Illinoisans call on Sen. Kirk to 'Protect Our Parks'

Chicago, Illinois - On Wednesday, hundreds of Northern Illinoisans participated in a statewide call-in day, urging Senator Mark Kirk to continue defending our national, state, and local parks from attacks in congress. This day of action is supported by dozens of local and national organizations committed to protecting two of the nation's bedrock conservation laws that have helped expand access to public lands, protect iconic places, and support local economies - the Land and Water Conservation Fund and the Antiquities Act.

In this 100th anniversary year of our National Park Service, a system often hailed as America's best idea, we are witnessing unprecedented assaults on the programs that established our great public lands legacy. There have been over 75 attacks on both the Land and Water Conservation Fund and the Antiquities Act in the 114th Congress, despite broad bipartisan support for these programs. Last week, Senator Lee (R-UT) introduced an amendment to the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2015 that would essentially gut the Antiquities Act. Senator Kirk opposed the anti-conservationist amendment and helped protect this vital program.

"Senator Kirk stood up for Illinois last week when he supported the Antiquities Act. This is a great first step but simply opposing these attacks on our vital conservation programs is not enough, more needs to be done," said Protect Our Parks organizer Joanie Coker. "We need Senator Kirk, one of the few moderates left in Congress, to take the lead on this issue and support these common-sense programs."

Inspired by the love of local parks, wild areas, and national monuments, as well as the pivotal economic and health benefits of outdoor recreation, citizens across the state are gearing up to protect the last remnants of our wild places. Bringing together a broad coalition of sportsmen, business owners, community groups, and Illinoisans that love their outdoor spaces, the Protect Our Parks Coalition has gathered over 1,500 petitions calling upon Senator Kirk to support the LWCF and defend the Antiquities Act from attacks in Congress.

"Efforts to block new national parks and monuments are out of step with the vast majority of Americans who support the protection of our natural and historic sites and place a priority on conserving our shared public lands," said Brian O'Donnell, Executive Director of the Conservation Lands Foundation. "Despite these continued attacks, it is encouraging to see a bipartisan group of Senators standing with communities from across the nation in support of our national parks and monuments."

The Antiquities Act, passed in 1906 by Teddy Roosevelt, has been used by 16 presidents - 8 from each party - since its enactment and the LWCF has been used to fund and expand national, state, and local parks since 1965. The Antiquities Act has been used to create places like the Grand Canyon, Starved Rock State Park, and Pullman National Monument. Cook County alone has received more than $15 million in non-taxpayer funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which has been used to support dozens park projects in the area, including Indian Boundary Park in the West Ridge neighborhood of Chicago and Washington Park in the South Side of Chicago.

Citizens, businesses, and organizations across the state will continue to push for permanent reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, and the protection of the Antiquities Act until Senator Kirk publicly states his active support for these programs.