PORTER, Ind. (AP) — The Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore in northwestern Indiana has received a donation of more than 30 acres of land near its visitors’ center.

National Park Trust executive director Grace Lee tells The (Munster) Times that the trust purchased the land using a donation from NIPSCO. Lee says the land will become a permanent part of the park. The donation was announced at a Thursday ceremony.

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore superintendent Paul Labovitz says the plan is to protect the wetlands and forest on the donated land and develop a hiking trail and a nature play area.