Protect Shabbona Lake State Park!
Ways you can help in the effort:
Write letters or postcards to
state legislators asking them to oppose any
legislation that would give away Shabbona Lake State Park. Right
now this would be House Bill 4817.
Email state legislators with the same message.
Call legislators’ district offices and ask the staff to please pass the same message along.
Tell your friends and family to do the same! Tell your friends and family or anyone who utilizes the state park to communicate the same message to their home or area legislators.
Sample Letter/Email/Postcard: [for
both in-district and out-of-district contacts]
You can send this using the Illinois
legislator contact forms. Here's the list for the senate
and here's the list for the house.
Dear Rep/Sen ______:
I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed giving away of Shabbona Lake State Park, as proposed in SB867 and HB4718. As a concerned resident of _________ I believe this would have serious negative impacts on our community, both from an environmental and recreational perspective, as well as an economic one.
[While I may not be resident in your district,] this decision will have a direct impact on my community. Shabbona Lake State Park has long been a destination for hunters, fisherman, families, and outdoor enthusiasts. For decades, it has provided a vital recreational area for residents, as well as organizations like the Lion’s Club, which rely on the park for various events and activities, including the park’s wheelchair accessible fishing platforms. The loss of these opportunities would be felt deeply by those who regularly use the park for hunting, fishing, camping, and other outdoor activities.
Additionally, the loss of the park will lead to increased property taxes for residents, as parcels of the property that are currently paying property taxes will be lost. This will lead to a loss of revenue to our county, towns and our schools, which will then have to be covered by raising property taxes.
Moreover, Shabbona Lake State Park serves as an important preserve for our natural resources, one that should be protected. Giving away this state park would set a dangerous precedent in Illinois when it comes to important lands and parks that deserve to be protected and preserved by the state.
For these reasons, I strongly urge you to oppose the transfer of Shabbona Lake State Park from the DNR. Our community cannot afford to lose such a valuable public resource that provides so many benefits.
Thank you for your time.
Sample Script for Phone Calls/Voicemails:
“Hi, this is ___________, and I live in ___________. I am calling to ask Rep/Senator __________ to please oppose any legislation that would give away Shabbona Lake State Park from the DNR. [While I may not live in Rep./Senator _____________’s district,] this will directly affect me and my community. Shabbona Lake State Park draws tourists and residents from across the United States and should be protected as the natural resource it is. Giving away a state park sets a terrible precedent for Illinois and will lead to higher local property taxes, as well as the loss of an area that fisherman and hunters and local organizations like the Lion’s Club use regularly. Please oppose any legislation that would give away Shabbona Lake State Park. Thank you.