The new welcome center replaces the previous facility built in 1988, is ADA compliant and energy efficient. The design of the center is inspired by northwest Indiana landscapes and the wind power industry, represented through the building design resembling a wind turbine and blades, the dunes through three brick textures on the lower building section and the rolling roof, Lake Michigan through the upper blue glass, and the Kankakee River through the blue terrazzo flooring and custom restroom wall tile.

Travelers will have access to new amenities such as a dog park, children's play area, adult recreation area, walking trails and pond. Commissioned art is featured on seven wind turbine blade tips displayed vertically in the pond and a full-sized blade (219' long) displayed horizontally along the parking lot. 

Also included are numerous interactive exhibits inside for visitors to enjoy, featuring the Meadow Lakes Wind Farm, Kankakee Sands, Indiana Dunes National Park, Purdue University astronauts, the northwest Indiana steel industry, Grand Kankakee Marsh, and monarch butterflies. A Fair Oaks Farm exhibit is currently in progress and will be installed at a later date.

The nearly $40 million construction contract also includes the reconstruction of the northbound rest area and was awarded to Hasse Construction in 2021. Fosse and Associates Architects and Janssen and Spaans Engineering designed the new facility. Both locations have increased parking, with 150 truck parking spots on the southbound side and 75 on the northbound side. Many regional businesses and firms took part in the construction of the new welcome center.

"Through its Rest Area and Welcome Center Improvement Plan, INDOT is committed to providing safe, relaxing environments where travelers can rest and recharge as they enter and drive through Indiana," said INDOT Commissioner Mike Smith. "This has been an opportunity to work with state and local partners to provide a glimpse of all northwest Indiana has to offer in the ways of industry and tourism. We appreciate the hard work of the project team who helped make the new welcome center come to life, and we're looking forward to the facilities yet to come."

The statewide improvement plan includes more than $600 million in federal funding for improvements to 21 rest areas and welcome centers to be completed by the end of FY 2034. Pigeon Creek along I-69 southbound in Steuben County was the first welcome center to be reconstructed and opened to the public in October 2020. Clear Creek in Vigo County and Black River in Posey County are currently under construction and will have similar amenities to the Kankakee Welcome Center. Learn more about the plan and construction timeline here.

The southbound Kankakee Welcome Center and northbound rest area both opened to the public shortly after the event on Tuesday. Click here to view a short time lapse video of the new welcome center during construction.

 

Stay Informed
Motorists in Northwest Indiana can monitor road closures, road conditions, and traffic alerts any time via:

 

About the Indiana Department of Transportation
INDOT continues to solidify the Hoosier State as the Crossroads of America through delivery of Gov. Eric J. Holcomb’s $60 billion Next Level Roads plan. With six district offices and 3,500 employees, the agency is charged with constructing and maintaining more than 29,000 lane miles of highways, more than 5,700 bridges, and supporting 4,500 rail miles and 127 aviation facilities across the state. For the seventh consecutive year, Indiana has placed within the top five in the nation for infrastructure in CNBC’s “America’s Top States for Business” rankings. Learn more about INDOT at in.gov/indot.

 

 

  
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Local News Briefs

‘Story Trail’ to open May 17 on Winamac park walking path

The Pulaski County Public Library Foundation will hold a grand opening Saturday of its new Story Trail along the walking trail in the Winamac Town Park.

The public is invited to attend a special opening celebration and ribbon-cutting ceremony from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., May 17 marking the official launch of the Story Trail. The celebration will feature games, music, ice cream, and fun for all ages.

Indiana Election Division to perform voter list maintenance

In the absence of an election in 2025, the Indiana Election Division will perform routine voter list maintenance in an effort to maintain accurate voter rolls, reports Pulaski County Clerk JoLynn Behny.

 Beginning mid-May, registered voters with an “active” voter status will receive the first in a series of two postcards to verify the registered voter’s correct address. If the information on the post card is correct, the registered voter does not need to take any action.

I-65 to have overnight lane closures near State Road 14

 JASPER COUNTY - Indiana Department of Transportation contractor Rieth-Riley Construction will have overnight lane closures on I-65 from mile marker 217 to 223 (between SR 10 and SR 114) beginning on or after Monday, May 12.

I-65 will be reduced to one lane in the area where work is occurring during the overnight hours of approximately 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. Work will be ongoing through mid-October.

PCPL lists activities, programs for May

The Pulaski County Public Library has listed its programs and activities for May. They include restorative yoga classes, adult canvas painting, and the opening celebration of the Story Trail at the park.

For more information on any program, call the library at 574-946-3432 or visit the library’s website at www.pulaskicounty.lib.in.us. 

Stop signs to be added to two county intersections

The Pulaski County Highway Department will add stop signs Monday (April 28) to two county road intersections – one in southeast Rich Grove Township, and the second in northwest Monroe Township.

The new stop signs were approved April 14 in an ordinance adopted by the county commissioners.

  

Indiana News

Mitch Frazier, AgriNovus Indiana president and CEO, to step down

INDIANAPOLIS (May 16) - AgriNovus Indiana announced Friday it is launching a search for a new chief executive officer following the resignation of its current CEO Mitch Frazier who will depart from the organization June 6.

Frazier, who has served as president and CEO of AgriNovus since June 2020, will become president of IBJ Media Corporation June 16.

61 Pulaski County students earn Ivy Tech degrees, certificates

KOKOMO (May 9) - Ivy Tech Community College Kokomo Service Area, which includes campuses and instructional sites in Kokomo, Loganspor and Peru, celebrated the Class of 2025 with three commencement ceremonies Friday, May 9.

The events, divided by schools, honored 1,128 students who are expected to have completed work on 1,432 degrees and certificates by the end of the Fall 2024 and Spring and Summer 2025 terms.

Northwest Indiana Forum hosts legislative wrap-up

CHESTERTON (May 2) – The Northwest Indiana Forum welcomed over 90 members for its annual Legislative Wrap-Up event Friday featuring bipartisan legislators from Northwest Indiana.

An engaging and informative panel discussion with the six key state lawmakers reflected on the 2025 Indiana General Assembly session and its impact on the region.

Pulaski County March unemployment rate drops to 3.1%

Pulaski County's unemployment rate dropped to 3.1 percent in March, down from 4.3 percent in February, the Indiana Department of Workforce Development reported Monday, (April 21). The rate was 3.7 percent a year ago.

The county had 6,586 employed persons in a labor force of 6,795 in March. In February those numbers were 6,533 of 6,830. A year ago the numbers were 6,302 of 6.546.

 

Indiana Health News

Measles outbreak in 29 states continues to be of concern

The U.S Center for Disease Control continues to monitor the growing outbreak of measles in the U.S. which is approaching 1,000 cases in 29 states.

Eight cases have were reported in the Indiana last month, all in Allen County. No additional cases have been reported in the state since that time.

  

Post News

Missing Winamac teen found safe

WINAMAC - The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office reports the 14-year-old juvenile who was reported missing earlier this week has been located safe and reunited with her family.

The teen, Summer Campbell, 14, a freshman at Winamac Community High School had been missing since early Sunday morning (May 11), Officers followed multiple leads in over five days, both in and out of state.

PCELN works to build infrastructure for quality childcare in Pulaski County

Pulaski County Early Learning Network (PCELN) is working to ensure families in Pulaski County have access to affordable, quality childcare.

The network notes that many different groups in the county community must come together to address this critical need. Access to high-quality early childhood education means that children are more likely to build a foundation for success in school and life.

West Central School Board honored by Indiana School Boards Association

FRANCESVILLE - The West Central School Corporation School Board has been recognized by the Indiana School Boards Association (ISBA) with an Exemplary Governance Award (EGA) for calendar year 2024 for demonstrating an outstanding commitment to student success and professional learning.

Only 124 school boards in the State of Indiana earned awards through the EGA program this year.

Economic Summit addresses county's financial health, state budget

'Making a place where we choose to live'
With a major restoration of the county courthouse nearing completion and a host of additional business and community projects under development, the mood was upbeat at the annual Pulaski County Economic Development Summit Tuesday (April 29). The event is hosted by the Pulaski County Community Development Commission.

CDC executive director Nathan Origer gave updates on projects and county economics, while keynote speaker Stephanie Wells, president of the Indiana Fiscal Policy Institute, reviewed legislation from this year's session of the Indiana General Assembly.

BraunAbility to expand Winamac facilities with new product line

WINAMAC - BraunAbility has announced a $3.8 million investment in its Winamac operations to support production of the new BraunAbility Ram ProMaster.

This funding will cover land acquisition, land work, fencing, drainage and building improvements. Construction, utilizing local contractors, will continue through Spring 2026.