|
 “These two offices will complement
and enhance our mission as the agency responsible for protecting our
natural and cultural resources in the state of Illinois,” said IDNR
Director Wayne Rosenthal.
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) benefits the
economy in every corner of our great state, from state parks to
outdoor recreation to regulation and permitting. Activities
associated with IDNR support tens of thousands of jobs and billions
of dollars in economic impact annually.
This merger will further bolster IDNR’s impact by adding historic
sites that attract nearly 1 million visitors a year and a tax-credit
program that generated more than $1 billion in private-sector
spending on historic rehabilitation projects.
“By combining these offices, the IDNR will be able to further
deliver services and programs to the people of Illinois while at the
same time creating efficiencies and saving taxpayers’ money,”
Rosenthal added.
Under the merger, the new Division of Historic Sites will have two
major functions.
[to top of second column] |
One is operating sites that preserve and celebrate Illinois’
heritage. The sites include places connected to Abraham Lincoln, such as New
Salem and the Old State Capitol, and the homes of famous Illinoisans like
Ulysses S. Grant and Carl Sandburg. Other sites mark the location of important
events like the start of Lewis and Clark’s expedition across America. One,
Cahokia Mounds, has been designated a World Heritage Site because of its
international importance.
The other major function of the Division of Historic Sites is housing the
federally mandated State Historic Preservation Office. The office oversees
nominations to the National Register of Historic Places, administers tax
incentives that encourage rehabilitation of historic buildings, and reviews
construction involving government money or permits to assess their impact on
historic resources.
The Illinois Historic Preservation Agency also included the Abraham Lincoln
Presidential Library and Museum. The presidential library, which is also home to
the state’s 128-year-old historical library, will now operate as an independent
state agency.
[Illinois Department of Natural
Resources]
 |
