On a cloudy weekday afternoon recently, several people took advantage of recreational activities on the Kankakee River from the river at the LaSalle Fish and Wildlife Area near Lake Village.
Keith Getz, from Crown Point, slowly reversed his pickup truck down the boat ramp before unlatching his motorboat and releasing it into the river. He grabbed his fishing pole and whistled for his dog, Gonzo, who jumped into the boat before they took off.
Two fishermen sat patiently waiting for the boat to depart before settling down on the ramp with their fishing poles positioned in the river and two fishing baskets filled with blue gill.
After years of work, Dan Plath looks over and sees years of hard work can pay off.
"It took a long time; hundreds and hundreds of hours into the application," said Plath, president of the Northwest Indiana Paddling Association (NWIPA). "This is a unique achievement that should really be a sense of pride for the region. This is a mark of honor for Northwest Indiana."
The Kankakee River Water Trail was one of three National Water Trails officially designated by the U.S. Department of the Interior last month and only one of 20 nationwide. It is the only one in Indiana.
The 133-mile trail follows the Kankakee River from South Bend and runs through Lake and Porter counties before merging with the Illinois River near Joliet, Ill.
The national designation was the culmination of a two-year effort from the NWIPA, and numerous partners in both Indiana and Illinois.
"By designating these new national trails, we recognize the efforts of local communities to provide outdoor recreational opportunities that can be enjoyed by everyone," U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell said in a press release. "Our world-class network of national trails provides easily accessible places to enjoy exercise and connect with nature in both urban and rural areas while also boosting tourism and supporting economic opportunities across the country."
Plath said he believes the national designation will increase tourism and attract more local people to the Kankakee River. "There's a steady amount of people that come out here and enjoy different recreational activities but it's always good to increase awareness."
The river is typically a popular place for paddlers, canoes and kayaks, Plath said.
"This is what we want, a national water trail that attracts people and offers plenty of recreational activities: fishing, water trails, hiking, etc."
Plath said multiple agencies worked on the designation.
"This was a bi-state effort to designate the Kankakee River a National Water Trail and brought together around 100 stakeholders from Illinois and Indiana," he said.
"We teamed up with our partners on the Illinois side to try go for National Water Trail status," he said. The Kankakee River Water Trail boasts ample public access sites, thousands of acres of natural habitat, diverse wildlife, scenic walking trails and overnight camping for paddlers.
National Park Service Director Jonathan Jarvis said he hopes the new national water trails introduce and link communities to more recreational opportunities.
"The network of national recreation and water trails offers expansive opportunities for Americans to explore the great outdoors," Jarvis said. "With the summer here, I hope everyone will take advantage of a trail nearby to hike, paddle or bike," he said. "It's a great family outing and an opportunity to fill your lungs with fresh air and enjoy the beauty of the world around us."
Plath said he believed the designation would help attract more resources to improve public access, increase safety and continue to provide a venue for environmental education.
"This is an exciting opportunity and resource for Northwest Indiana," he said. "What we accomplished together is nothing short of spectacular."