NWIPA

Paddlers, please join us to celebrate the National Recreation Trail Designation of the

Lake Michigan Water Trail!

 

Update 5/29/2011: Please note earlier paddling start times of 11:30 (CDT).

All participants will receive a copy of the new South Shore poster featuring paddling in the dunes, and a copy of the new Lake Michigan Water Trail map of the National Recreational Trail.

 

About the Lake Michigan Water Trail: In November of 2010, the Northwest Indiana Paddling Association in conjunction with the Lake Michigan Water Trail Association applied to the Dept. of Interior to designate the first complete segment of the Lake Michigan Water Trail a National Recreation Trail, 75 miles of shoreline from Chicago IL to New Buffalo MI. As part of the application process, we gathered over 43 letters of support from a wide group of stakeholders including six members of Congress, letters from nearly every municipality along the way, support from the MI, IL, and IN State DNR's, National Park Service, and a wide array of other Lake Michigan stakeholders including from Environmental NGO's, Industry, Visitor's Bureaus, Planning Agencies, and national organizations such as American Rivers, the American Canoe Association, and the USEPA. On Saturday, June 4th, 2011, National Trails Day, Sec. of the Interior Ken Salazar will recognize the Lake Michigan Water Trail as a National Recreation Trail (NRT). We are planning a large celebration to mark this huge accomplishment. Our vision is to create within the next few years, the longest continuous loop water trail in the world, a four state 1600-mile long trail around all of Lake Michigan. The Lake Michigan Water Trail will help improve the quality of life for all of the communities along the route and attract paddlers from around the world!

 

Celebration of the Lake Michigan Water Trail National Recreation Trail:

Saturday, June 4, 2011 - National Trails Day

11:00 am until ~5:30 pm

Where: Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk

http://www.nps.gov/indu/planyourvisit/portage-lakefront-and-riverwalk.htm

 

Paddling Event Details:

Sea kayakers - the event will feature a 4-mile paddle (each way) launching at 11:30 am(CDT) from Marquette Park in Gary (Miller Beach) to Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk. Please be at Marquette Park before 11:00 am. for registration and the safety briefing. A parking area has been reserved for paddlers at Marquette Park located at 7500 Oak Avenue, Gary, IN http://classic.mapquest.com/maps?address=7500+Oak+Ave.&city=Gary&state=IN&co untry=US

After the NRT dedication ceremony and reception, participants will paddle back to Marquette Park. Please RSVP at: http://www.nwipa.org/lmwtdedication.html

 

Recreational Kayakers and Canoeists - Launching at 11:30, a second paddling event intended for recreational kayaks and canoes will begin on the Little Calumet River at the Miller Charter of the Izaak Walton League located at 1269 Crisman Rd. Portage IN 46368. http://classic.mapquest.com/maps?city=Portage&state=IN&address=1269+Crisman+R d&zipcode=46368-1200&country=US&latitude=41.613486&longitude=-87.1739&geocode=ADDRESS

Along the way, paddlers will tour a portion of the East Branch of the Little Calumet River to the convergence of Salt Creek and then onto the dedication ceremony at Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk (~4.25 miles). Please be at the Izaak Walton League before 11:00 am (CDT) for registration and the safety briefing. Park at the Izaak Walton parking lot located just off of 249 in Portage, north of I-94. Following the dedication ceremony and reception, participants will paddle back to the Izaak Walton League. Please RSVP at: http://www.nwipa.org/lmwtdedication.html

 

Biking Event Details: In addition, a biking event known as the Region Ride 2011 will also take place as part of the celebration. The Calumet Citizens for Connecting Communities (C4) and the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission (NIRPC) will be hosting their annual Region Ride. The ride will commence at Oak Ridge County Park, and continue to Portage's Lakefront Park and Riverwalk, to join paddlers for the dedication ceremony. From here, the ride will retrace the route back to Oak Ridge County Park, for a total combined distance of 36 miles. The Region Ride is free to any and all who would like to participate. The ride will kick-off from Oak Ridge at approximately 10 AM Central Time, and arrive in Portage by noon. Details can be found on C4's website - www.cc4cc.org, or their Facebook page.

 

Dedication Ceremony: At 1:30 pm (CDT), there will be a dedication ceremony at the Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk. The ceremony features several speakers including leadership from the American Canoe Association, National Park Service, state and local government, and other Lake Michigan Water Trail stakeholders. All of the supporters who send in letters of support have been invited as well. Following the dedication ceremony, there will be a short reception that will coincide with the unveiling of the newly commissioned Lake Michigan Water Trail South Shore poster sponsored by NIPSCO. In addition, a new Lake Michigan Water Trail map of the National Recreation Trail is being produced and will be available at the ceremony. Participants will each receive a copy of the poster and the new map. Supporters wishing to participate in the dedication ceremony and South Shore poster unveiling are invited to the Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk, but will likely have to park off site at and take the shuttle bus that has been provided. More info at: www.NWIPA.org

 

Directions to Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk: Located from I-94 or I-80, exit at SR 249 north to U.S. Hwy. 12 west and go over the bridge. At the stop sign at the north end of bridge, turn left over the Burns Harbor Waterway. At the next stop sign, turn right and continue to follow the Portage Lakefront signage.

 

Cost: Free!

 

Volunteers Needed: If you are interested in volunteering to help us with the event, please contact Linda Lanchaster at Lynda_Lancaster@nps.gov or Dan Plath at dplath@nwipa.org

 

More Info: For more information on the water trail, go to the Lake Michigan Water Trail web site www.LMWT.org or the Northwest Indiana Paddling Association web site www.NWIPA.org

 

R.S.V.P. Please help us plan for the event by RSVPing.
 

Fill out the R.S.V.P. Below and we will send you event updates as they become available.

Save the Date: June 4th, 2011

R.S.V.P.

© 2011 Northwest Indiana Paddling Association