Public Access Goal

Goal: To provide every outdoor recreationist an opportunity to pursue his/her outdoor activity.

The committee traveled to Springfield, Quincy, and Bartlett to solicit public input and discuss recommendations to accomplish goal.

Scope of Outdoor Access

Public versus Private Landownership

Type of Recreational Use (Trails/Consumptive/Non-

consumptive)Land versus Water

Challenges With Providing Access on Public Land

Limited Amount of Public Land

Diversity of Competing Outdoor Activities

Relatively Large, Increasing Human Population

Challenges With Providing Access on Private Land

Habitat Loss and Fragmentation

Parcelization of Landownership

Urban Sprawl

Cultural Changes

What do outdoor recreationists want from a

public access program?

Access to Public LandsDetermine availability and location of

public landsMaximize outdoor recreational

opportunities for all groupsDevelop, improve and maintain

infrastructure on public landsProvide additional opportunities through

land acquisition from willing sellersUpdate the definition of a public

waterway

Access to Private LandsLiability ProtectionUser and landowner relationshipsNeeded incentives to open land to access

CashTax BreaksTechnical Assistance and Cost ShareFree LaborFederal Farm Program SubsidiesWildlife Management Benefits

RECOMMENDATIONSAmend the Recreational Use of Land and

Waters Area Act

Develop a Program to Provide Access to public and Private Lands

Create a State Water Trails Plan and a Model Heritage Water Trail

Star Parks on State-owned Sites

Recommendation #1Restore liability protection for private landowners who open their land for recreation

Objectives:Reinstate the original protection for landowners

Retain the current protection for landowners

Protect landowners who contract with the IDNR

Recommendation #2Develop a program to provide access to public and private land

Objective:The IDNR needs to increase access to

available land in Illinois for outdoor recreational purposes.

Recommendation #3IDNR should create a State Water Trails Plan

Objectives:Increases paddling related tourism

throughout the StateExpands public access to Illinois rivers and

streamsAccurately reflects the current recreational

use of Illinois’ waterwaysEstablishes designated watertrails on

waterways identified in the Plan

Recommendation #3IDNR should establish a model State Heritage Water Trail

Objectives:The IDNR should establish one model state

Heritage Water Trail outside of Northeastern Illinois between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2012.

Recommendation #4IDNR should establish a star park in every IDNR site.Objectives:Provide a place to enjoy the starry nightscape

on each IDNR site.

Initiate long-range planning to qualify one area as a Starlight Reserve/Dark-Sky Preserve

Stop the increase in light pollution starting with State properties.

Where do we go from here?