Portage Park Adds Duo-Gard Shelter

On a clear day, you can see across to Chicago from the lakefront city of Portage, Indiana. The thriving community has grown from its early roots in agriculture and later in the steel industry into a suburban setting with a population of 37,000. Among the amenities residents enjoy are 15 parks. One is the Lakefront & Riverwalk Park.

Currently under development, the park encompasses 57 acres. When development is complete, beachgoers will be able to take a tram from the parking lot down to the shore of Lake Michigan. Waiting for the shuttle, they can relax in a new shelter manufactured by Duo-Gard.

“Although the shuttle is not yet operational, the shelter is already installed and available to visitors,” says Sandy McDaniel, project manager for Portage’s Department of Community Development.

The 9’x16’ shelter is an open structure with a standing seam metal roof and steel supports, fabricated at Duo-Gard’s in-house facility. The vertical stanchions are welded, giving an unusual finished aesthetic to the shelter. Inside, the roof purlins feature concealed connections, adding to the appearance. Tnemec paint in a Sierra Tan color ensures durability.

“This is a custom design we hadn’t produced before,” says Sean McKnight, Outdoor Structure Sales, “and we’re proud to add it to our portfolio of special-purpose shelters.”

Although the city of Portage bears little resemblance to the land the Potawatomi tribe sold early settlers in 1812, a few reminders of the Native American inhabitants can still be found in the region, scattered throughout today’s environment.