"While it may have lacked a strong community participation process, the decision to discontinue programs at Chellberg Farm was not an easy one for park staff at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore-but a vital one to ensuring that this beloved national park can continue to serve and inspire visitors for generations to come.

"This national park-as is the case with many other national parks-is facing overwhelming unmet needs, including a backlog of resource preservation, maintenance, and building repair projects, and mounting operational costs with insufficient federal funding and no sources of private donations.

"As every American knows, these are difficult economic times that require difficult decisions.

"The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) supports the National Park Service's decision to redirect its limited funds and staff energy into programs that are consistent with the park's congressionally-mandated mission. Furthermore, we hope that any flexibility created in the park's budget by the difficult decision to close Chellberg Farm will be directed toward programs and services that directly benefit visitors and support the park's mission to preserve the fragile lakeshore and native wildlife-inspiring visitors today, and our children and grandchildren in the future."