Town of Burns Harbor awarded

Outstanding Local Government for Marquette Greenway

BURNS HARBOR, Ind. – The Town of Burns Harbor received the Greenways Foundation’s

Outstanding Local Government award for the Marquette Greenway on April 25, 2025, in

Indianapolis, IN.

The nonprofit organization, Greenways Foundation, champions Indiana’s trail networks and

highlights trail leadership and projects from across the state at its Annual Celebration. The

Outstanding Local Government award gives recognition to local government leaders who

commit to the development, promotion and management of trail facilities.

The Foundation’s Awards Committee selected the Town of Burns Harbor’s Marquette Greenway

because of its significance for connecting the East and West sections of the Indiana Dunes

National Park. The Marquette Greenway is a 60-mile state visionary and regional priority trail

system spanning from Illinois to Michigan.

“Every day, our residents and visitors are walking and biking along the 2.3-miles of trail.

Marquette Greenway is improving the health and quality of life in Burns Harbor,” said Town

President Jennifer McHargue, “We are proud to offer regional trail amenities that people can

enjoy just in town or venture into neighboring communities along southern Lake Michigan.”

Greenways Foundation highlighted the Town of Burns Harbor Redevelopment Commission’s

fortitude in the face of development challenges as the premise for receiving the Outstanding

Local Government award.

In 2014, Burns Harbor experienced rapid population growth and gained a new revenue source,

Tax Increment Financing, that could fund new planning and infrastructure projects. Town master

planning prioritized the Marquette Greenway as a key project. In 2017, the Redevelopment

Commission received a $7 million state transportation grant to construct the entire project.

That approach collapsed shortly after when the Town could not gain right-of-way access from

Norfolk Southern. The Redevelopment Commission pivoted into a phased strategy from multiple

funding sources, primarily from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources’ (“IDNR”)

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Jennifer McHargue, President

Town Council

jenmchargue@burnsharbor-in.gov

Roseann Bozak, President

Burns Harbor Redevelopment Commission

rbozak@burnsharbor-in.gov

Town Hall

1240 N. Boo Rd.

Burns Harbor, IN 46304

219-787-9413

Recreational Trails Program (“RTP”) and the Next Level Trails (“NLT”) Grants and Indiana

Department of Transportation’s Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Grant.

Between 2019-2021, Burns Harbor constructed the 1.5-mile of trail from the Town boundary to

SR149 with $1.4 million in funding from the NLT Round 1.

The next phase from SR149 to Indiana Dunes National Park Overlook was built in segments

between 2022-2024. Within that project area, a proposed mixed-use residential development to

feature a trail lifestyle was planned between 2020-22. Due to the pandemic, the trial and mixed-

use projects were delayed then ultimately, the private investment partner chose not to move

forward citing higher costs. The Redevelopment Commission forged on by completing the 0.8

mile section with funding from two state grants. Burns Harbor also prepared a Marquette

Greenway Corridor Plan and an Operations and Maintenance Plan through an IDNR Lake

Michigan Coastal Program Grant during this time.

“Collaboration and celebration are keys to our success. The Marquette Greenway has been in

the making for nearly a decade. The final segment is planned for completion in late 2026,” said

Redevelopment Commission President Roseann Bozak, “We have been working closely with

federal, state, regional and local partners, including the railroad, to implement Marquette

Greenway and celebrate major milestones with residents and stakeholders along the way. This

award recognizes our collective effort.” President R. Bozak says, “In Burns Harbor, we persevere in the face of challenges because we

love our community which is our home. We are raising our families here and building amenities

like trails in hopes the next generation of residents will stay and raise their families too.” The Town of Burns Harbor, The Town of Porter and the National Park Service are partnering on the last phase of Marquette Greenway by late 2026. Both the Town of Burns Harbor and the

Town of Porter received NLT Round 4 awards for trail construction. Currently, both projects are in pre-construction phase of environmental and design engineering. The Greenways Foundation Outstanding Local Government Award and Video are available at the Town Hall and Town Website. The Burns Harbor Redevelopment Commission meets the second Wednesday of each month, 6:00 p.m., followed by the Burns Harbor Town Council at 7:00 P.M. All meetings are held at the Town Hall, 1240 N. Boo Rd., Burns Harbor, IN 46304. The public is always welcome and strongly encouraged to attend. Visit www.burnsharbor-in.gov.

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Incorporated in 1967, the Town of Burns Harbor offers the “Art of Green Living,” a unique lifestyle that balances

industry and nature with convenient access to the Indiana Dunes National Park, Marquette Greenway, and quality

schools. Located 40 miles outside of Chicago, Burns Harbor nearly doubled its population to 2,300 persons over the

last ten years. Burns Harbor continues evolving and celebrating its small-town American charm. For more information

visit www.burnsharbor-in.gov, like the Town of Burns Harbor Facebook page at @burnsharborindiana or follow us on

Twitter @BurnsHarborIN.