What's one way to get teens into the wilderness? Immerse them in a state park for a two-day once-in-a-lifetime experience. Assist them in making public service announcements for their friends. Broadcast those public service announcements on television between episodes of The National Parks: America's Best Idea.That's what Illinois Public Media did in 2009!
Each year thousands of families boat down the Middle Fork branch of the Illinois Vermilion River below an embankment that holds back 3.3 million cubic yards of toxic coal ash sludge stored in three large ponds. Coal ash pollution is leaching into the river, and the riverbank is eroding under the ponds. We examine what's a stake in this investigative report.
A co-owner of the café and canoe rental site on the Middle Fork of the Vermilion River at Kickapoo State Recreation Area in Vermilion County says he’s happy the state Department of Natural Resource will give an additional two months --- until September 20th --- before terminating his contract.
Despite funding uncertainty for state parks in Illinois, at least one improvement project will continue at Kickapoo State Park through the month of July.
