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Budget committee reviews DNR park projects including $10M match for $60M Lilly Endowment award
Summary
The Department of Natural Resources requested a $10 million state match and other capital funding for state parks, including McCormick's Creek campground rebuild and Potato Creek Lodge furnishings; CFO Greg Sorrels said procurement timing and supply-chain issues drove the early FFE request.
The Department of Natural Resources presented several capital requests to the State Budget Committee on Sept. 17, including a $60 million program tied to a Lilly Endowment grant and a $25 million rebuild of McCormick’s Creek Campground.
DNR said Indiana State Parks received a $50 million Lilly Endowment award in June 2024 toward a $60 million networkwide project; the department requested a $10 million state match to complete work including construction of 10 comfort stations and 50 vault toilets across the park system.
DNR also requested $25,000,000 for reconstruction of McCormick’s Creek Campground after a 2023 tornado destroyed buildings and infrastructure. The rebuild design includes 190 campsites, a gate house, three playgrounds and associated utilities and roads. Funding sources listed in the agenda include General Fund and federal dollars totaling $6.2 million for that project.
The committee reviewed a separate $11,008,280 request for furniture, fixtures and equipment (FFE) at Potato Creek Lodge. Representative Gregory Porter asked why FFE funding was requested two to three years before the lodge’s projected opening. CFO Greg Sorrels said supply-chain issues and lengthy procurement timelines justify requesting the funds now: "There are supply chain issues with certain items needed for the lodge, and the process of furnishing the entire facility will take a considerable amount of time," Sorrels said. Chairman Ryan Mishler said that going forward FFE costs will be included in the initial project estimates rather than requested separately.
Funding lines listed in the agenda for these projects reference HEA 1001 allocations and a mix of state, federal and private funds, including $50,000,000 from the Lilly Endowment and $3,000,000 from the Indiana State Park Inns Authority toward Potato Creek Lodge FFE.
Next step: committee discussion occurred but no appropriation votes on the DNR items were recorded at this meeting.
