USA Today has named Indiana Dunes State Park one of the nation’s “10 Best State Parks.” A panel of experts nominated 20 to be considered for the list. USA Today then encouraged the public to vote during March.

Indiana Dunes State Park finished seventh. It was promoted in USA Today and online at www.10best.com/awards/travel/best-state-park

“Many people, especially those from outside the area, don’t realize what a jewel the park is until they see it for themselves,” Brandt Baughman, the park’s property manager, said. “We hope this recognition encourages people to come visit and experience the park for the first time.”

“With more than 6,000 state parks nationwide, it is excellent experts and the public recognized the uniqueness and wonder of the dunes,” said Lorelei Weimer, Indiana Dunes Tourism executive director. “We are so fortunate to have a natural wonder in Porter County, and it’s great to see Indiana Dunes State Park getting the national recognition it deserves.”

USA Today previously chose Indiana Dunes as the best place to hike in Indiana and one of the top 51 places to hike in the nation. The park has also been recognized as a great destination by CNN, Parents magazine and National Geographic. Indiana Dunes State Park is located at 1600 North 25 E. Chesterton, IN 46304.

Call for volunteers

at Ouabache State Park

To celebrate National Volunteer Week, Ouabache State Park and Bluffton Parks Department will have a volunteer call-out April 16 at 6 p.m., in the Ouabache State Park Lodge Recreation Building.

With tight budgets and limited staff, Ouabache State Park and Bluffton city parks are looking for dedicated people to fill many needs. Volunteers may help on a regular basis or when they have time. Representatives from both park systems explain specific needs like trail maintenance, shelter upkeep, landscaping, exotic plant control, event coordination and more.

People may fill out volunteer paperwork at the meeting. “Volunteers help keep the park in great shape for visitors,” said Mike Miller, assistant property manager at Ouabache. “It is amazing what one person can accomplish.”

Ouabache State Park is located at 4930 E. St. Rd. 201, Bluffton, IN 46714. For more information, call 260-824-0926 or email Jody Heaston at jheaston@dnr.IN.gov

Changes to urban

fishing program

Go FishIN in the City, DNR’s urban fishing program, will continue to stock 5,000 channel catfish in communities throughout Indiana to enhance angling opportunities for Hoosiers living in urban areas.

This year, fish will be stocked on just two occasions instead of three. Half of the fish will be stocked before the first Free Fishing Day, April 18. The second half will be stocked before Free Fishing Weekend, June 6-7.

Lakes stocked include: Diamond Valley Park Pond and Garvin Park Lake, Evansville; Dobbs Park Pond, Terre Haute; Krannert Park Lake and Riverside Park Pond, Indianapolis; Lakeside Pond, Fort Wayne; Meadowlark Pond, Carmel; Munger Park Pond, Lafayette; Robinson Park, Hobart; and Washington Township Park Pond, Avon.

A map of locations and more information is at www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/7508.htm

DNR’s “CookIN Gone Wild: Field to Table” program visited Meadowlark Pond in Carmel for some catfishing action last year. See a video at www.youtube.com/watch?v=rl-O1meBtG0

Go FishIN in the City started in 2012 as a partnership between DNR’s Division of Fish & Wildlife and the Terre Haute Federal Prison Complex, which has an indoor aquaculture facility. DNR supplies the prison with channel catfish around 8 inches long, and the prison grows the fish to 13-18 before stocking.

Wildflower Hike

and Edible Plant Fest

Salamonie Lake will host a Wildflower Hike and Edible Plant Fest on May 2. Participants should meet at the Salamonie Interpretive Center at 10 a.m. for an hour-long hike. From 11:15 a.m.-noon, visitors may taste treats made from native plants. 

Advance registration is required by calling 260-468-2127. The Upper Wabash Interpretive Services is located at 3691 S. New Holland Road, Andrews, IN 46702.

Campground hosts

needed for state parks

Indiana’s state parks are looking for volunteers to serve as campground hosts in exchange for free camping during their service.

Hosts work a minimum of 20 hours per week. Properties are looking for dedicated campers who enjoy working outdoors, with other campers and park guests and with Department of Natural Resources (DNR) staff.

The volunteer period varies at sites, based on the number of applicants and on the amount and type of work required.

Properties needing hosts are Turkey Run State Park for April; Potato Creek anytime from July-August; Pokagon State Park for August-September; and Brown County State Park anytime April-October.

A list of site availability and information about hosting duties is online at www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/2404.htm or contact the property where you would like to serve as a host.

Completion of a volunteer application is required; download an application form at www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/2443.htm

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments may contact Jack Spaulding by email at jackspaulding@hughes.net or by writing to him in care of this publication.