The National Park Service (NPS) is seeking an increase in the camping fee to cover the cost of adding municipal water to the Dunewood Campground in Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.

A new municipal water line was installed in 2012 and will go into service this year. That line will improve the quality and reliability of the water supply—compared to the previous well system—as well as increase the capacity of hydrants to provide fire protection, NPS said.

The proposed $3 camping-fee hike—raising the cost of a campsite to $18 per night at the Dunewood Campground—will cover the costs of paying the water company for the water used by the campground.

“Even with this increase, the cost is below the range of $19 to $29.50 charged at comparable campgrounds elsewhere in Indiana, Michigan, and Illinois, NPS said.

Meanwhile, NPS is also seeking authority to charge a new fee of $10 per person for the annual Century of Progress Historic Homes tour and for other historic homes tours as may be offered.

“The Century of Progress tour is exceptionally popular with all 800 available tour slots being reserved within days of the announcement each year,” NPS said. “While partner groups, Indiana Landmarks and the Dunes National Park Association, have assisted with these tours by collecting fees for a shuttle service, the park has not been able to recover the other costs associated with this special event. The fee is comparable or lower than other historic properties that have similar limited public access.”

Comments on these fees can be sent electronically to INDU_Communications@nps.gov

or by writing to the Superintendent, 1100 North Mineral Springs Road, Porter, IN 46304.

If you prefer to comment in person, there will an open house on these fees from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 11, at the Dorothy Buell Memorial Visitor Center at 1215 N. Ind. 49 in Porter.

Posted 1/29/2013