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| Wednesday, October 29, 2003 | (No comments posted.)
-- Five region mayors backing plan Visclosky hopes 'will transform Northwest Indiana
BY ELIZABETH EAKEN
Times Staff Writer
GARY -- For 18 years, U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky has been promoting his vision to recapture the south shore of Lake Michigan. Tuesday he announced a plan to make it a reality.
The vision, now called the Marquette Greenway Plan, involves a transformation of Northwest Indiana's lakeshore, covering about 45 miles from the state line at Hammond to the eastern edge of Portage. Visclosky, D-Ind., envisions a gradual transition from a shoreline reminiscent of the Industrial Revolution into a picturesque swath of public space more in keeping with the 21st century.
The key elements of the plan include recapturing 75 percent of the shoreline for public use, a minimum 200-foot setback from the shoreline for all new structures and facilities and a continuous pedestrian/bicycle trail along the shore.
"I really think this is a significant opportunity to transform Northwest Indiana," Visclosky said.
The plan, coupled with the expansion of mass transportation, will make the region the "true southeast suburbs of Chicago," Visclosky said.
What may bring Visclosky's vision to life is an agreement he facilitated between the mayors of East Chicago, Gary, Hammond, Portage and Whiting. All five cities signed a memorandum of understanding to collectively pursue a master plan for the Lake Michigan shoreline. Each city contributed $8,000 to secure a $160,000 matching grant from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources to pay for development of the master plan. Portage has agreed to collect and distribute money associated with the master plan for the reclamation project. It also has agreed to distribute the requests for proposals for the study. The master plan will provide the cities with a detailed map analysis and evaluation of the shoreline and its potential for public recreational use.
"I can't say enough good things about the mayors' visions. They're taking a look at the big picture; they're taking a look at the long term," Visclosky said.
The master plan is key to moving the vision forward. Without it, Visclosky said they cannot proceed with applications for federal money or grants to conduct environmental cleanup, development or property acquisition.
The mayors and their representatives joined Visclosky on Tuesday to announce the partnership at Marquette Park Pavilion. With money in hand, Visclosky's staff is now putting together a request for proposal to scout a firm to write the master plan. Visclosky and the mayors are hoping the study can be completed in one year.
John Goss, director of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, told everyone at Marquette Park it was a "great day for natural resources in Indiana," after giving Visclosky the grant.
"You're talking about a complete vision. A complete plan. When I got a copy a few months ago, I knew we had to do this," Goss said.
The plan got its start in 1985. Visclosky, a freshman congressman, proposed his idea in a paper titled "The Marquette Project." He admits at the time his political acuity wasn't what it is today. It also took some time for the region to mentally catch up to the idea. The decline of the region's manufacturing base and the development of lakefront casinos and marinas have helped change people's mind-set, he believes.
Mark Reshkin, a retired Indiana University Northwest professor of natural resources, told Visclosky and the mayors the plan is the right thing to do but it's going to be difficult. He said the biggest challenge is making the cities plans compatible with one another.
"People have to realize this actually will take a lot of time and a lot of compromise," Reshkin said.
Portage was involved in what actually could be the first visible step of the Marquette Greenway Plan, partnering with state and federal entities and National Steel Corp. in purchasing property along the lakeshore owned by the steelmaker for public access. The deal was done in conjunction with the construction of a safety overpass, which also will serve as access to the lakeshore property.
State Rep. Earl Harris, D-East Chicago, said in 2001 he passed legislation to create the Shoreline Development Commission. Although the commission is unfunded, he explained it provides a tool at the state level to begin securing funding for the Marquette plan. He said if everything works according to plan, those behind the plan should be able to amass the right amount of money and make significant progress on the initiative within 10 years. Harris said he already has received favorable responses from Ispat Inland Inc. and BP, which own portions of the land needed for the project.
"These are the kind of vehicles that will allow us to shape Northwest Indiana so that it will be a magnet to the rest of the world," Harris said.
Visclosky uses the east and west sides of Lake Shore Drive in Chicago as an example of how the value of property on the south side of the 200-foot setback will increase if the lakefront is reclaimed.
"If we can pursue it now and set the tone you'll have it open forever," he said.
Times staff writers Marc Chase and Joyce Russell contributed to this report.
Elizabeth Eaken can be reached at eeaken@nwitimes.com or (219) 933-4183.
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