“The object of the park Instead of our usual m o reservations is to preserve the scenic beauty of Illinois area s, this month we pr o in its primitive form and to hold it as a heritage for generations yet unborn. There is an inherent quality His of great force in primitive beauty that is invaluable to mankind. ” —Jens Jensen, 1926 State Parks (Courtesy Lincoln Memorial Gardens, Springfield.)

Story By Cory Pelc system. Throughout Europe, nature In the early 1900s, Jens Jensen (above) and parks were reserved for private hunt - others founded The Prairie Club, an organi- he recent growth in ing and resorting activities, activities of zation leading excursions to some of Illinois’ environmental aware - the elite. In North America, private ness across the globe landowners were opening their scenic most scenic sites, including Starved Rock, T is not a new idea. properties for public use. The concept which became a state park in 1911. Creation of a of a New World park system, providing national park system took root in the public land for use by everyone, was under way, and gained further mid-1800s, but with one significant evolving but proponents struggled support with President Ulysses S. difference from the Old World’s park with gaining legislative support. Grant’s creation of our nation’s first 2 / Outdoor Illinois October 2008 By 1872, the movement was well park, Yellowstone National Park. nthly feature story on one of Illinois’ 131 state park or recreation sovidet a paoryrtial history of how our park osystem waf s created. ate Parks

Interest Builds in Illinois these events, a separate organization, of 13 specific sites. None of the four Around the turn of the 20th century, “The Prairie Club,” was formed to man - proposed scenic sites but four of the the concept of dedicated parklands was age the excursions. nine proposed historical sites were gaining momentum in Illinois. Jens One popular early destination for passed in the 14-year span. Jensen (1860-1951), a landscape archi - the Prairie Club was Starved Rock along Determined to make an influence, in tect who designed many Chicago-area the Illinois River, featured a stand of April 1913 Jensen invited a group of parks, was one of the leaders in the cre - rare, native white pines. Many local citi - influential men and women from the ation of state park and forest reserve zens considered Starved Rock worthy Chicago area and downstate Illinois to systems in Illinois. of state preservation. The Rock River meet and discuss a conservation policy In 1903, Jensen and fellow architect area around Oregon was another site that would protect tracts of Illinois Dwight Perkins began to develop a plan favored by club members. with historic and scenic value. This to provide for natural preserves (not to The Prairie Club pushed the legisla - group formed a new organization, be confused with the present-day desig - ture for a forest preserve bill, allowing “Friends of Our Native Landscape,” and nated nature preserves) throughout Starved Rock and other areas across the in 1921 published a report describing northeast Illinois. A product of this col - state to be saved. As a result, Starved scenic sites worthy of preservation for laboration were “Saturday Afternoon Rock was acquired by the state in 1911. their natural landscapes. Walking Trips,” outings that attracted From 1911 to 1925, at least 24 crowds of 200 or more people. Because bills were introduced in the of the rapid growth and interest in General Assembly for purchase

Extensive lotus beds drew visitors to Grass Lake (Chain O’Lakes State Park, left).

Historic (Fort Kaskaskia, above) and scenic (Cave-in- Rock) sites dominated Illinois’ park system until the 1930s when recreation became a focus. October 2008 Outdoor Illinois / 3 Park ock State Starved R tate Park lo Rock S Hennep Buffa in Canal S tate Trail

The concept of the New World park system was to provide public land for the Scenic Movement use of everyone. Although legislation allowed for the acquisition of scenic sites, not until sidered for incorporation into the park 1925 did the idea of scenic parks gain system. Within a few years, Giant City, general acceptance. A letter from C.R. Cave-in-Rock and Mississippi Palisades Miller, Director for the Division of were designated as Illinois state parks. Parks and Memorials, to a person who suggested the acquisition of a historical Recreation site, shows that the park idea had start - A 1931 amendment to the forest pre - ed to catch on with officials as well: serve act called for recognition and “While I fully appreciate that we should authorization of three kinds of parks— select historical parks...it seems to me scenic, historical and recreational. The we should try and provide a few play - importance of conserving the original grounds for the people of the State.” character of the landscape was stressed, The 1925 General Assembly clearly and criteria established for designating stated that scenic land was to be con - public-use lands. A continued empha - size on historic sites was featured; how - W Progression of Purposes hite Pine s Forest S tate Park ever, stipulations for lands with signifi - Preserving History Until 1927, historical sites were the focus of all parks acquired by the state. Illinois’ first state-owned park, Fort Mas - sac, celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. Starved Rock State Park was acquired in 1911 to preserve its rich Native American and French history. Fort Chartres, Lincoln’s New Salem, Fort Creve Coeur and Cahokia Mounds were added by 1925.

In the 1930s, development of new parks stemmed from the need to provide easily accessible outdoor recreation throughout the state.

4 / Outdoor Illinois October 2008 cant geologic formations, areas 1,000 mended as early as 1938 in the “Illi - focus management efforts on specific acres or larger and forested areas were nois Park, Parkway and Recreational types of facilities. Today, HPA maintains added. Recognition of recreational Area Plan.” By the early 1940s, these and develops the majority of state- parks most likely stemmed from the ideas became part of a program to owned historic sites. realization that while the people of Illi - address growing interest in sport fish - Now, DNR focuses on scenic and nois desired some type of easily accessi - eries, swimming and boating, and to recreational facilities—along with three ble outdoor recreation, many parts of achieve conservation goals such as historic sites, the Illinois and Michigan the state lacked lands meeting the stan - water storage and flood control. From Canal, Hennepin Canal and Illinois’ old - dards of the scenic park designation. 1953 through the 1960s, at least 30 est park facility, Fort Massac. The first eight recreational parks artificial state park lakes had been were acquired between 1934 and 1939. constructed and several older scenic Next month’s park feature will cele - Among these was 1,290 acres of mined parks were rehabilitated to serve brate the 100th anniversary of Fort land purchased from United Electric increasing recreational, camping and Massac State Park. Coal Co. that formed Kickapoo State lodging needs. Recreation Area in 1939. Contributions In 1985, the Historic Preservation from Danville area residents greatly Agency separated from the Department Cory Pelc served as an intern with DNR aided in purchase of the property. of Conservation (which evolved into and is a senior communication major at the University of Illinois at Springfield. The period from 1932-1942 is com - the Department of Natural Resources in He expresses a special thanks to Dr. Hal monly called the era of 1995), with each agency directed to Hassen, DNR cultural resource coordina - Civilian Conservation tor, for his help in researching informa - tion for this article. Corps construction, with a distinct construction style that is readily evi - dent in the lodges, pic - Now 100 years old, Illinois’ state nic shelters and bridges park system contains sites of scenic, at many parks, such as historical and recreational value Giant City, Starved (Pere Marquette State Park, left; Starved Rock, White Pines and Rock State Park, below). Pere Marquette state parks. Construction of recreational lakes had been recom -

October 2008 Outdoor Illinois / 5