The Duneland YMCA is thrilled to announce another investor in the new Healthy Living Campus development. The 20-acre park encompassed in the development will become Cleveland-Cliffs Community Park.
The new community park that will be part of the Healthy Living Campus is made possible with generous support from The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation. This 20-acre park will be on the east side of the building, facing 8th street in between Morgan and Porter avenues, in downtown Chesterton.
The Cleveland-Cliffs Community Park will be open and accessible to all individuals. The park will feature walking paths, gardens, gathering space and elements to enhance environmental sustainability. The Healthy Living Campus boasts several non-profit partners, including Dunes Learning Center – the organization will contribute to the park planning to ensure the natural ecosystem mirrors that of the nearby Indiana Dunes National Park to create a cohesive system.
“This generous investment from one of our region’s most prominent corporations will have a lasting impact on both the Healthy Living Campus and Northwest Indiana,” said Dave Kasarda, Duneland YMCA CEO. “Cleveland-Cliffs’ dedication to creating an environmentally sustainable landmark here in Chesterton is notable and historic.”
Current projections show that the Healthy Living Campus will serve 1,500 visitors daily from seven counties across Northwest Indiana, as folks will come to utilize the services of the collocated partners. The Duneland YMCA believes that the Cleveland-Cliffs Community Park would attract at least 200 daily visitors, with upwards of 500 visitors during the warmer season. The park also includes an events pavilion endowed by the Dunbar Family Foundation, as was publicly announced in late 2023.
The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation pledged to support the Duneland YMCA Healthy Living Campus and new community park. This project is combining adaptive reuse and new construction to create a vibrant and innovative community hub in the heart of Chesterton, Indiana. Cliffs’ support will enable the new park to be built and accessible to the entire community.
The 20-acre Cleveland-Cliffs Community Park will supplement the existing park space that the Town of Chesterton owns and operates on the west end of the development site. Together, these two parks will create ample green space surrounding the Healthy Living Campus.
This landmark investment is part of the Duneland YMCA’s capital campaign for the Healthy Living Campus. The capital campaign includes the costs of the demolition, adaptive reuse, new construction, and renovation costs for both the Duneland YMCA and the eight additional non-profit and healthcare partners who will have physical space in the Healthy Living Campus.
More information regarding this project and how to contribute to the capital campaign can be found at http://www.yhlcduneland.org.
About the Duneland YMCA Healthy Living Campus Project
At the Y, we believe that when we devote our full strength to our mission and cause, work in partnership with others, and build on our commitment to the children, families, and underserved people of Duneland, we can address the most pressing issues of our community unlike any other organization. The Healthy Living Campus is combining adaptive reuse and new construction to create a new community hub and park in the heart of Chesterton. With the inclusion of eight non-profit and healthcare partners, we are building more than just a YMCA. The campus will be an innovative space fostering collaboration within a one-stop-shop capable of addressing a variety of community health and wellness needs.
About the Y
The Y is one of the nation’s leading nonprofits, strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. Across the U.S., 2,700 Ys engage 21 million men, women, and children – regardless of age, income, or background – to nurture the potential of children and teens, improve the nation’s health and well-being, and provide opportunities to give back and support neighbors. Anchored in more than 10,000 communities, Y has long-standing relationships and a physical presence not just to promise but to deliver lasting personal and social change. www.dunelandymca.org
About Cleveland-Cliffs Inc.
Cleveland-Cliffs is the largest flat-rolled steel producer in North America. Founded in 1847 as a mine operator, Cliffs also is the largest manufacturer of iron ore pellets in North America. The Company is vertically integrated from mined raw materials, direct reduced iron, and ferrous scrap to primary steelmaking and downstream finishing, stamping, tooling, and tubing. Cleveland-Cliffs is the largest supplier of steel to the automotive industry in North America and serves a diverse range of other markets due to its comprehensive offering of flat-rolled steel products. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Cleveland-Cliffs employs approximately 28,000 people across its operations in the United States and Canada. www.clevelandcliffs.com
