U.S. Sens. Todd Young, R-Ind., and Mike Braun, R-Ind., and U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-1st, have reintroduced legislation in the 116th Congress that would designate the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore as a national park.

Young and Visclosky introduced identical legislation in the last Congress.

“We need to tout Indiana’s rich history and our natural assets to make our state even more attractive to visitors and potential residents,” Young said. “I’m going to keep working with the National Park Service and other stakeholders to identify a path forward for this designation.”

“With its beautiful shoreline and scenic trails, Indiana Dunes is a state treasure that deserves the recognition of a national park,” Braun said.

“With the help of the National Park Service, Indiana Dunes will be a great destination for Hoosiers and tourists alike to cherish our state’s natural beauty.”

“I thank Senator Young and Senator Braun for supporting companion legislation in the U.S. Senate, and I also thank my Indiana House colleagues and all the Northwest Indiana community leaders and officials for their commitment to this initiative that will recognize the environmental wonder of our lakeshore and further grow our regional economy,” Visclosky said.

The legislation would retitle the “Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore” as the “Indiana Dunes National Park.”

The designation would create the first national park in Indiana and the 61st national park in the U.S., “which would give greater recognition to the natural beauty of the dunes and potentially draw more visitors and boost the local economy,” according to a joint statement released today.