$6.5 million approved for lakeshore redevelopment

MERRILLVILLE, Ind. – A development group has approved spending almost $6.5 million for lakeshore redevelopment in Whiting and East Chicago.\nThe funding is part of the Marquette Greenway Plan, which calls for developing 21 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline for public recreation. The grant Tuesday is the third from the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority to go toward lakefront development since January 2006.\nThe $2.56 million appropriated for Whiting will be part of a $4.9 million funding package that will pay for running gas, electric and other infrastructure to Lakefront Park. It also will fund a five-mile bike trail, linking with trails coming out of Hammond. The project also will receive $2.34 million from the federal government, the city and the local BP refinery.\n“This project will transform Whiting,” said Brian Lowry, city community development director.\nLowry pointed to increased tourism, business creation and property value as potential benefits of improving and opening up the lakeshore. Whiting is the last of the four primary lakefront communities in Lake and Porter counties to get direct Regional Development Authority funding for its plans.\nThe development authority also approved $3.9 million for East Chicago’s plan to create a gateway to the lakefront from the Indiana Harbor neighborhood. The money will be used to acquire and prepare a total of 32 acres.\nRegional Development Authority funding comes from a combination of local casino and income tax revenue and state funding.