Moffitt fights for parks, historic sites

The Hennepin Canal Parkway outside of Sheffield is a spot of scenic beauty for local residents as well as out-of-the-area visitors. The state park offers a variety of amenities, including a bike path, fishing, camping, special programs and more. The Hennepin Canal has recently been targeted for closure by the governor. (BCR photo/Terri Simon)

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SHEFFIELD — Rep. Don Moffitt has filed a second house bill to get state money back for area state parks and historic sites.

On Friday morning, Moffitt said he and Rep. Mike Boland of Moline had already written and filed House Bill 6693 as a bipartisan effort to restore the funding for the affected historic sites, which includes Bishop Hill. His plans were to also fight the funding cut and closing of the state parks, Moffitt said.

By late Friday afternoon, Moffitt announced he will serve as a co-sponsor for House Bill 6687 to restore funding for the state parks affected by Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s budget cuts to the Department of Natural Resources. One of those state parks is the 100-mile Hennepin Canal state park which runs through four counties, including Bureau.

Moffitt said the bills will probably not be heard until the veto session, which comes after the November election. A special session could be called before then, but it is unlikely, he added.

Blagojevich made his announcement on Thursday about the closing of the state parks and historic sites, giving Illinois’ bad economy as the reason.

In Moffitt’s opinion, Blagojevich did not think through his decision carefully enough.

“I know the state is in a difficult financial position, but these state parks and historic sites bring in revenue,” Moffitt said Friday morning. “This was the wrong decision.”

Chris McCloud with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources said it is too soon to tell just what the closing of the state parks will mean, as far as specifics. The DNR staff will work out those details in the next two months. As soon as the information is finalized, it will be announced to the public.

For now, people need to enjoy their state parks as much as they can while they are still available, McCloud said.

Other area state parks affected by the governor’s budget cuts to DNR are Castle Rock State Park and Lowden State Park, near Oregon, and Gebhard Woods State Park in Morris.

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