Happy residents, excellent schools, affordable housing, beautiful natural resources, and plenty of family-friendly amenities are often-cited factors of the best communities in Indiana, but some of the best communities are hidden gems waiting to be discovered. La Porte is one such gem, and for those who live there, it’s Indiana’s best kept secret.
“We have the lakes and the trails that differentiate us from everyone else in the state. We are building on it, and we are becoming a healthier community,” said Mayor Tom Dermody. “People are excited, and they want to make a difference.”
Dermody took office about the time the pandemic first hit. While the pandemic caused a lot of confusion and uncertainty, it allowed Dermody and La Porte leaders to see things in a different light. The natural resources and trails became the main attraction and 'Livin’ the Lake Life' was created.
“We feel we are Indiana’s best-kept secret because of everything that we have to offer in terms of quality of life and natural resources,” La Porte Communication Director Jessica Bruder said. “I don’t know many communities in Indiana, certainly not in northwest Indiana that have the number of lakes that we do within city limits - some of them being in walking distance of our historic downtown.”
The city rebranded to capitalize on the lakes, trails, downtown area, and high quality of life. The pandemic highlighted the importance of people liking where they live.
“We are 'Livin’ the Lake Life' now, and we want people to come live with us,” Bruder said. “We want you to choose La Porte because we think we have it all.”
The city is seamlessly connecting lake to lake and trail to trail. A five-year master plan, Stone Lake Shoreline Improvements, includes expanding a multi-use walking/bike trail, installing an Americans with Disabilities Act kayak launch and storage lockers, and connecting the Clear Lake Loop. Phases of the improvement plan are underway or have been completed. Once the Clear Lake Loop is complete, it will be a mile-long trail.
“You will be able to hop on a trail near the downtown and then make it to the furthest lake,” Bruder said. “If you live within the city limits, you are just a walk away from being able to enjoy the charm of the historic downtown or from where the lakes and the trails are.”
The downtown area has recently received some loving care. New businesses are moving in, and renovations are being made to existing ones. That same area is part of the Heart of La Porte plan to promote an environment for healthy living. The long-term plan connects and expands a trail from the downtown area to the Clean Lake Loop/NewPorte Landing areas.
Although the lakes are the main attraction for many, the city has more than a dozen parks, multiple trails, a few splash pads, and more than a handful of baseball and softball fields. Those parks house several activities all-year-round including concerts at the Fox Memorial Park Amphitheater, Arts in the Park, and Winterfest.
During the summer, the downtown area hosted Friday Night Live events once a month, and the La Porte Civic Auditorium will be hosting various concerts and other events during the winter months. The U.S. Marines NIBC La Porte Invitational was one of the winter highlights.
Bruder was first drawn to the job opportunity at La Porte but has since fallen in love with the community after discovering what it has to offer. Growing up, she didn’t realize that La Porte had lakes. She commended the community leaders for constantly thinking ahead to better the city’s future.
“I lived that close and didn’t know,” Bruder said. “Since I have started working here, it has been neat to see everything that the city has to offer. It’s cool to tap into something that I didn’t know was there before.”
Dermody’s plan when he became mayor was to make changes and not be status quo. He grew up in La Porte and knew firsthand the potential of the city and its residents. Since taking office, Dermody has championed enhancing the city's infrastructure, housing, public services, economic development, transportation, and quality of life. His priorities include upgrading the water and wastewater system, repairing roads, extending sidewalks and trails, downing and replanting trees, and ensuring all residents can access the internet.
“We will continue to press and push to keep our community safe,” Dermody said. “We want not only our residents to believe that La Porte is a special place, but we want statewide for everyone to know that La Porte is the place to be. Everywhere you turn, something positive is happening in La Porte.”
Dermody has taken a team effort approach collaborating with several different businesses and organizations, such as the La Porte Economic Advancement Partnership (LEAP) and the Healthcare Foundation of La Porte, to improve the quality of life in the city. In the short time of two years, Dermody, the city council, city superintendents, and city employees have made magic happen in La Porte.
“We have a like-minded city council that believes in what La Porte is,” Dermody said. “When you combine the council with department heads, it makes for something that I just need to stay out of the way and let them go. I couldn’t be prouder of this team.”
Learn more about the upcoming events in the City of La Porte by visiting https://www.cityoflaporte.com/.
