Congressman Tom Tiffany has introduced a bill seeking to make the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Wisconsin’s first national park.
During a hearing July 24 in the House Committee on Natural Resources, Tiffany said the designation would increase tourism, attracting more visitors to the Bay Area.
“The Apostle Islands are one of Wisconsin’s true crown jewels and deserve to be recognized. This prestigious designation would not only strengthen conservation efforts, bolster the local economy and create new job opportunities, but would also ensure lasting environmental and economic security for generations to come,” he said.
The bill is decades in the making. In 1930, congress authorized a study to designate the Apostle Islands a national park. Roughly 40 years later, President John F. Kennedy described the islands as “part of the country’s national heritage” and designated the islands a national lakeshore. Elevating the status to a national park, Tiffany said, will ensure thousands more will be able to visit the area.