|
|||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION
| ||||||
2 | WHEREAS, Illinois ranks in the bottom third of states in | ||||||
3 | the U.S. in the acquisition of land for parks, recreation and | ||||||
4 | habitat; and
| ||||||
5 | WHEREAS, Illinois ranks last by a wide margin among | ||||||
6 | Midwestern states in acres protected per capita with only one | ||||||
7 | percent of protected state-owned recreation land; and
| ||||||
8 | WHEREAS, Land prices continue to rise and development | ||||||
9 | pressures mount making the need for protecting open space more | ||||||
10 | acute; and
| ||||||
11 | WHEREAS, The quantity of water supplied by aquifers, inland | ||||||
12 | streams, and Lake Michigan is limited and land conservation | ||||||
13 | provides water recharge and stream buffering providing for the | ||||||
14 | protection of drinking water resources; and
| ||||||
15 | WHEREAS, Outdoor recreation contributes to a healthy | ||||||
16 | lifestyle for the State's youth and adults alike, and young | ||||||
17 | people need more access to safe, rewarding outdoor experiences | ||||||
18 | to combat the growing epidemic of childhood obesity; and
| ||||||
19 | WHEREAS, The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has | ||||||
20 | called for the creation of more parks and playgrounds to |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | counteract sedentary lifestyles; and
| ||||||
2 | WHEREAS, Parks and natural areas contribute to increased | ||||||
3 | property values of neighboring properties; and
| ||||||
4 | WHEREAS, Native Illinois wildlife populations have | ||||||
5 | declined precipitously, and currently Illinois has 424 State | ||||||
6 | and 24 federally listed threatened and endangered species; and
| ||||||
7 | WHEREAS, Natural habitats have been shown to improve air | ||||||
8 | quality; and
| ||||||
9 | WHEREAS, Illinois has lost more than 90% of its original | ||||||
10 | wetlands and 99% of it original open prairie and it is critical | ||||||
11 | to take steps now to protect the remaining acreage; and
| ||||||
12 | WHEREAS, The Illinois State Wildlife Action Plan has won | ||||||
13 | national recognition but remains underfunded; and
| ||||||
14 | WHEREAS, Illinois parks and natural areas generate 42,000 | ||||||
15 | jobs and create recreational opportunities for all Illinois | ||||||
16 | citizens; and
| ||||||
17 | WHEREAS, Hunting, fishing, and wildlife associated | ||||||
18 | recreation currently generates nearly $4,200,000,000 in | ||||||
19 | economic activity in Illinois; and
|
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | WHEREAS, Voters have given overwhelming support to local | ||||||
2 | referenda for land acquisition and public opinion polls show | ||||||
3 | 92% of the public registering support for the State preserving | ||||||
4 | open space and wildlife habitat; and
| ||||||
5 | WHEREAS, According to the most recent Statewide | ||||||
6 | Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan 2003-2008, more than | ||||||
7 | $3,000,000,000 in State and local funding is necessary to, | ||||||
8 | protect an additional 85,000 acres across the State, for | ||||||
9 | renovation and restoration projects in existing parks and for | ||||||
10 | new public recreation facilities; and
| ||||||
11 | WHEREAS, Land acquisition is a capital intensive | ||||||
12 | investment; therefore, be it
| ||||||
13 | RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL | ||||||
14 | ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES | ||||||
15 | CONCURRING HEREIN, that we recognize that current funding for | ||||||
16 | open space is severely lacking; that capital budgets have | ||||||
17 | traditionally provided resources for land acquisition, | ||||||
18 | stewardship, and public recreational opportunities; that the | ||||||
19 | value of parks and natural areas in protecting Illinois from | ||||||
20 | flooding, improving water quality, generating economic | ||||||
21 | activity, and improving public health is without question; and | ||||||
22 | be it further
|
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | Resolved, That we urge the Governor to present a capital | ||||||
2 | budget that includes $100,000,000 on an annual basis for the | ||||||
3 | Illinois Special Places Acquisition, Conservation and | ||||||
4 | Enhancement (iSPACE) Program, which includes the following: | ||||||
5 | (1) a new statewide land acquisition program to protect | ||||||
6 | the State's most precious natural resources and provide | ||||||
7 | recreational opportunities, including matching grants to | ||||||
8 | local governments; | ||||||
9 | (2) implementation of the Partners for Conservation | ||||||
10 | Program (formerly Conservation 2000) through land | ||||||
11 | acquisition and management grants; and | ||||||
12 | (3) implementation of the Hunting Heritage Protection | ||||||
13 | Act by increasing the amount of land acreage available for | ||||||
14 | hunting opportunities in Illinois; and be it further
| ||||||
15 | RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be | ||||||
16 | presented to the Speaker of the House of Representative, the | ||||||
17 | Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, the President | ||||||
18 | of the Senate, the Minority Leader of the Senate, the Director | ||||||
19 | of Natural Resources, and the Governor.
|