Issue Paper 2: Tourism as an Economic Infuser and Environmental Protector

Indiana’s House District 3 is home to a globally rare environment. Marketing our area as a tourism destination is paramount to our economic development. Recently, Chesterton made Expedia's "Best Place to Escape to in Every State" list. INHD3 is Chesterton’s closest House District neighbor. We share many of the same environmental gems and some rarities that can ONLY be found within Gary, Lake Station, New Chicago and Hobart.

(Blue trail advocates paddle in Marquette Park, Gary photo credit Dorren Carey.)

Hobart was just named by TravelIN as a wonderful place to have a Staycation. This is a great example of how developing year round activities, amenities and infrastructure for an HD3 community can gear it towards economic boons from exterior sources.  

(Scenic Lake George in Hobart.)

Tourism will raise our quality of life, beautify our blighted areas, build up our transportation networks, all while raising Gary, Lake Station, New Chicago and Hobart’s profile on the national/international level. 

(Volunteers fight blight across IN HD3 to promote community health and tourism.) 

If elected, Jessica Renslow will fight to:

• Create and implement an INHD3 tourism strategic plan and marketing campaign that will give our area presence on the national/international level.

• Protect our environmental jewels like the Hobart Marsh area, promote well-designed infrastructure that connects our cities and properly develop under served resources like Lake Street Beach. 

• Foster sponsorship relationships between area businesses and industries to help infuse tourism initiatives, support active transportation, improve infrastructure and protect our environment, so that the burden of funding is not on INHD3 residents. 

• Advocate for business investment in INHD3 that is complementary to promoting life-long communities. 

• Connect our trail gaps to unite the Calumet Region and all of Lake County. 

• Pursue local businesses to start prioritizing active and passive tourism in all seasons as an economic driver. 

• Promote private or environmental groups to develop preserves, solely funded via their revenue sources, on the edges of our already protected areas. This approach will benefit INHD3 by retaining our scenic beauty/ wildlife, reducing our blight situation and it will better guarantee our environmental jewels be allowed to retain their value.

• Increase jobs and economic development by monitoring/ maintaining compliance of our local and targeted hiring programs. 

• Ensure that INHD3 tourism revenues and benefits stay in Gary, Lake Station, New Chicago and Hobart.

 

(Blue trail advocates paddle in Marquette Park, Gary photo credit Dorren Carey.)
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Issue Paper 1: Transportation and Infrastructure

Universally designed public transportation and infrastructure is a integral part of the solution to our economic and environmental challenges. Smart growth means incorporating inclusive public transit, structures and programs, which will help us rejuvenate our business districts, allow area employers to tap into larger workforces and increase our property values.

( Jessica Renslow with blue trail advocates in INHD3 celebrating the ribbon-cutting of the only universally designed kayak launch in NWI. These volunteers received a $25,000 grant and fundraised the remaining project costs, while collaborating with multiple community partners to implement the project in a record-breaking 6 months.)

Our nation is transitioning into being a country where in the not so distant future, our oldest and youngest populations combined will compose 43% of the US. Indiana House District 3 will not escape this trend. Gary, Lake Station, New Chicago and Hobart need to create sustainable communities, wherein our youth and elders can both thrive. 

( Great uncle and great nephew play with bubbles in an INHD3 park.)

If elected, Jessica Renslow will fight to:

• Create life-long communities so that our seniors can remain in their homes and our House District 3 entrepreneurs can create cottage industries to help service this ever-growing population.

• Connect our blue and greenways with infrastructure that infuses our economy. 

• Advocate for active transportation initiatives that raise our community health index, thus improving the quality of life in HD3 and lowering medical expenses. 

• Promote transportation options that link House District 3 with northern Indiana so that Gary, Lake Station, New Chicago and Hobart become accessible to allhttps://www.planning.org/blog/blogpost/9137464/.

• Ensuring HD3 residents are afforded employment opportunities to help rebuild the region by monitoring/ maintaining compliance of our local and targeted hiring programs. 

( Jessica Renslow with the Lakefront District Slow Rollers in Gary's Miller Community. These bicyclists meet at the 46403 zip code's farmers market regularly between May-September. They buy locally sourced items, tour the community’s many trails and advocate for transportation and infrastructure projects.)

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