DNR display promotes return to nature

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — An expanded display promoting state parks and recreational sites was featured in Conservation World at the Illinois State Fair.

“We’re trying to bring the community into our parks, and our big push is everyone belongs in nature,” said Lev Smolianski, Pere Marquette State Park natural resource coordinator.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources manages 309 state parks and recreational sites on more than 475,000 acres.

Smolianski provided a few snippets of all that is happening across the state.

“We have things from an accessibility mobility chair that’s coming to Giant City State Park that people with physical disabilities can access our trail systems,” he said of the new motorized scooter.

“Over at Pere Marquette, I’m doing a lot of programs where I’m teaching classes to students of all ages. We also have Illinois Caverns where people can come and cave responsibly with the state.

“We have other things like rock climbing, interpretive programs, all sorts of other stuff, and we’re really emphasizing and focusing on expanding on that and bringing more opportunities for the public to come to our state parks and utilize them.

“It’s in your backyard and your tax dollars pay for us to do this and we all really love what we do.

“It’s awesome to see all of this engagement that we have and we’re just continuing to improve upon what we have already and develop new and exciting programs for people to join us. Part of that is if anybody has an idea, wants to talk to us, or needs someone to guide a hike, they can reach out.

“All of the stuff we have at this display is from state sites. We have 100-some miles of biking trails available in the state. We have everything from hunting to firearms instructors to fishing to swimming, all sorts of recreation.”

Nature Passport

The DNR tent at the fair was a stopping point for youngsters to have their Everyone Belongs in Nature Passport to participate in 10 must-visit spots. The passports were stamped at each activity and those completing all of the activities won a prize.

Among the goals of the expanded display was to have the youngster stop to get their passports stamped, see all that state parks have to offer and then perhaps say, “Mom and dad, I want to go to the state park.”

“That’s really our goal. There are people of all ages that visit the tent and we are really happy that the kids are engaged,” Smolianski said.

“We’ve had displays in the past, but we’ve really expanded this year and have a lot more stuff going on. We have a really great staff. Now there’s more natural resource coordinators and more interpreters. So, the state has given us the opportunity to present and show off our state sites.

“We’re all proud of what we do and the sites that we’re on. All of them are unique in their own way, and they’re everywhere in the state, so everybody can go to any of them.”