Syverson: Sell one of state’s four planes to keep state parks open

7 comments September 18th, 2008

Gov. Rod Blagojevich says the state can’t afford to keep all the state parks and historic sites open. So, he plans on closing 11 parks and numerous historic sites. Included are Lowden State Park near Oregon, which actually MAKES money, and Castle Rock State Park, a gem of natural beauty on Rock River’s Illinois 2.

Meanwhile,  State Sen. Dave Syverson, R-Rockford, has done some research. The state of Illinois has four airplanes, which are Beech King Air 350s, and the value of them is about $2 million to $2.5 million a piece, he says.

“We’ve been told that the cost to keep the parks open for a year is $2.1 million. So, senators Brad Byrzynski and Tim and I have introduced a bill to sell one of the four planes and use the proceeds to  keep the parks open for a year,” Syverson said.

“This would be more than enough to keep all parks open for a year. And it helps put to rest the fears of park employees that they’ll be unemployed. Also, people planning to go to the parks for special events, weddings, family reunions, scouting events, would be reassured that they could count on the parks still being open,” Syverson said.

Maybe this issue will be taken up on Monday, when the gov has called a special session to deal with ethics reform. We know the Senate will convene, the Chicago Trib reports, because Barack Obama called up his mentor, Sente President Emil Jones, and asked him to go back to Springpatch.