Illinois Governor Pat Quinn announced Thursday morning that all seven state parks closed by former Governor Rod Blagojevich will be reopened.
Wolf Creek State Park and Hidden Springs State Forest were closed November 30 under Blagojevich’s series of controversial cost-cutting moves. Vendors in the parks were also forced to vacate upon the parks closings. Among those vendors was Wolf Creek Riding Stables.
Governor Quinn made the announcement at the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) headquarters in Springfield.
“This is a great day for the people of Illinois. State parks protect some of our most precious habitat and provide opportunities for families to find outdoor recreation close to home. These are the people’s parks and the people have the right to enjoy them in good and bad economic times,” said Governor Quinn. “The value of these open spaces is immeasurable to children, families and local communities that depend on these parks for crucial economic stability.”
“I’m elated, especially for Shelby County,” said State Representative Bob Flider, D-Mt. Zion. “Wolf Creek is a tourism destination. The local people use it for quality of life. Visitors use it for pleasure. It is good from an economic standpoint in that when people come from other areas, they buy gas, eat in restaurants, and shop in the local communities.”
“For the former governor to have cut the funding for the state parks was inappropriate,” he said.
Flider added that Governor Quinn realizes the importance of tourism to downstate Illinois.
“Governor Quinn continues to follow through on his committments to tourism. He understands it - he gets it,” he said.
State Senator Dale Righter, R-Mattoon, believes this move by Quinn is a sign of the changes in the state government.
“This is an encouraging sign for us as to what will happen this year under Governor Quinn,” Righter said.
“He’s from Chicago, but he is considerate of the whole state. This is a sign to the Chicago democrats that he’s going to take a different course. That would be refreshing,” he said.
“Obviously the announcement is good news, not only for those who made regular use of Wolf Creek State Park and Hidden Springs State Forest, but for residents and small business owners in the affected communities around the parks, said newly appointed State Senator Kyle McCarter (R-Lebanon). “These communities rely on tourism for local job creation,” said McCarter.
Other parks to be reopened include Castle Rock State Park, Oregon; Lowden State Park, Oregon; Illini State Park, Marseilles;Moraine View State Park, LeRoy; and Weldon Springs State Recreation Area, Clinton.
The IDNR will immediately begin the process of re-staffing the sites as quickly as possible.
“Today is another meaningful step to putting the Illinois Department of Resources back on the right track. For far too long, this agency, our staff and the people we serve have been abused and broken,” said IDNR Director Marc Miller. “I wan to thank Governor Quinn for acting quickly to return these great places back to the people and for recognizing the importance that outdoor recreation has in Illinois.”
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File Photo / Daily Union
Gov. Quinn Reopens Seven State Parks
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