RUNNERS PARTICIPATING IN last year’s Dunes Dash.
Carved by glaciers over 10,000 years ago, the Indiana Dunes are among the most stunning natural landscapes in the Midwest. Stretching along 15 miles of southern Lake Michigan shoreline, the Indiana Dunes National Park attracts nearly three million visitors each year who come to explore its sandy beaches, rolling dunes, and rare biodiversity. This May, the public is invited to lace up their running shoes and help protect this natural treasure by participating in the annual Dunes Dash.
On Saturday, May 31, the trails of the Indiana Dunes National Park at West Beach will come alive with runners and walkers supporting Save the Dunes, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving the region’s ecological integrity. The Dunes Dash features a 5K Run/Walk and a Kids Fun Run. Proceeds from the event will support Save the Dunes’ efforts in advocacy, conservation, and community engagement.
“We are thrilled to be hosting our 2nd Dunes Dash 5K and Kids Fun Run in partnership with the Indiana Dunes National Park,” said Betsy Maher, executive director of Save the Dunes. “Our location, West Beach, is the ideal place to provide the unique backdrop where people can run along the beaches and dunes for our cause to save them.”
This year’s Dunes Dash is made possible by sponsors including Cleveland Cliffs, Northwest Indiana Green Drinks, the Michigan City Sustainability Commission, Castle Subaru, and WIMS Radio.
Online registration is now open at runsignup.com. Race participants who register before April 28 will have the opportunity to purchase official race t-shirts. A pass to Indiana Dunes National Park will be required for parking. Visitors may purchase a pass at the entrance gate, in person at the Save the Dunes office, or through the online registration site.
The Dunes Dash is not the only event drawing attention to the park and the organization’s mission. On June 20, Save the Dunes will celebrate its 73rd anniversary with an open house at its headquarters, located in the recently renovated historic Barker House at 444 Barker Road in Michigan City. The open house, scheduled from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., will include guided tours, light refreshments, and a presentation about the group’s legacy of environmental activism.
Founded in the 1950s, Save the Dunes has played a pivotal role in shaping the preservation of the Indiana Dunes. In 1966, their advocacy helped establish the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, which was redesignated a National Park in 2019. Since its inception, the organization has worked tirelessly to protect the dunes, Lake Michigan, and the surrounding ecosystems.
More information about the Dunes Dash and the anniversary open house is available at www.savedunes.org/events.