Illinois State Parks Closing

[sacrawf]

On August 28th it was announced that Illinois is closing 11 state parks and 13 historic sites.  

http://pantagraph.com/articles/2008/08/28/news/doc48b6ead84f1b8189593039.txt

[AustinBoston]

On August 28th it was announced that Illinois is closing 11 state parks and 13 historic sites.  

http://pantagraph.com/articles/2008/08/28/news/doc48b6ead84f1b8189593039.txt

The people will get the government they deserve.

Austin

[4Campers]

On August 28th it was announced that Illinois is closing 11 state parks and 13 historic sites.  

http://pantagraph.com/articles/2008/08/28/news/doc48b6ead84f1b8189593039.txt

That stinks. The real issue is what will the state do with the land, cabins, campgrounds, etc. that the taxpayers have paid to buy/build? Anyone looking to go into the campground business in Illinois?

[danwors]

On August 28th it was announced that Illinois is closing 11 state parks and 13 historic sites.  

http://pantagraph.com/articles/2008/08/28/news/doc48b6ead84f1b8189593039.txt

I hate to see this.  As we all know state parks are a draw for the surrounding areas and do help local economies.  I hate seeing the govt being so short sighted on this one.  Along with the closings, they also raised camping fees.  I'm originally from Illinois, but live in Indiana now.  Indiana parks allow you to reserve your campsites up to 6 months in advance.  My biggest complaint about the Illinois parks is the lack of a reservation system...it's first come first served.  Why in the world would I drive 2 hours to an Illinois park for the CHANCE at getting a campsite?  I guarantee we would spend more time and money in Illinois if they would implement a reservation system for all parks.  I guess the message to the governor there is to INVEST in what you already have rather than simply closing up shop.

[CajunCamper]

I hate to see any state parks shut down. State parks are our campgrounds of choice for the most part when we travel. I would be interested to know if a state park is sustainable on it's own by collecting fees for use and campingt once the original purchase of the property and the construction of the park is completed.

I'm sure it depends on the park, but it seems that the dollars necessary for upkeep and for park rangers and maintenance staff shouldn't be that difficult to cover with fees.

CajunCamper

[ScouterMom]

I live in Illinois, and while we use the Illinois parks often for boy scouts and local trips, we prefer the Wisconsin parks.  Mostly, I guess because I grew up in Wisconsin and the Wisconsin parks are part of my childhood, but also because Wisconsin has ALWAYS been a very conservation minded state, even long before it was a state, and they have the most 'natural', beautiful state parks - comparable to the National parks i've been to (all of which are not within a weekend trip of my home)  I may live to camp, but I gotta work to afford the camping trips.

However, It still bothers me tremendously that they would even consider closing any of the state parks, in Illinois, or anywhere else.  And the CHOICES of which parks to close, seem calculated to hurt the small towns with less political clout, and mostly middle class families that depend on these parks for affordable recreation.  

I've been working with scouts and school kids all my life, and no matter where you live, the state parks are a priceless resource for all kinds of organizations, especialy those involving kids.  Many of the kids would never be exposed to any large natural areas to see nature as it is supposed to be, without our state parks.  Especially in the midwest, where we don't have any large national parks.

And, as someone above pointed out, Illinois parks are already overcrowded and booked to capacity, which tells me that if they put a bit more $ into developing them properly, they would have the traffic to more than pay for for the improvements and keep them running!  If they are losing money this year, it was probably because of the weeks of overflowing rivers and rain 'lakes' that shut down many Wisconsin and Illinois parks - as they were underwater! It certainly wasn't because people didn't WANT to use them!

If anything the state should be shutting down some of those useless GOVERNMENT OFFICES - starting with Blagojevic's!

If you are an Illinois resident, there is an online petition you can sign to protest these closings.  The Website is:

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/stop-blagojevich-closing-our-state-parks

Even more effective would be to write the Governor's office in REAL PAPER letters objecting to this stupid idea -

So write to:

Gov Rod R. Blagojevic
JRTC. 100 W Randolph
Suite 16-100
Chicago, IL 60601-3220
Phone: 312-814-2121  

LETS BURY HIM IN PAPER!





thanks - Laura

[CajunCamper]

Boy...I don't know anything about Illinois politics, but this Gov Rod R. Blagojevic doesn't seem to be very well liked.

CajunCamper

[danwors]

Boy...I don't know anything about Illinois politics, but this Gov Rod R. Blagojevic doesn't seem to be very well liked.

CajunCamper

I'm in Indiana and even I don't like him, although I guess I don't really know Illinois politics either.  Maybe some Illinoisans can elaborate, but my feeling is this is Illinois business as usual....those in Chicago pretty much run the rest of the state, even though Chicago and the rest of Illinois are 2 totally different worlds.

[aw738]

I'm in Indiana and even I don't like him, although I guess I don't really know Illinois politics either.  Maybe some Illinoisans can elaborate, but my feeling is this is Illinois business as usual....those in Chicago pretty much run the rest of the state, even though Chicago and the rest of Illinois are 2 totally different worlds.

Maybe you should secede from Chicago. It almost worked until the Civil War. West Virginia seceded from Virginia.

[fallsrider]

I don't know a thing about Illinois state parks. I've been to Illinois quite a few times, but never to a state park there.

But what if...if they insist on closing those parks, I wonder if someone with an entrepreneurial spirit could contract with the state government to operate one or more of the campgrounds that are being closed? Just think about it (this is assuming the government would go along with it), you could run your own campground without having to raise the capital to buy/develop one. You operate it and keep all of the revenue except an annual fee or a portion of receipts that would go to the state.

Many private firms run government services better and more efficiently than a government can run itself. Not always, but there are many success stories out there.

Don't get me wrong, I have absolutely no intention of leaving NC, so I wouldn't be a candidate, but it's just a thought I had. I'm sure there would be conditions one would have to meet. For example, I doubt if a state government would let you turn their state property into a KOA-type campground. You would need to keep the back-to-nature feel intact.

Does anyone know of any state where a private firm has taken over any state parks and/or campgrounds?

[sacrawf]

Republican State Representative Bill Black (Danville) is introducing legislation to allow Vermilion County lease the Kickapoo State Park for $1.00 annually and administer it as another county park.  It is adjacent to an existing County Park.

I hope that the decision can be overturned state wide.

The Illini State Park at Marsailles, Illinois is on the Illinois River and near the historic I&M Canal towpath trail.

Kickapoo State Park in Danville, Illinois is a popular fishing and camping site, has a in-park nearly new concession stand-restaraunt with live bands weekly, and is the site of great mountain biking trails, a site for collegiate road bicycle races, events of the Kennekuk Road Racing (running) club, and adult bicycle road races, and has been a site for Great Lakes Pop Up rallies in the past. It is the closest State park to and enjoyed by University of Illinois staff and students.

The Moraine View State Park near Bloomington-Normal Illinois is well used, close to the growing population center of Bloomington and Illinois State University.  This is a great park with the campground right on a nice lake.

Hidden Springs State Park in Strausburg is in a rural area and has an adjacent privately run lodge/restrurant/banquet center.  

All of the facilities scheduled for closing are well used and enjoyed. Recently the governor has floated a plan to greatly increase the State Income Tax. I suspect that the closings are a ploy to encourage accecptance of increasing or adding other taxes or income streams.

[pistonslap]

I'm sure somebody with an entrprenuurial spirit has plans for those parks, probably low income housing or a Walmart. Make sure you vote for another Chicago democrat, Barack Hussein Obama.

[erich0521]

I'm asking that all IL residents contact the Governor's office and let your feelings known.

The problem is that the State has no $$.  Gov. Rod and the legislature do NOT like each other.  I think this is a political move by Rod to get attention.  The Springfield Journal Register pointed out an observation that the parks closing seemt to be in districts where Rod does not have friends.

This isnt' a Democrat vs. Republican thing....it's a Governor vs. the State Legislature thing as far as I can tell.

Most of the parks closing are well used.  I'd certainly agree to pay for more fees to keep them open.  The DNR did raise camping fees by $5.00 weekdays and $15.00 on holiday weekends...ie Labor Day.  The bad thing is that the $$ was not earmarked towards the State Parks....it could be used elsewhere.

I wonder what we pay to have the Gov fly back and forth from Chicago to Springfield simply because he doesn't want to live in the town like he's supposed to while Governor.

too bad for our State.

[sacrawf]

Now that Governor Blago has been impeached and removed from office, new Illinois Governor Pat Quinn was sworn in this evening.  He has announced that one of his first acts will be to reopen the State parks and historic sites that were closed by Blago.

When I first reported the state park closings in August, little did we know how much the entire nation would become aware of Blagojevich!

[flyfisherman]

Now that Governor Blago has been impeached and removed from office, new Illinois Governor Pat Quinn was sworn in this evening.  He has announced that one of his first acts will be to reopen the State parks and historic sites that were closed by Blago.

When I first reported the state park closings in August, little did we know how much the entire nation would become aware of Blagojevich!

From what I read & hear down this way Blagojevich was the very essence of political corruption. Not to say that does not happen elsewhere, but Blagojevich semed to flaunt it in everyone's face.


 
FLY