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| | SR0637 | | LRB098 13822 GRL 48428 r |
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1 | | SENATE RESOLUTION
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2 | | WHEREAS, The McHenry County Conservation District was |
3 | | organized in 1971 under the Conservation District Act; and
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4 | | WHEREAS, The McHenry County Conservation District exists |
5 | | to preserve, restore, and manage natural areas and open spaces |
6 | | for their intrinsic value and for the benefits to present and |
7 | | future generations; and
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8 | | WHEREAS, The McHenry County Conservation District's vision |
9 | | is to have all residents develop a personal responsibility for |
10 | | their local environment and to gain a greater appreciation for |
11 | | the natural world; and
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12 | | WHEREAS, The McHenry County Conservation District is |
13 | | governed by a seven-member volunteer Board of Trustees and |
14 | | stewarded by 80 employees and more than 783 volunteers, many of |
15 | | whom are respected and experienced leaders in the parks, |
16 | | recreation, and conservation fields; and
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17 | | WHEREAS, Over the past decade, the McHenry County |
18 | | Conservation District has focused on purchasing land, |
19 | | restoring wildlife habitats, developing sustainable sites, |
20 | | improving organizational efficiencies, implementing cost |
21 | | saving measures, producing environmental education programs |
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1 | | and events, and outdoor recreation experiences; and |
2 | | WHEREAS, The McHenry County Conservation District manages |
3 | | more than 25,000 acres of open space, 33 sites open to the |
4 | | public for recreational access, including 115 miles of hiking |
5 | | trails, 41 miles of biking trails, 15 miles of canoeing, 20 |
6 | | miles of horse trails, 19 fishing sites, 23 picnic shelters, |
7 | | and 6 campgrounds; and
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8 | | WHEREAS, The McHenry County Conservation District |
9 | | conservation areas, sites, and facilities are an economic |
10 | | driver and catalyst for sustainability and growth in McHenry |
11 | | County; and |
12 | | WHEREAS, The McHenry County Conservation District promotes |
13 | | environmental stewardship through an active volunteer program, |
14 | | the People and Nature Certificate Program, and multiple |
15 | | educational programs and workshops; and
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16 | | WHEREAS, The County Conservation District promotes sound |
17 | | environmental practices through the development of public |
18 | | sites and through the establishment of ongoing green practices |
19 | | within agency operations; and |
20 | | WHEREAS, The McHenry County Conservation District embodies |
21 | | environmental stewardship in its core mission and is recognized |
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1 | | as a premier public agency in preserving, protecting and |
2 | | managing open space in Illinois, the region, and the country; |
3 | | and
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4 | | WHEREAS, The McHenry County Conservation District has been |
5 | | recognized by the United States Department of the Interior for |
6 | | their recent leadership role in establishing the Hackmatack |
7 | | National Wildlife Refuge as a bi-state national wildlife refuge |
8 | | within 100 miles of Chicago and 50 miles of Milwaukee, |
9 | | Wisconsin; and |
10 | | WHEREAS, The National Park and Recreation Association is |
11 | | the leading advocacy organization dedicated to the advancement |
12 | | of public parks, recreation, and conservation with more than |
13 | | 30,000 members and representing public spaces in urban |
14 | | communities, rural settings, and everything in between; and |
15 | | WHEREAS, The McHenry County Conservation District has been |
16 | | awarded the 2013 Barb King Environmental Stewardship Award by |
17 | | the National Park and Recreation Association, which recognizes |
18 | | a parks and recreation agency that has achieved excellence in |
19 | | environmental stewardship on a national level; therefore, be it
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20 | | RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL |
21 | | ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we designate the date |
22 | | of October 29, 2013 as McHenry County Conservation District Day |
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1 | | in the State of Illinois; and be it further
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2 | | RESOLVED, That we recognize and commend the administration |
3 | | and employees of the McHenry County Conservation District for |
4 | | receiving the 2013 National Recreation and Park Association's |
5 | | Barb King Environmental Stewardship Award and wish them |
6 | | continued success in the future; and be it further |
7 | | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be |
8 | | delivered to the McHenry County Conservation District as a |
9 | | symbol of our esteem and respect.
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