South Shore Tourism Awarded Grant to Transform Optimist Lake into a Community Destination

Legacy Foundation’s Love Where You Live investment will expand outdoor recreation, improve quality of life, and create a welcoming public space for Lake County residents and visitors.

The South Shore Convention & Visitors Authority (South Shore Tourism) has been awarded $645,200 through the Legacy Foundation’s Love Where You Live grant program to help transform Optimist Lake at the Indiana Welcome Center into an accessible, vibrant outdoor destination designed to benefit the community for generations to come.

The project will create new opportunities for Lake County residents to enjoy the outdoors, spend time with family and friends, connect with nature, and take pride in their community. Located at the Indiana Welcome Center at Interstate 94 and Kennedy Avenue, the project will reimagine an underutilized public space as a place for recreation, relaxation, community gatherings, and regional tourism.

Planned improvements include a boardwalk and water walk, fishing pier, canoe and kayak launch, picnic area, event plaza, and shoreline and habitat enhancements. Accessibility and thoughtful design will help make the space more welcoming to people of different ages and abilities.

“This project is about creating a place our residents can enjoy, a place families can spend time together, and a place our community can be proud of. We want people who live here to have more opportunities to get outside, connect with nature, and enjoy the amenities our region has to offer,” said Phil Taillon, CEO of the South Shore Tourism. “We are grateful to the Legacy Foundation for recognizing the potential of Optimist Lake and investing in a project that will make a meaningful difference in our community.  While this will be a wonderful addition to our tourism offerings, the everyday benefit to the people who call Lake County home is just as important.”

The Love Where You Live grant program supports projects that strengthen shared public spaces, encourage community engagement, incorporate arts, culture, and thoughtful design, and improve accessibility. Optimist Lake reflects that vision by creating a place where residents and visitors can walk, fish, paddle, picnic, enjoy nature, and gather with others without having to travel far from home.