Description:
The former State Line Generating Plant site, a coal-fired power facility once located on a man-made peninsula along Lake Michigan, has undergone significant change since its closure in 2012 and subsequent demolition. The site is now being redeveloped for industrial uses, including a large data center. This transition raises important questions about public access, environmental protection, and the long-term future of this highly visible stretch of Indiana’s lakefront.
Conservation Law Center represents the Friends of Veterans Memorial Park, a community group advocating for redevelopment that includes publicly accessible green space and protects the ecological value of the site. The group seeks to ensure that redevelopment of the property reflects community priorities and preserves opportunities for public use of the Lake Michigan shoreline.
CLC has worked to support meaningful community participation in the redevelopment process. This includes working collaboratively with the City of Hammond, which retained ownership in the lakefront perimeter as part of its commitment to maintaining public access along the shoreline, facilitating the group’s interaction with City officials, and supporting the work of the Purdue University landscape architecture student.
The concept plan outlines opportunities to incorporate lakefront green space, a pedestrian and bicycle trail, native plantings, and other features that support recreation, habitat, and stormwater management. It also identifies ways to improve public access to the shoreline and connect the site to the regional trail network.
Current Status:
CLC continues to advise the Friends of Veterans Memorial Park as redevelopment plans evolve. The group is working with stakeholders, including the City of Hammond and regional partners, to incorporate the community’s vision into future site planning and decision-making processes. Ongoing advocacy focuses on securing commitments for public access, greenspace integration, and environmentally responsible design alongside industrial redevelopment.
The project proposal will be shared with the public at meeting in May 2026.
More Information:
- Watch a video about the project: https://youtu.be/nlcsZIxFKWk?si=LUokHYurJQkKjJmo
- Veterans Memorial Park Proposed Project Concept (Purdue Landscape Architecture Capstone)
