Preserving Our Environment through the Marquette Plan

Preserving Our Environment through the Marquette Plan

The Marquette Plan

Pete initiated the Marquette Plan to support the revitalization of Northwest Indiana’s Lake Michigan shoreline to maximize the value of living along the southern tip of Lake Michigan for the benefit of the residents of Northwest Indiana.   It is a regional effort to invest in lakefront projects designed to lay the economic foundation upon which future generations can build and thrive.  The benefits of the partnerships between the cities of Whiting, Hammond, East Chicago, Gary, and Portage and the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority are being realized today as their investments transform our lakefront.

The Marquette Plan is guided by three principles. First, 75 percent of the lakeshore should be available for free, open, public use. Second, development should be set back by a minimum of 200 feet from the water.  Third, there should be a continuous biking and walking trail parallel to the shoreline for all Northwest Indiana residents to enjoy.

Stretching for over 750 miles from east to west, the Great Lakes account for 90 percent of the United States’ and 20 percent of the world’s surface fresh water.  Pete has lived his entire life in the environs of Lake Michigan, the sandy shores of which have drawn residents and visitors alike to enjoy the unique ecosystem that exists within an urban environment. Northwest Indiana is fortunate to have the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, an incredible national park consisting of 15,000 acres, with landscapes that serve as a reminder of Northwest Indiana’s pre-industrial heritage.

Pete believes that it is essential that federal, state, local, and tribal leaders continue to work together to ensure the vitality of the Great Lakes.  That is why Pete advocates for federal programs such as the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, and the Brownfield’s Cleanup program.  Pete is also an active member of the Great Lakes Task Forces.