Action Alert: Help Save Starved Rock State Park

Please help Openlands in our urgent effort to protect Starved Rock State Park in LaSalle County, Illinois from harmful impacts from a proposed sand mine located adjacent to the eastern entrance of the park. Please contact Governor Quinn to voice your opposition to the sand mine, which was recently permitted by the County Board, and request his help to protect Starved Rock, one of Illinois' oldest and most ecologically and culturally significant state parks.

Openlands has prepared talking points below to use in your message to Governor Quinn. By sending a letter to the Governor, you will help us amplify our voice in number and in confidence showing Starved Rock's vital importance to all citizens of Illinois.

For further information, please contact Openlands Research Associate, Tina Seaman, via This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by phone at 312-863-6268. Thank you for your help, and please pass this action alert along to any individuals or groups in Illinois who would support this effort.

Background information

• Starved Rock State Park is one of Illinois' oldest and most ecologically and culturally significant state parks, located in LaSalle County, Illinois

• The park faces harmful ecological and hydrological impacts from a proposed sand mine located next to the eastern entrance of the park; the mine would also destroy an Illinois Natural Areas Inventory (INAI) wetland and pose harm to the federally endangered Indiana Bat

• The LaSalle County Board recently voted to approve a special land use permit to Mississippi Sand, LLC to mine 300 acres next to Starved Rock

• The mine, and its corollary pollution and traffic congestion, will detract from the park's tens of millions of dollars in tourism revenue currently generated by the over two million park visitors every year. Starved Rock is one of the most visited state parks in Illinois.

Key points for message to Governor Quinn:

• Express your urgent concern about this issue

• Point out the Governor's acknowledgement of the park's importance at the public celebration of Starved Rock State Park's centennial in October 2011

• Remind him of his successful efforts to save Plum Island, located near Starved Rock, from development when he was Lt. Governor.

• Ask for his help and leadership in protecting the park by opposing the sand mine.

Contact information

Governor Pat Quinn
Office of the Governor
207 State House
Springfield, IL 62706
Fax: (217) 524-4049
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

CC:

Lt. Governor Sheila Simon
Office of the Lt. Governor
214 State House
Springfield, IL 62706
Fax: 217-558-3094
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Director Marc Miller
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
One Natural Resources Way
Springfield, IL 62702-1271
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.