You may soon have another reason to head to Potawatomi State Park as it experiences another strong attendance year. The park received good news earlier this month when $500,000 in the state biennial budget was designated for repairs to be made for the observation tower, which has been closed in recent years due to safety concerns. It was good news for local legislators and preservationists who wanted to see the tower saved without necessarily having an ADA-accessible ramp drive up the costs of the project, potentially endangering its future. Potawatomi State Park Superintendent Erin Brown says it is too soon to know when work related to those funds will begin, but she says crews could start the process later this summer thanks to $500,000 in emergency stabilization funds that were earmarked last spring.

Since no firm dates have been set for the work, the project's impact on the park's operations is unknown. The park is experiencing another higher-than-average year when it comes to daily attendance, a trend that was kickstarted in 2020 when COVID restrictions forced many people outdoors to recreate. In June, the park welcomed slightly fewer visitors during the month than it did in 2022, but they set a record for campers on the property. Brown credits the great weather the area has seen this summer, with Monday’s rainstorm more of the exception than the rule.