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Illinoisans invited
to spend long weekend in state parks
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Weekend tourists boost state economy
[MAY 20, 2005]
SPRINGFIELD --
Illinois residents making plans for the Memorial Day weekend are
encouraged to consider visiting Illinois state parks. Some parks
will offer expanded hours and programs for the weekend. The schedule
adjustments are occurring as the Travel Industry Association of
America reports more Americans are taking shorter vacations closer
to home, instead of longer vacations to exotic destinations.
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"That
weekend is the unofficial start of summer," said Joel Brunsvold,
director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. "With more
than 300 parks and natural areas statewide, I'd like to invite all
Illinois residents to come to one and have fun."
While a few Department of Natural
Resources offices and facilities traditionally are not open on
Mondays, most will be open on Memorial Day to accommodate those who
want to visit.
"This is an opportunity for not just
Illinois state parks but the communities close by to benefit from
tourist dollars," said Brunsvold. "When people go to the parks, they
often stop at nearby towns first to buy everything from groceries to
fishing bait."
For more information on Illinois
state parks, visit
www.dnr.state.il.us.
[to top of second column in this article]
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 The
following parks will have expanded hours for the Memorial Day
holiday:
- Cache River Natural Area, Henry
H. Barkhausen visitor center -- open May 27-30
- Illinois Beach State Park, Camp
Logan -- open until 8 p.m. May 30.
- Tunnel Hill State Trail visitor
center -- open May 30
- Beaches at Lake Le-Aqua-Na and
Rock Cut -- open starting May 28.
- Mazonia-Braidwood Lake -- open
May 30
- Hennepin Canal State Trail and
visitor center -- open
- Heidecke Lake -- open for fishing
[Illinois
Department of Natural Resources news release]
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