Voice of the People

I strongly oppose the Department of Natural Resource's proposal to build a hotel, conference center, pool, and potentially a parking garage at the Indiana Dunes State Park.

While I support DNR in its efforts to reduce natural resource impacts on the park and to raise revenue, leasing land in the park to a private entity and building a hotel, conference center and pool is not the answer.

The Indiana Dunes is an area of global significance, part of the largest system of freshwater dunes in the world. As part of the birthplace of ecology, this State Park attracts and educates visitors on that merit alone and is not compatible with a hotel development - whether it is financed by a developer or through a bonding issue.

Leasing public land for the benefit of a private developer is both short-sighted and unconscionable.

The Indiana Dunes State Park belongs to all Indiana residents, present and future - it is not politician's to lease to the highest bidder.

I urge you to look into this proposal at once. Thank you for your time.

Melissa Mish

Posted 4/11/2006