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91_HR0626
LRB9113441JMmb
1 HOUSE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The families of Bill and Hazel Rutherford joined
3 together to establish the non-profit Forest Park Foundation
4 in 1939, with the visionary goal of procuring open land for
5 conservation, education, and recreation; well known in the
6 community, the Foundation has donated land to every park
7 district in central Illinois; and
8 WHEREAS, Wildlife Prairie Park was established in the
9 late 1960's and opened in 1978 as a 1,200-acre park located
10 in Peoria County, with woodlands, grasslands, hiking trails,
11 educational exhibits, miniature trains, and a museum; and
12 WHEREAS, The Park is home to elk, bison, wolves, bears,
13 raptors, and other species native to the State of Illinois,
14 many of which can now be found only in the Park, and the
15 animals are kept in large free-roaming areas so they can be
16 observed in their natural habitats; and
17 WHEREAS, Bill and Hazel Rutherford have guided the Forest
18 Park Foundation into its sixth decade; and
19 WHEREAS, Although Bill and Hazel Rutherford were the
20 founders and inspiration for the Wildlife Prairie Park, many
21 others who believe in their dream have donated materials,
22 money, supplies, and their talents and time to build and run
23 the Park; and
24 WHEREAS, The mission of the Park is to promote
25 conservation, education, recreation, and tourism; and
26 WHEREAS, The General Assembly and the Governor provided
27 for the continuing operation and maintenance of the Illinois
28 Wildlife Prairie Park by enacting Public Act 90-501 to
29 authorize the State of Illinois to accept a deed conveying
30 the Park along with its appurtenances to the State; and
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1 WHEREAS, Thanks to the exceptional generosity of Bill and
2 Hazel Rutherford, future generations of Illinois citizens
3 will be able to enjoy this unique 1,200-acre natural
4 preserve; therefore, be it
5 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
6 NINETY-FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
7 Bill and Hazel Rutherford be recognized for their vision and
8 generosity to the people of Illinois in preserving open land
9 in the State for conservation, education, and recreation
10 purposes; and be it further
11 RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
12 presented to Bill and Hazel Rutherford and Governor George
13 Ryan.