Bluestem Action Alert

April 2004

Please make calls or send emails asking for increased funding for open space in Illinois. This funding has been cut from the proposed FY 2005 Illinois budget. With many programs targeted for reductions, legislators need to hear from you about the importance of preserving open space for the future of Illinois. Open spaces are essential for good water quality, and quality of life, especially in quickly developing areas, like northeastern Illinois.

• For the most important call, please call Governor Blagojevich at 217-782-6830. Ask him to restore state funding for open space in Illinois through the Open Lands Trust program in his 2005 proposed budget. Or you may email him at governor@state.il.us
• Please also call or email your Illinois state representative in Springfield and tell him or her to show support for open space by signing the “Dear Colleague letter” being circulated by Rep. Karen May to restore funding of the Open Land Trust. You can call the General Assembly switchboard at 217-782-2000 and ask for your representative by name.
• If you have time to make a third call, call your state senator, also at the
  General Assembly switchboard, and ask him or her to tell the governor to restore funding for open space in his 2005 budget.

To find out who your state senator and representative are, as well as their email and specific call information, use the following website: http://www.elections.state.il.us/dls/pages/DLSAddresscrit.asp

The following is background on the issue:

Up until FY 2004, the Open Land Trust (OLT), a statewide program that began in FY 2000, has provided the bulk of funding for local and statewide open space acquisition. But the OLT was only guaranteed funding through a four-year period, and now this source of funds has been cut from next year’s budget!

Illinois communities need continued state support for local open space preservation. Public land acquisition is an especially time-sensitive endeavor, and state and local governments often must act quickly when high quality natural lands come onto the market—or else miss the opportunity forever. Continued funding of the Open Land Trust or a comparable open space funding program now will pay dividends in the future, both in terms of land acquisition cost and in quality of life for Illinois citizens. Funding for this program is indeed money well spent.

Open space is an important asset to all people in Illinois. It serves important environmental purposes by improving water quality, recharging aquifers, limiting air pollution, maintaining natural systems; it makes economic sense, lowering government expenditures on service infrastructure like sewers lines and roads, and reducing flooding; it provides recreational and tourism opportunities across the state; and even has been proven to reduce stress and lower blood pressure. This is a limited asset that the people of Illinois need to invest in to protect.


Please ACT NOW, and let the Governor and your legislators hear why open space matters to you and ask that the OLT or an comparable permanent source of funding be dedicated to open space acquisition in Illinois. The Governor needs to hear from you within the week!