore Reinvestment and the National Park Service staff in order to delineate the best route for an off-road trail, while taking advantage of the would top any prospective list, other landmark document authorized by Towns of Munster and Schererville, the trail segments were approved for federal funding, with several more proposed. With Strategy in 2005. NIRPC furthered this vision to include the balance of Indiana’s avenues are equally important to the Gov.Mitch Daniels. Federal & State Sources City of Crown Point and Lake County these initiatives underway, coupled with the need to establish a true east-west lakefront in their Marquette Plan, Phase II document released in 2008. Both environmental beauty of the area. The following details the communities and properties the Marquette Greenway – National short-term development of a route. The Chief amongst these are Parks. Since this IA’s approval, each connection along the Lakefront, NIRPC has begun to bring all of these visions to the endeavors have now been linked together to form a grand vision that will contribute to Lakeshore Connector (MG-NLC) Trail will traverse through. The reverse side of this poster-plan maps the MG-NLC Trail route following represents a brief overview of Northside Master Plan reimbursement funds programmed by community has received federal monies to forefront as a unified piece known as the Marquette Greenway – named in honor of maintaining the distinctive quality of life that will define the region for generations to in detail, with discussions on trail design and maintenance, and a brief description of destinations along the way. the necessary steps in the process: City of Portage (2005): This NIRPC which include: develop their section of the trail, with document outlines a comprehensive Munster ready to complete their segment the pioneer explorer Jacques Marquette. come. There are many initiatives outlined in both plans, with a unifying element being Plan Prioritization G Transportation In all, the route will traverse through 15 communities for approximately 50 miles outlined as the proposed Marquette Greenway – a three-state off-road multi-use trail vision for a sub-area as described in Enhancement (TE) of the Pennsy by the end of 2009.The from Calumet Park in Chicago, to the heart of New Buffalo, Michigan, directly connecting residents and visitors alike to the grandeur of the Indiana Dunes and Burns Harbor Ogden Dunes Indiana Dunes As of 2009, nearly all of the major the Marquette Plan. The balance of creation of an IA also ensures a uniform stakeholders along the route have G Congestion, Mitigation & touching a population of 120,000 people, but connecting to millions more. In other notable destinations. For many years since it’s incorporation in 1967, the One of the most historic communities along Lake National Lakeshore the plan highlights a vision for set of design standards along the route of incorporated the trail as part of a planning Air Quality Program (CMAQ) between, roughly 20 individual trail segments will be unified under this route. NIRPC tucked-away Town of Burns Harbor has existed under Michigan, theTown of Ogden Dunes has nestled redevelopment in and around the the MG-NLC Trail. No other site in Northwest Indiana in as omnipresent document, with the Marquette Plan is working directly with all communities along the proposed route including the radar, known primarily for its industrial-based peacefully for more than 80 years within the rolling Portage Marina. A major element of G SurfaceTransportation The successful establishment of an IA and majestic as Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, serving as a “blanket” vision providing a stakeholders directly adjacent in Illinois and Michigan.The focus at present involves ports on Lake Michigan. However, a population of sand dunes.With a stable population of roughly 1,400, this vision was realized with the Program (STP) with these stakeholders will spur on which runs for nearly 25 miles along southern Lake strong incentive for the trail’s development. securing the necessary funding for each entity to complete their segment. How nearly 1,000 calls this town home, and in 2009, the the town continues to thrive as a residential opening of the Portage Lakefront & further interest in the remaining segments Michigan.The park contains approximately 15,000 In addition to the Marquette Plan, these The State of Indiana also much money and how fast it will be allocated remains to be seen, but when coupled first large-scale planning effort was launched to bring community with prime access to transportation outlets Riverwalk in 2008, with current of the Marquette Greenway for similar acres, 2,182 of which are located in Indiana Dunes various plans include the following: maintains a number of regular with the Congressman Visclosky’s determined efforts to fund strategies from the needed direction on how Burns Harbor would developments underway, most notable instruments of cooperation to be utilized.