Management

Welcome to Indiana Dunes National Park. It is a privilege and honor for us to serve you as the management team for this beautiful and biologically rich national park. Situated one-hour from Chicago, Indiana Dunes is one of the most popular beach areas along Lake Michigan. About 2 million visitors annually enjoy its bogs, prairies, wetlands, scenic beaches, and forested dunes. About 180 dedicated park employees work hard every day to carry out the park's mission of:

"to preserve for the educational, inspirational, and recreational use of the public certain portions of the Indiana Dunes and other areas of scenic, scientific, and historic interest and recreational value in the State of Indiana."

This means that we are protecting the park resources so that your children and your children's children can experience, enjoy, and appreciate the Indiana Dunes National Parkthat you know and love today. Explore this part of the website to discover how park management, employees, and partners work to accomplish this mission. Feel free to contact us at 219-926-1882 if you have questions or concerns.

Foundation Document for Indiana Dunes National Park

To effectively manage a national park unit and plan for its future, a basic understanding of a park's resources, values, and history is needed - a foundation for planning and management. These are called foundation documents. Foundation documents are at the core of each park's planning portfolio.

Each foundation document aims to answer critical questions such as:

  • What is the purpose of this park?

  • Why was it included in the national park system?

  • What makes it significant?

  • What are its fundamental resources and values?

  • What legal and policy requirements, special mandates, and administrative commitments apply to this park?

  • What are the park's key planning and data needs?

View the foundation document for Indiana Dunes National Park

Resource Stewardship Strategy Summary

A resource stewardship strategy (RSS) is a strategic plan intended to help park managers achieve and maintain desired resource conditions over time (see NPS Management Policies 2006 [§2.3.2]). As part of a park’s planning portfolio, a resource stewardship strategy serves as a bridge between the park’s foundation document, other plans, and everyday management of its natural and cultural resources.
More specifically, a resource stewardship strategy is a dynamic planning tool used to set stewardship goals and track progress in achieving and maintaining desired natural and cultural resource conditions. All resource stewardship goals and activities should be based on science, law, NPS management policies, and the long-term public interest.

View Resource Stewardship Strategy Summary

Last updated: June 8, 2023

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

1100 North Mineral Springs Road
Porter, IN 46304

Phone:

219 395-1882
Indiana Dunes Visitor Center phone number.

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