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* IDNR went downhill fast under Rod Blagojevich. Pat Quinn signed a license fee increase into law to stem the carnage, but the decline continued. And the impasse has just made everything worse…
Illinois has neglected a state park at Carlyle Lake so badly that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is ending its lease with the state and taking back the property.
The Corps of Engineers, in a press release, said it’s terminating a lease with the state and taking back South Shore State Park.
“Due to several years of reduced budgets by the state of Illinois and lack of maintenance, the South Shore State Park facilities have become degraded, resulting in unsafe conditions and minimal useable recreation facilities,” the Corps of Engineers stated in a press release. “As a result, the Corps of Engineers has terminated the lease and closed the area to allow for work to be completed to make the area safe for public access. A portion of the area is scheduled to reopen in 2017.” […]
“The intent was for the state to provide recreation opportunities to the public,” Taylor said Friday. “Obviously, the state has had budget issues, and they haven’t been able to maintain the park, which led to a lack of opportunities and unsafe conditions. Based on that, and the noncompliance with the standards of the lease, it was terminated.”
What an embarrassment.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 11:56 am
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Good. Means I’ll be able to use my federal pass when it reopens. /partially s
Comment by RNUG Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 11:59 am
You should see the IDNR neglect at lake Kinkaid.
Comment by Blue dog dem Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 12:01 pm
Great! I’m happy to hear this. Until recently Grandpa would tike my family water skiing on Carlyle during the summer. It’s a nice lake and I’m happy that the Corp is stepping in.
Comment by Honeybear Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 12:04 pm
Winnin’!
Comment by Commonsense in Illinois Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 12:07 pm
I guess IDNR = Illinois Doesn’t Need Recreation
Comment by MSIX Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 12:09 pm
Honey…hate to burst your bubble. When the USACE is involved, nothing good usually becomes of it.
Comment by Blue dog dem Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 12:09 pm
What an awesome idea! What else can we neglect so that someone takes care of it for us due to our incompetence?
Comment by Not It Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 12:11 pm
I’m so glad Wayne Rosenthal is spending his time getting Avery Bourne elected instead of not neglecting the facilities under his authority. What a joke.
Comment by Stark Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 12:11 pm
Is this the path forward?
Before Illinois turns 200, the feds say, wow, you’ve really messed things up, we’re revoking your statehood. Congress is now in charge of your budget.
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 12:14 pm
Mike Madigan and the recreation he controls.
Comment by Give Me A Break Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 12:20 pm
(Nasally) “But… Why CAN’T we have nice things?”
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 12:24 pm
The feds are better at government than Illinois, so tgis is good news. And of course the US Constitution doesn’t guarantee retirement benefits for ANYONE
Comment by Ron Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 12:32 pm
This is especially embarrassing as there isn’t much in the way of park facilities to maintain at South Shore. I guess DNR is trying to focus on Eldon Hazlett, which is its big show at Carlyle Lake.
This may be a precursor to other closures, give backs, etc for DNR.
Comment by Sir Reel Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 12:33 pm
Is there anything else they can take back?
Comment by CCP Hostage Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 12:39 pm
On Halloween, a week from Monday, the eastern massasauga rattlesnake will be listed under the federal Endangered Species Act. I’ll give you one guess which former state park is home to the largest remaining population of this animal in Illinois. Good luck to the Corps of Engineers on getting anything done in 2017, if ever. And take a closer look at the Corps press release announcing this move…the Corps still wants a new deal with IDNR to manage the “natural resources” at South Shore. There’s more to this than meets the eye.
Comment by Oberon Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 12:50 pm
–The feds are better at government than Illinois, so this is good news.–
I hope this doesn’t include health insurance.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 12:54 pm
Maybe the Governor can run down and take some fall foliage pictures for his Twitter account before he has to turn the keys to the gate over… to the Federal government. So much for Republicans being for state supremacy I guess. Wait till the Bundy boys here about this
Comment by Longsummer Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 12:59 pm
Great question CCP. Illinois would be better off under federal control. We could at least get rid of Madigan and State legislators.
Comment by Ron Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 1:01 pm
The labor has shrunk by over 100,000 people in 9 years. We are losing population, this is nothing to be happy about.
Comment by Ron Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 1:18 pm
Eagle Creek next, please.
Comment by Midstate Indy Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 1:19 pm
“By nearly every measure, the state is worse off since Rauner took office.”
- Crain’s Chicago Business
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 1:22 pm
=== - Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 1:22 pm:
“By nearly every measure, the state is worse off since Rauner took office.”
- Crain’s Chicago Business ===
Stop it. This has nothing to do with Rauner. As Rich pointed out, the damage occurred under previous administrations.
Comment by Cadillac Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 1:25 pm
Since I’m sure many of us are not familiar with South Shore State Park or its current condition my question is directed at those who have actual direct knowledge of it:
Putting all politics and principles of state vs. federal government roles aside, and purely at a practical level is the condition of the facility such (as the ACOE suggests) that to save it ecologically and have it safe for recreational use, it must be re-managed immediately at this time?
Comment by Responsa Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 1:26 pm
The State/IDNR cannot afford to repair, maintain, rebuild Eagle Creek - many bad decisions. Give it back to the ACE like it should have years ago.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 1:28 pm
Aw - Cadillac -
I’m mocking this 100,000 jobs in 9 years thingy…
I’m glad your glazed eyes ignored THAT… You made my point.
lol
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 1:36 pm
Wonder what the IDNR director thinks about this happening on his watch.
Someone should go to an Avery Bourne campaign event and ask him.
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 1:37 pm
For those who forget…Quinn was really good for DNR, which under Miller
-reopened shuttered state parks.
-purchased and put thousands of new acres into public use.
-dedicated Park District projects across the state.
-launched a youth conservation corps to rebuild park trails, etc.
Rauner recklessly closed the State Museum.
He suspended the Chicago Millennium Reserve effort at Lake Calumet.
Now this.
What’s next?
Comment by Handle Bar Mustache Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 1:57 pm
It is what it is, but in the end, It Is IL.
Comment by sal-says Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 2:12 pm
If IL residents dont want an income tax increase to fund state parks, give them less state parks. That simple.
Comment by BK Bro Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 2:19 pm
Since this kind of stuff has gotten to be routine in IL, this:
Whereas Illinois had become dysfunctional over the past 1.8 years, a Proposal:
Proposal: Change the name of the state from ILLINOIS to DYSFUNCTION
Then we can have:
# “Me? I come from Dysfunction. No, not my family; my State”
# “I live in the State of Dysfunction.”
# Springfield: The State Capitol of Dysfunction
# I live in Chicago, Dysfunction.
# Rauner: “I am the Governor of Dysfunction.”
# Rauner: “I am the Governor of the Great State of Dysfunction.”
# Rauner: “I rule over Dysfunction.”
# Rauner: “I am the leader of Dysfunction.”
# Dysfunction: THE laughing stock State in America that has NO-Real-Budget!
So, if you’re not one of the 1/2 that wants to bail out of IL, ya gotta have some sense of humor, no matter the it’s dark humor. Unfortunately, this ain’t funny.
Comment by sal-says Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 2:43 pm
BK Bro, I love state parks. But we can’t afford them. We have outrageous public employee benefits to pay.
Comment by Ron Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 2:45 pm
Proft paper headline: Obama Army Corps invades Carlyle Lake.
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 2:47 pm
- Responsa -
I haven’t been there this year, but last year when I was there the federally managed campgrounds were in MUCH better shape than the state managed one.
Comment by RNUG Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 3:07 pm
Sorry, Willy, but the state park system fell to pieces under Quinn. It has been a shameful embarrassment for several years. But I don’t suppose you urban types knew or cared.
Comment by Skirmisher Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 3:12 pm
Wasn’t there a discussion on here the other day, about the DNR license plate fee. Does no one realize that money is being collected, but can’t be spent because of the budget, or lack thereof, mess. And that can’t be hung on previous administrations..
Comment by 618er Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 3:26 pm
thanks, RNUG
Comment by Responsa Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 3:48 pm
- Skirmisher -
With respect,
I was mocking the insertion of the 100,000 jobs lunacy here.
To the Point, and I guess to the Post,
This ongoing lack of fulfilling the contract had been noteworthy for a long period of time.
In this very narrow instance, and in this instance with the CoE, these past months accelerated an continued an ongoing negligence. The continued negegence is a state entity issue, not a policy issue.
NOT… a policy issue.
Big difference.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 3:58 pm
Carlyle Lake is the home of the endangered Eastern Massasauga rattlesnake. I hope this project has not been abandoned.
Comment by Emily Booth Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 3:58 pm
I agree with Stark and Michelle Flaherty. Rosenthal should put more time in running the department than helping to run Avery Bourne’s campaign
Comment by Tough Guy Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 4:22 pm