For generations, the West Branch of the Little Calumet River was a source of life, connection, and culture for communities in northwest Indiana. But over the past century, this once meandering and biodiverse waterway has been straightened, leveed, and degraded—cut off from the wetlands that sustained it and from the communities that once thrived along its banks. Indiana has already lost more than 85 percent of its wetlands.
Nearby, in the heart of Gary, Indiana, near the Marshalltown Terrace neighborhood, sits the Marshalltown Marsh, a 400-acre natural area that holds immense potential for people and wildlife alike. Audubon Great Lakes and the Little Calumet River Conservation Collaborative—a coalition of local government, nonprofit, and community stakeholders—have come together to restore this site as part of a broader 2,500-acre revitalization vision for the West Branch of the Little Calumet River.
This ambitious, community-driven restoration project led by Audubon Great Lakes and our partners is a model for how community-led conservation can support both ecological recovery and human well-being. Wetlands help slow and store stormwater, while healthy river systems offer a buffer against extreme weather and provide critical habitat for native species. With climate change intensifying the frequency and severity of floods, restoring natural floodplains is more important than ever.
Connecting Nature and Neighborhoods
Restoring the marsh is about more than just ecology, it’s about equity and access. Community members have consistently voiced a need for cleaner water, safer public spaces, and better flood management. The Hatcher Park and Marshalltown Marsh project directly responds to these needs.
The restoration will expand public access to parks, trails, and green space throughout Gary. It will activate Hatcher Park, Ironwood Park, and the Little Calumet River Trail as destinations for hiking, birding, paddling, and fishing. These nature-based amenities will help reconnect residents with the river, shift perceptions of these areas as underutilized or unsafe, and create new pathways for community health, education, and environmental stewardship.
Crucially, the restoration plans have been shaped by ongoing community feedback, with input from residents informing each stage of design.
A Globally Important Stopover for Migratory Birds
The Little Calumet River corridor isn’t just vital for water quality and flood resilience; it’s also one of the Great Lakes region’s critical stopover sites for migratory birds. Each spring and fall, the skies above Gary come alive with songbirds, shorebirds, and waterfowl traveling along the Mississippi Flyway. Among the restoration’s many goals is to create a mosaic of wet meadows, deep marshes, and ponds that provide a haven for these birds to rest and refuel.
The project aims to restore 1.6 miles of natural river flow and reconnect the river to its historic channels and surrounding wetlands. More than 400 acres of reestablished habitat will benefit state-endangered marsh birds and declining amphibian and fish populations, while invasive species removal will ensure long-term ecological balance.
Building the Blueprint for the Future
The Marshalltown Marsh restoration is a generational opportunity to right the wrongs of the past and rebuild a resilient future. In a city shaped by industrial legacy and environmental injustice, it’s a chance to invest in healing—for land, water, and people. By restoring habitat and reconnecting neighborhoods to nature, this project will breathe new life into the Little Calumet River. Together, we can shape a future where Gary’s rivers and wetlands are once again thriving—alive with birdsong, resilience, and community pride. Healthy wetlands could even act like a sponge and reduce flooding in the future.
The project, currently approximately 60 percent designed, has created a clear path forward. Engineering blueprints, habitat layouts, and flood models have been mapped out in partnership with Environmental Consulting & Technology, Inc., Indiana Department of Natural Resources’ Lake Michigan Coastal Program, and the Coastal States Organization. This plan is grounded in scientific assessment and community vision.
The next step: move from plans to action. Final design, permitting, construction funding, and continued community engagement are all on the horizon. Last May, we hosted an event called “Meet us at the Marsh” for the local community to learn more about the restoration project and provide feedback on what they want to see at their neighborhood park. Many community members shared memories of using the park growing up and remember its once-functional pool, community garden plots, baseball fields, and a football field. People are looking for a hub for community activity. We are working with the community to understand not only the ecological possibilities but also the historical and cultural histories at the site.
With broad support from partners, we are ready to move from design to action. Now, we need funding and public support to make this shared vision a reality. It’s time to bring the Little Calumet River back to life—for wildlife, for community, and for future generations.
