Northwest Indiana is filled from border to border with what makes the Region home – local diners, microbreweries, county fairs, and believe it or not, its outdoors.
Shirley Heinze Land Trust announces that it has acquired a 43.5-acre property along the Little Calumet River in Chesterton. The land consists of 13 acres of natural area along the river and 30.5 acres that is currently in agriculture. Located west of Brummitt Road and south of Brummitt Elementary School, the property increases to 420 acres the total amount of land held by Shirley Heinze along the river’s East Branch.
Residents, staff, members of the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce, and community members met at The Lakes of Valparaiso on Tuesday to celebrate the opening of Trail Park with a ribbon cutting. The new park brings even more recreation to residents, offering a tennis court, basketball court, two sand volleyball courts, and a bark park.
The East Branch of the Little Calumet River is one of Northwest Indiana’s invaluable natural resources, providing habitat for aquatic wildlife and picturesque views for hikers on nearby trails. Save the Dunes, Shirley Heinze Land Trust, the National Park Service, Student Conservation Association, and the Northwest Indiana Paddling Association are working to restore habitat and improve access along the river corridor.
It’s not every place in The Region that can boast an all-inclusive playground; that is, a playground where kids of all ages and abilities can play and enjoy themselves. Hannah’s Hope is providing just that in Portage.
It’s that time of year again: Orchard Season! Northwest Indiana boasts some of the most scenic, variety-packed orchards in the Midwest, and this is the perfect season to take the whole family out for an exciting day of fruit picking. If picking isn’t your thing, these orchards and their markets offer everything from fruit, vegetables, jams, honey, delicious treats and so much!
The Washington Park Zoo founded in 1928, encompasses 15 acres on a hilly sand dune located near the southern shore of beautiful Lake Michigan. The zoo exhibits more than 90 species originating throughout the world. The animals are exhibited in natural settings, surrounded by botanical plantings. Among the exhibits are Bengal tigers, Cotton top tamarins, American alligators, Grizzly bear, Grey Wolves, Ring-tailed lemurs, River otters, Bald eagles, and more.
When the kids beg for a trip to the playground after school, how do you decide where to take them? We’re fans of stopping at random playgrounds on our way home to experience something new!
If you interact with children at all, odds are you've run into more than one that loves the park. From swings to slides and everything in between, there is something about a trip to the park that brings pure joy into a child’s eyes.