On Nov. 30, because of massive scheduled budget cuts to the Illinois
Department of Natural Resources, 11 state parks and 14 historic sites
are scheduled to shut down operations and lay off employees.
The closures include Hidden Springs State Forest in Strasburg, Weldon
Springs State Park in Clinton and Wolf Creek State Park in Windsor.
The DNR has seen its budget cut by 25 percent in recent years, and
Illinois already ranks last in the Midwest in state-owned protected
lands. Meanwhile, closing parks and historic sites will have a direct,
negative financial impact on tourism and businesses at a time when that
revenue is needed most.
We’re calling on local residents to step up and take action.
Specifically, concerned residents should write or call the governor’s
office and urge him to sign Senate Bill 1103 — the General
Assembly-approved appropriations bill that would keep these parks and
sites operational.
Residents should also sign onto Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn’s “Save Our Parks” petition at http://standingupforillinois.org/saveourparks/ and urge friends and family to do the same.
But this problem also needs a long-term solution. Illinois needs a
dedicated funding source for its Department of Natural Resources to
prevent future cuts. To this end, local residents should call their
state representative and senator’s office and let them know that you
support a dedicated funding stream for the DNR.
Our state parks and historic sites are a vital, irreplaceable part of
Illinois’s natural heritage. Let’s let our elected officials know just
how important they are.
Brian Granahan
Environment Illinois
Chicago
