Residents of Chesterton, members of the Coffee Creek Committee, and local supporters gathered to celebrate the official opening of the new trail loop at Coffee Creek Park. The ribbon-cutting ceremony marked a significant milestone in the park's ongoing enhancement efforts.

Berglund Construction was awarded this project as the general contractor this past February. This project features three new piers, an upgraded trail, and a limestone outcropping along the park’s pond, representing a key step in revitalizing the area behind downtown Chesterton.

The vision for this enhancement stems from a comprehensive master plan unveiled back in 2021, which outlines $13.6 million in improvements designed to elevate the park's profile and strengthen its connection to downtown. A crucial aspect of this plan includes acquiring a downtown building to create a direct pathway to Coffee Creek Park, further integrating the park into the community.

In addition to the trail enhancements, Parks Superintendent, Tyler McLead, acknowledged a generous $10,000 donation from Louise Crumpacker and the Crumpacker Memorial Charitable Fund, which funded new benches for the piers. Additional seating is also planned for the trail to enhance visitors' experience. In addition, this project was partially funded by a federal grant from the Lake Michigan Coastal program.

“I’m grateful to the Lake Michigan Coastal Program for its grant and to the Crumpacker Memorial Charitable Foundation for its donation,” McLead said. “Projects of this quality are extremely hard to undertake without outside funding. The Park Board authorized this project, was fully involved throughout the process, and I appreciate the care members took in the planning. SEH Inc. provided an excellent design and Berglund Construction executed it professionally.”

The next phase of improvements will concentrate on replacing the deteriorating boardwalk on the park's west side and tackling invasive plant species. The town intends to seek additional grants from the Lake Michigan Coastal program to fund these initiatives.