CLOSURE OR LIMITED ACCESS
A government shutdown could impact national parks like Indiana Dunes
A potential federal government shutdown that could start this weekend will mean the closure of or limited access to resources at National Park Service sites, which includes the Indiana Dunes.
The Indiana Dunes, made up of 15,000 acres in northwest Indiana, became the country’s 61st national park in February 2019, just after the last federal government shutdown.
A new government shutdown will start at midnight Sunday, Oct. 1, unless Congress passes federal agency funding for the 2024 fiscal year or approves a continuing resolution to extend deadlines for lawmakers.
If no funding measures are approved, the majority of National Park Service locations will be completely closed to public access and visitors at sites that are “physically accessible” will see reduced services as a result of the shutdown, according to materials from the park service.
The National Park Service is encouraging people not to visit sites during a shutdown to ensure safety and protect park resources.
Thousands of park rangers across the country are expected to be furloughed if a shutdown begins this weekend, meaning they will be unable to work and get paid. Visitors centers will be closed and staffing to help in emergencies and maintain trash, restrooms, campgrounds and roads are not guaranteed, according to the park service.
During the 34-day shutdown under President Donald Trump, which lasted from December 2018 until January 2019, there were reports of trash piling up at national park sites and the organization relied on nonprofits and volunteers to keep up certain services.
The Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore was open during the 2018-2019 shutdown, but federal park rangers were not working and programs were canceled.