Illini State Park is an Illinois state park on in

LaSalle County LaSalle County is located within the Fox Valley and Illinois River Valley regions of the U.S. state of Illinois. As of the 2020 Census, it had a population of 109,658. Its county seat and largest city is Ottawa. LaSalle County is part of the ...

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolitan areas include, Peoria and Rock ...

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. In 1934, Illini entered into the state park system, and was dedicated a year later in 1935. The Department of Natural Resources closed the park from November 2008 to February 2009 due to budget cuts.

2008 closing

Illini State Park was one of eleven state parks slated to close indefinitely on November 1, 2008, due to budget cuts by then-

Illinois Governor The governor of Illinois is the head of government of Illinois, and the various agencies and departments over which the officer has jurisdiction, as prescribed in the state constitution. It is a directly elected position, votes being cast by p ...

Rod Blagojevich Rod Blagojevich ( , born December 10, 1956), often referred to by his nicknames "Blago" or "B-Rod", is an American former politician, political commentator, and convicted felon who served as the 40th governor of Illinois from 2003 to 2009, when ...

.Dempsey, Pam G.
Governor closing 24 state sites, including Kickapoo State Park
, ''The News Gazette'' (

Champaign, Illinois Champaign ( ) is a city in Champaign County, Illinois, United States. The population was 88,302 at the 2020 census. It is the tenth-most populous municipality in Illinois and the fourth most populous city in Illinois outside the Chicago metrop ...

), August 29, 2008, accessed August 31, 2008. After delay, which restored funding for some of the parks, a proposal to close seven state parks and a dozen state historic sites, including Illini State Park, went ahead on November 30, 2008.Garcia, Monique and Gregory, Ted.
State park closings a tough pill for some to swallow
, ''

Chicago Tribune The ''Chicago Tribune'' is a daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States, owned by Tribune Publishing. Founded in 1847, and formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" (a slogan for which WGN radio and television ar ...

'', November 29, 2008, accessed April 12, 2009. After the impeachment of Illinois Governor Blagojevich, new governor Pat Quinn reopened the closed state parks in February.Governor Quinn calls on IDNR to Reopen State Parks
", (

Press release A press release is an official statement delivered to members of the news media for the purpose of providing information, creating an official statement, or making an announcement directed for public release. Press releases are also considere ...

), ''

Illinois Department of Natural Resources The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is the code department of the Illinois state government that operates the state parks and state recreation areas, enforces the fishing and game laws of Illinois, regulates Illinois coal mines ...

'', February 26, 2009, accessed April 12, 2009. In March 2009 Quinn announced he is committed to reopening the state historic sites by June 30, 2009.Quinn To Reopen State Parks And Historic Sites Closed By Blagojevich
, ''

The Associated Press The Associated Press (AP) is an American non-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association. It produces news reports that are distributed to its members, U.S. newsp ...

'', via ''

Huffington Post ''HuffPost'' (formerly ''The Huffington Post'' until 2017 and sometimes abbreviated ''HuffPo'') is an American progressive news website, with localized and international editions. The site offers news, satire, blogs, and original content, and ...

'', March 25, 2009, accessed April 12, 2009.

Notes

References

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External links

U.S. Geological Survey Map
at the U.S. Geological Survey Map Website. Retrieved December 1st, 2022. State parks of Illinois Protected areas of LaSalle County, Illinois Protected areas established in 1934 1934 establishments in Illinois {{LaSalleCountyIL-geo-stub