Letter to the
Editor:
The Indiana
Department of Natural Resources announced it is raising park fees in state
parks. This would make one feel they need more money to keep our state parks
going.
But, the DNR has
also announced a deal to lease the Dunes State Park Pavilion and surrounding
area to a private operator for $18,000 a year, plus 2 percent of profits
after 2 years. We are talking about lakefront property that has been
protected by the DNR for nearly 90 years. In return, the operators get to
build a banquet hall/restaurant facility and possibly a hotel and marina
later. On top of that, the operator may use its own auditor to decide how
much to pay the state.
No public hearings
were held. The deal was just announced.
It seems the DNR is
giving out sweetheart deals to connected, wealthy people for a minimum
price, and raising state park fees for many people who can least afford it
besides.
Why has the DNR
abandoned its mission to preserve and protect natural resources entrusted to
them for future generations?
Please contact your
legislators and Governor Mike Pence to get this “Mistake on the Lake”
project stopped.
Sylvia Graham
Porter County
Council member