The Indiana General
Assembly unanimously passed a concurrent resolution on Monday marking the
100th anniversary of the Indiana State Parks system.
The resolution
recognizes State Parks for “contributions to the health, recreation, and
outdoor education of Indiana’s citizens and guests, and its commitment to
the conservation of the State of Indiana’s unique natural and cultural
resources held in trust in those state parks.”
Rep. Sean Eberhart
(R-Shelbyville) authored the resolution (CR 13) in the House, and Sen. Sue
Glick (R-LaGrange) was the Senate sponsor. Eberhart, as it happens, is
co-author of HB 1247, which would allow alcohol retailers--for the sake of
economic development--to circumvent local ABC oversight and proceedings as
well as nullify many of the statutory grounds for rejecting permit
applications.
The resolution also
congratulates Indiana State Parks for “its continued commitment to providing
outstanding outdoor experiences for all of Indiana’s citizens, and to
maintaining excellence in stewardship of the natural and cultural resources
with which the system is entrusted.”
DNR Director
Cameron Clark, who spoke to both the House and Senate on the measure,
expressed appreciation for the General Assembly’s support of state parks.
“It was an honor to stand before both houses while they recognized the
importance of our state parks to Indiana,” he said. “The reception we
received was truly humbling.”
Added DNR State
Parks Division Director Dan Bortner, “I am very appreciative of the General
Assembly taking time out of its busy schedule to recognize the partnership
that began a century ago when they created the Indiana State Parks system.
While time has passed, the affection Hoosiers have for these special places
has not, and that was evidenced by the warm reception we experienced today.”
State Parks was
established in 1916 when McCormick’s Creek in Owen County and Turkey Run in
Parke County were presented as gifts to Indiana citizens in celebration of
100 years of statehood.
“The chief purpose
of State Parks is to refresh and strengthen and renew tired people, and fit
them for the common round of daily life,” state parks advocate Col. Richard
Lieber said at the time. “I hope and trust that the small beginning we have
made will have laid the foundation for a comprehensive system of State Parks
which will not only stand forever as a token of the past, but which will
bring health, wealth and happiness to our own generation and the many that
will come after us.”
Since then, the DNR
Division of State Parks has grown to 32 properties, including 24 state
parks, eight U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoirs, and seven inns.
Together they annually attract an average of 15-16 million visitors.