(20 ILCS 835/0.01) (from Ch. 105, par. 464h)
Sec. 0.01.
Short title.
This Act may be cited as the
State Parks Act.
(Source: P.A. 86-1324.)
(20 ILCS 835/1) (from Ch. 105, par. 465)
Sec. 1.
The Department of Natural Resources shall have
the care, control, supervision and management of all State parks heretofore
acquired by the State, or which may hereafter be acquired, and all easements
appurtenant or contributory thereto; such parks to be open to and to be for the
benefit and enjoyment of all the people of this State, subject to the rules and
regulations of the Department.
(Source: P.A. 89-445, eff. 2-7-96.)
(20 ILCS 835/2) (from Ch. 105, par. 466)
Sec. 2. It shall be the policy of the State of Illinois to acquire a system
of State parks which shall embody the following purposes and objectives:
- (1) To preserve the most important historic sites and events which are connected with early pioneer or Indian history, so that such history of the Indians, explorers, missionaries and settlers may be preserved, not only as a tribute to those who made possible the building of the State of Illinois and of the Union, but also as a part of the education of present and future Illinois citizens.
- (2) To set aside as public reservations those locations which have unusual scenic attractions caused by geologic or topographic formations, such as canyons, gorges, caves, dunes, beaches, moraines, palisades, examples of Illinois prairie, and points of scientific interest to botanists and naturalists. These areas should be large in size and whenever practicable shall be not less than 1,000 acres in extent. However, smaller areas may be acquired wherever conditions do not warrant the acquisition of the larger acreage.
- (3) To preserve large forested areas and marginal lands along the rivers, small water courses, and lakes for a recreation use different from that given by the typical city park, and so that these tracts may remain unchanged by civilization, so far as possible, and be kept for future generations. Such areas also, should be acquired in units of 1,000 acres or more and may be available as fish and game preserves. However, smaller areas may be acquired wherever conditions do not warrant the acquisition of the larger acreage.
- (4) To connect these parks with each other by a system of scenic parkways with widths varying from 100 to 1,000 feet, as a supplement to and completion of the State highway system. Where the present State highway routes may serve this purpose, their location, alignment and design should be studied with this plan in view. At suitable locations along these highways, pure water supplies and shelters and comfort facilities of attractive design may be installed for the convenience of the public.
The Department of Natural Resources is authorized in
behalf of the State of
Illinois to accept by donation or bequest, to purchase or acquire by
condemnation proceedings in the manner provided for the exercise of the power
of eminent domain under the Eminent Domain Act, or by
contract for deed payable over a period of time not to exceed 10 years,
or in any other legal manner, the title to all such lands, waters or regions,
and the easements appurtenant or contributory thereto, which shall be in
accord with such policy in respect to a system of State parks, for the purpose
of which the General Assembly may make an appropriation. Purchases by contract
for deed under this Section shall not exceed $20,000,000 in total purchase
price for land under contract at any one given time.
(Source: P.A. 94-1055, eff. 1-1-07.)
(20 ILCS 835/2.5)
Sec. 2.5. Eminent domain. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, any power granted under this Act to acquire property by condemnation or eminent domain is subject to, and shall be exercised in accordance with, the Eminent Domain Act.
(Source: P.A. 94-1055, eff. 1-1-07.)
(20 ILCS 835/3) (from Ch. 105, par. 467)
Sec. 3.
In maintaining the State parks the Department of Natural
Resources shall conserve the original character as
distinguished from the artificial landscaping of such parks.
(Source: P.A. 89-445, eff. 2-7-96.)
(20 ILCS 835/3a) (from Ch. 105, par. 467a)
Sec. 3a.
The Department of Natural Resources shall not
dispose of any portion of a State park except as specifically authorized by
law. This prohibition shall not restrict the Department from conveyance of
easements and other lesser interests in land.
(Source: P.A. 89-445, eff. 2-7-96.)
(20 ILCS 835/4) (from Ch. 105, par. 468)
Sec. 4.
The Department of Natural Resources has the
power:
(1) To make rules and regulations necessary to carry out its duties
under this Act, including rules and regulations for the use, care, improvement,
control and administration of lands under its jurisdiction, and to
enforce the same.
(2) To employ such custodians, keepers, clerks, assistants, laborers and
subordinates as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.
(3) To lay out, construct and maintain all needful roads, parking areas,
paths or trails, bridges, and docks, camp or lodge sites, picnic areas,
beach houses, lodges and cabins and any other structures and improvements
necessary and appropriate in any state park or easement thereto; and to
provide water supplies, heat and light, and sanitary facilities for the
public and living quarters for the custodians and keepers of state parks.
(4) To replant any devastated native plant areas of any State park or
increase or supplement the same when necessary with plant material
indigenous to such park.
(5) To cooperate with the United States government and with other states
in matters relating to the care, improvement, control and administration of
national or interstate parks.
(6) To cooperate and contract with any agency, organization or
individual in a manner consistent with the purposes of this Act and the
powers granted the Department herein.
(7) To accept and administer gifts, grants and legacies of
money, securities or property to be used by the Department of Natural
Resources for the purposes of this Act and according to the
tenor of such gift, grant or legacy.
(Source: P.A. 89-445, eff. 2-7-96.)
(20 ILCS 835/4a) (from Ch. 105, par. 468.1)
Sec. 4a.
It shall be the duty of the Governor and the Director of the
Department in charge of the administration of this Act to cancel
immediately the lease on any concession when the person holding the
concession or an employee thereof discriminates on the basis of race, color,
creed, sex, religion, physical or mental disability, or national origin against any patron thereof.
(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)
(20 ILCS 835/4b)
Sec. 4b. Products manufactured in the United States. Gift shops and concession areas within State parks and parkways shall set aside a booth or section for the sale of products manufactured in the United States. As used in this Section, “products manufactured in the United States” means assembled articles, materials, or supplies for which design, final assembly, processing, packaging, testing, or other process that adds value, quality, or reliability occurred in the United States.
(Source: P.A. 98-1031, eff. 8-25-14.)
(20 ILCS 835/4c) (from Ch. 105, par. 468.3)
Sec. 4c.
All income realized from properties under the jurisdiction
of the Department of Natural Resources shall be paid into
the State Parks Fund, except that income realized from properties managed and
operated principally as wildlife, forestry or fisheries areas shall be paid
into the Wildlife and Fish Fund. All income realized
from violations of this Act, other State laws and related regulations,
or local laws within such properties, except violations of the
Fish and Aquatic Life Code or the Wildlife Code, when such income is
derived from fines, penalties and other actions of county or municipal law
enforcement personnel, may be retained by the county or municipality where
the violations occurred.
The Department of Natural Resources may, upon written
authorization of the Director of the Department, establish local
bank or savings and loan association accounts to temporarily hold this income.
All local bank or savings and loan association accounts established pursuant to
this Section shall be in the name of the Department of Natural Resources and
shall be subject to regular audits. The balance in a
local bank or savings and loan association account shall be forwarded to the
Department of Natural Resources for deposit with the State
Treasurer on Monday of each week if the amount to be deposited in a fund
exceeds $500 or within 30 days after deposit.
No bank or savings and loan association shall receive public funds as
permitted by this Section, unless it has complied with the requirements
established pursuant to Section 6 of the Public Funds Investment Act.
(Source: P.A. 89-445, eff. 2-7-96.)
(20 ILCS 835/6) (from Ch. 105, par. 468b)
Sec. 6.
It is a violation of this Section for any person
to do any of the following without approval by the Department of Natural Resources:
- (1) cut, break, injure, destroy, take or remove any tree, shrub, timber, plant, or natural object in any park or parkway, except that the Department of Natural Resources may, by administrative rule, authorize edible fungi, nut, and berry collection in those areas of Department owned, leased, or managed lands where the collecting would not be in conflict or incompatible with (i) Department of Natural Resources natural resource management or recreational programs for that area and (ii) the Natural Areas Preservation Act;
- (2) kill, cause to be killed, or pursue with intent to kill any bird or animal in a park or parkway, provided that the Department of Natural Resources may by administrative order authorize hunting in those areas of state parks where such hunting would not be in conflict or incompatible with Department of Natural Resources recreational programs for that area;
- (3) take any fish from the waters of any park or parkway, contrary to the rules and regulations of the Department of Natural Resources;
- (4) wilfully mutilate, injure, deface, or destroy any guide post, notice, tablet, fence, enclosure or work for the protection or ornamentation of any park or parkway;
- (5) light any fire upon any park or parkway, except in an authorized place or places or wilfully or carelessly permit any fire which he has lighted or caused to be lighted, or which shall be under his charge, to spread or extend to or burn any shrubbery, trees, timber, ornaments, or improvements upon any State park, nature preserve or parkways, or leave any camp fires which he shall have lighted or caused to be lighted, or which shall have been left in his charge, unattended by a competent person;
- (6) place within any park or parkway or affix to any object therein contained, any work, character, or device designed to advertise any business, profession, article, thing, exhibition, matter or event;
- (7) violate any rule or regulation adopted and published by the Department of Natural Resources pursuant to the provisions of this Act.
A person who violates this Section shall, for each offense, be guilty of
a Class B misdemeanor.
(Source: P.A. 102-1004, eff. 5-27-22.)
(20 ILCS 835/8) (from Ch. 105, par. 468b1)
Sec. 8.
If the property adjoining any State Park is used for farming
purposes, fences shall be maintained between the park and such adjoining
land in accordance with the Fence Act. The Department of Natural Resources
shall
construct and maintain a just proportion of that division fence as
provided in the Fence Act.
(Source: P.A. 89-445, eff. 2-7-96.)