500 cram into parks meeting

OREGON - Nearly 500 people surged into the Coliseum Wednesday evening to tell two state senators how passionately they want Lowden and Castle Rock state parks to remain open. "I want to know how you're going to lock a park?" asked Rose Avey of Mount Morris. "It's going to cost more money to lock people out than it would to keep the parks open and let them in. If I ever was to be civilly disobedient ... I just may drive in there myself." Avey attended the meeting with 101-year-old Clarence Mitchell, a Mount Morris author and nature enthusiast who Avey said actually knew Gov. Frank O. Lowden, for whom the park is named. She pleaded with the crowd to speak out against the closures. "Have you called? Have you written a letter? We need to keep all the parks in Illinois open, not just these two," she said. Avey was one of 53 people who spoke out about a proposal to close 11 state parks on Nov. 1, in the wake of $1.4 billion cut from the state budget. Two of Ogle County's three state parks, Castle Rock and Lowden, are on the list, as is the Hennepin Canal Parkway, which runs through Lee and Whiteside counties. The meeting was organized by the Oregon Area Chamber of Commerce. Executive Director Marcia Heuer opened the two-hour forum to a loud round of applause when she announced: "We'd like to send a message that these are our state parks and we want them to stay open." State Sens. Brad Burzynski, R-Clare, and Tim Bivins, R-Dixon, co-hosted the program. Both blamed Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich and the current state budget crisis for the closures. "I'm outraged about this," Bivins said. "This doesn't have to happen, and this should not have happened. We're here tonight to keep our parks open." Representatives from the governor's office and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources were asked to attend, but did not, Bivins said. "I guess that speaks volumes." He also said his office has tried unsuccessfully to get more information on the rationale used for the deciding which parks should be closed. "Lowden and Castle Rock combined saw more than 400,000 people visit them last year," Bivins said. "And a lot of that tourism comes from Chicago and the suburbs - people right in the governor's own backyard." Burzynski said the parks were being used as a "political football" by the governor. "It's uncalled for and unthinkable," he said. "We need to look at the economic impact this could have on the communities. This is our opportunity to stand up and say enough is enough." Amy Trimble, of Oregon, presented Bivins with 3,849 signatures on hundreds of petitions requesting the parks remain open. Posters and letters created by Oregon school students also were given to the senator. Then, one by one, parents, grandparents, anglers, campers, teachers, students, retirees and one man who called himself "just an ordinary guy" all went to the mic to tell why the parks were important to them. Some tearfully recalled their first visit to the Blackhawk statue, while others relayed fond memories of family camping trips. Some business owners said the closures would damage the area economically. A few even called for a petition to impeach the governor. "This isn't a Republican, Democrat, or governor issue. It's a people issue, and we're the people," said Rich Day. "We don't want to see ... our parks to go to waste." Day, commander of the Oregon VFW Post, said half of the "business" at VFW dinners and breakfasts comes from tourists. "They're here visiting the parks, and they come in to town to our fish frys and dinners and help support the VFW so we can help support our troops," he said. "And we can't afford to lose that revenue." Pam Stukenberg, of Leaf River, said her e-mail to the governor's office about the closures had not been answered. She urged everyone to write in support of the parks. Aaron Sietz, an Oregon High School teacher, said his students volunteered to do just that. "... in two days, they've sent 167 letters, 97 e-mails and made 34 phone calls," he said. "They are your sons and daughters ,and they are invested in this." Jessica Deacon, one of Sietz's students, questioned the economics of closing the parks. "They only cost $45,000 to run, and they make $90,000," she said. Keith Blackmore, of Forreston, said the state parks are also a sanctuary for plants and animals. "Not only are the parks visited by people, but they are also home to plants and animals. I would ask that you stop playing political football with our natural heritage," he said. Bivins urged citizens to continue to sign petitions and send letters and e-mails to him, Burzynski and the governor. "This is the kind of showing that we need, and we need to make our voices heard." Contact your representatives Sen. Tim Bivins R-Dixon 309H State House Springfield, IL 62706 senatorbivins@grics.net 217-782-0180 217-782-4885 (fax) Sen. Brad Burzynski R-Clare M103D State Capitol Springfield, IL 62706 senatorbrad@verizon.net 217-782-1977 217-782-9586 (fax) Gov. Rod Blagojevich D-Chicago 207 State House Springfield, IL 62706 217-782-0244 or 312-814-2121 TTY: 888-261-3336 illinois.gov/gov/contactthegovernor.cfm