Indiana state legislature considering creation of Continental Divide Commission

INDIANAPOLIS (WNDU) – Can a “divide” multiply conservation, recreation, and perhaps economic development opportunities in St. Joseph County?

Some are looking to the Continental Divide to do just that.

St. Joseph County has one of five continental divides in North America and officials now have a desire to make better use of it in the name of conservation and recreation.

There is already a Continental Divide Park in South Bend. It’s located behind the South Bend Dinosaur Museum.

The park is a place where buffalo roam. It’s a place where hikers can take their craft to new heights.

It’s a place that celebrates one of the earth’s natural water drainage dividing lines.

“Some of the water in the area goes to Lake Michigan, some of it goes down to the Kankakee, and then ultimately on to the Gulf of Mexico,” said St. Joseph County Economic Development Director Bill Schalliol.

Schalliol says the Continental Divide itself winds its way through much of the county to the west of the bypass.

“So, we started with the idea of, could it be an actual trail and trail system connecting different amenities, whether its Elbel Golf Course, the chocolate dino world to Lydick Bog, to Potato Creek, or what are some amenities along that corridor and then it really become sort of a bigger vision than that,” Schalliol said.

Some went downstate looking for the creation of a Continental Divide Commission.

The commission would have five members: One appointed by the House Speaker, and one by the Senate President. St. Joseph County would appoint one member, as would the city of South Bend. The fifth member would be appointed by the Chairman of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians.

Passage of the bill would allow the commission to acquire, develop, fund, construct, equip, own, lease, and finance improvements in the designated continental divide district.

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