Kickapoo State Recreation Area
Encyclopedia
Kickapoo State Recreation Area is an Illinois state park on 2842 acres (11.5 km²) in Vermilion County
, Illinois
, United States
. Located just outside of Danville
, Illinois this park is easily accessible through route I-74. It is 28 miles away from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
and 95 miles from Indianapolis
. According to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the name Kickapoo originated from the Kickapoo
village that once existed near the junction of the Salt Fork and Middle Fork branches of the Vermilion River
. After Europeans settled in the area and displaced the Native Americans, the Europeans began to dig wells to harvest salt from salt springs, called salines . In the early 1900s the land was then strip-mined for coal. Kickapoo State Park was the first park in the United States to be located on strip-mined land . The state of Illinois purchased the Kickapoo State Park Area in 1939 with donation money from Danville residents and the land has since recovered from the extraction of these resources .
Today, Kickapoo State Park has 221 acres of ponds and lakes with nearly 35 miles of hiking trails for many types of recreational activities including camping, canoeing, horseback riding, hunting, mountain biking, and fishing . In the winter season, ice fishing and cross-country skiing are popular pastimes for visitors to the park. Campsites are available year-round with RV and electric hookups available. There are 22 deep water ponds which are accessible to electric motor boats, canoes, and kayaks. Visitors to the park may rent a canoe or kayak to paddle down the Vermilion River, which runs through the center Kickapoo State Park. Horseback riding and scuba diving are also allowed within the park .
, a Native American known as the "Kickapoo Prophet," who brokered many treaties between the European settlers and Native Americans. Kennekuk was a proponent of a new form of Christianity that had elements of Roman Catholicism and Protestantism . The Native Americans lived in the area which is now Kickapoo State Park until sometime during the 16th Century.
, an Indian fighter and scout in the Black Hawk War, and his wife are buried at the entrance to Fox Campground in a small pioneer cemetery.
In the fall of 2008, a shortage in the state budget of $2 billion dollars led to the threat of park closure .
The state was planning to close 11 parks on November 1st, including Kickapoo State Park, to help meet its budget. Kelley Quinn, a spokeswoman from late Governor Rod Blagojevich
's office, said "[p]arks are closing across the country; people are being laid off...[you] have to consider the national economy. The national economy is part of...[why we must close the park]."
The decision to close the park was met with much resistance. More than 300 protesters, made up of a conglomeration of local Danville residents and University of Illinois students, met at Kickapoo in late August of 2008 to protest its closure . Due to the protests, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich decided to allow Kickapoo to remain open while 7 other state parks were closed. In celebration of the park remaining open, a cleanup day of Kickapoo was scheduled on April 25th, 2009 . Volunteers were provided with the equipment necessary to remove litter from campsites and lakes. Since then there have been many cleanup efforts by local residents .
. Cypress
trees have been planted along pond edges while strip mine banks have been naturally covered by cottonwood and ash trees . This variety of hardwood species colors the park in the fall season and attracts many visitors. In the springtime, a variety of wildflowers can also be seen including: violets, bluebells, spring beauties, Dutchman's-breeches, and nodding trilliums .
Of the 100 different bird species spotted within the park , the belted kingfisher
, pileated woodpecker
, red-winged blackbird
, great blue heron
, and least bittern
are the most commonly seen. A birding checklist is available at the park office. In addition to the multitude of bird species spotted within the park, there are also a variety of mammals including white-tailed deer, squirrels, raccoons, cottontail rabbits, and muskrats .
, crappie
, and redear sunfish
according to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Rainbow trout is another popular fish species to catch in the fall and spring months when the lakes are stocked .
accessible .
There are 11 mountain biking routes in this area, ranging from easy to difficult, located in the northeast section of Kickapoo State Park . Some of the more difficult trails have 1-2 foot jumps, steep inclines, switchbacks, and benchcut ravines. The bike trails wind through the forest, abandoned strip mine area, and along the Vermilion River. Mountain bike trails are open for visitors to use year-round, although they will be closed during firearm hunting season November 19-21 and December 2-5 2010 .
Vermilion County, Illinois
Vermilion County is a county located in the eastern part of the U.S. state of Illinois, between the Indiana border and Champaign County. It was established in 1826 and was the 45th of Illinois' 102 counties...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Located just outside of Danville
Danville
Danville may refer to:In Canada:*Danville, QuebecIn the United States:*Danville, Alabama*Danville, Arkansas*Danville, California*Danville, Georgia*Danville, Illinois*Danville, Indiana*Danville, Iowa*Danville, Kansas*Danville, Kentucky...
, Illinois this park is easily accessible through route I-74. It is 28 miles away from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
and 95 miles from Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
. According to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the name Kickapoo originated from the Kickapoo
Kickapoo
The Kickapoo are an Algonquian-speaking Native American tribe. According to the Anishinaabeg, the name "Kickapoo" means "Stands here and there". It referred to the tribe's migratory patterns. The name can also mean "wanderer"...
village that once existed near the junction of the Salt Fork and Middle Fork branches of the Vermilion River
Vermilion River (Wabash River tributary)
The Vermilion River is a tributary of the Wabash River in the states of Illinois and Indiana, United States.There are two "Vermilion Rivers" in Illinois. The Wabash tributary flows south, while the other Vermilion River flows north to the Illinois River...
. After Europeans settled in the area and displaced the Native Americans, the Europeans began to dig wells to harvest salt from salt springs, called salines . In the early 1900s the land was then strip-mined for coal. Kickapoo State Park was the first park in the United States to be located on strip-mined land . The state of Illinois purchased the Kickapoo State Park Area in 1939 with donation money from Danville residents and the land has since recovered from the extraction of these resources .
Today, Kickapoo State Park has 221 acres of ponds and lakes with nearly 35 miles of hiking trails for many types of recreational activities including camping, canoeing, horseback riding, hunting, mountain biking, and fishing . In the winter season, ice fishing and cross-country skiing are popular pastimes for visitors to the park. Campsites are available year-round with RV and electric hookups available. There are 22 deep water ponds which are accessible to electric motor boats, canoes, and kayaks. Visitors to the park may rent a canoe or kayak to paddle down the Vermilion River, which runs through the center Kickapoo State Park. Horseback riding and scuba diving are also allowed within the park .
History
Native American History 500-1500 A.D.
According to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, archaeological evidence indicates the existence of a village inhabited by Native Americans of the Woodland and Mississippian cultures somewhere between 500 and 1500 A.D. This village was located at the junction of the Middle Fork and Salt Fork Rivers. The village was home to KennekukKennekuk
Kennekuk , also known as the "Kickapoo Prophet", was a Kickapoo medicine man and spiritual leader of the Vermilion band of the Kickapoo nation. He lived in East Central Illinois much of his life along the Vermilion River and led a community of followers, whose beliefs centered on non-violence,...
, a Native American known as the "Kickapoo Prophet," who brokered many treaties between the European settlers and Native Americans. Kennekuk was a proponent of a new form of Christianity that had elements of Roman Catholicism and Protestantism . The Native Americans lived in the area which is now Kickapoo State Park until sometime during the 16th Century.
Salt Production 1819-1848
Europeans were drawn to what is now the Kickapoo State Recreation Area with the discovery of salt springs in 1819 . Most of the immigrants to this area were English . After the Europeans settled in the area, they began to dig wells all over the land. From these wells they harvested salt brine and boiled it down to produce salt. This salt operation continued until 1848, producing as much as 120 bushels of salt per week during the peak of its production process . One of the iron rendering kettles used in the production process can be seen at the Salt Kettle Rest area on I-74 .Many European settlers from the early 1900s are buried in Allhands Cemetery, which is located in the eastern section of the park. Other settlers such as John CoxJohn Cox
John Cox may refer to:*John Cox , British wildlife artist and photographer*John Cox , member of the Virginia House of Delegates*John Cox , British Royal Navy admiral...
, an Indian fighter and scout in the Black Hawk War, and his wife are buried at the entrance to Fox Campground in a small pioneer cemetery.
Coal Strip-Mining 1850-1940
Between 1850 and 1940 the park area was strip-mined for coal, leaving many mine pits and spoil piles . The mine in Kickapoo State Park was one of the first in the country to use mechanization for strip-mining . Over the years these mine pits have filled with water and become lakes and barren areas have been largely reforested.1940-Present
The state of Illinois initially purchased 1,290 acres of land from the United Electric Coal Company in 1939 and added additional area to the park in subsequent years . Clint C. Tilton, a local newspaper owner and historian, began the drive that brought this park to Vermilion County. Since then the park has gradually recovered from the mine pits and spoil piles left behind from the strip-mining process.In the fall of 2008, a shortage in the state budget of $2 billion dollars led to the threat of park closure .
The state was planning to close 11 parks on November 1st, including Kickapoo State Park, to help meet its budget. Kelley Quinn, a spokeswoman from late Governor Rod Blagojevich
Rod Blagojevich
Rod R. Blagojevich is an American politician who served as the 40th Governor of Illinois from 2003 to 2009. A Democrat, Blagojevich was a State Representative before being elected to the United States House of Representatives representing parts of Chicago...
's office, said "[p]arks are closing across the country; people are being laid off...[you] have to consider the national economy. The national economy is part of...[why we must close the park]."
The decision to close the park was met with much resistance. More than 300 protesters, made up of a conglomeration of local Danville residents and University of Illinois students, met at Kickapoo in late August of 2008 to protest its closure . Due to the protests, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich decided to allow Kickapoo to remain open while 7 other state parks were closed. In celebration of the park remaining open, a cleanup day of Kickapoo was scheduled on April 25th, 2009 . Volunteers were provided with the equipment necessary to remove litter from campsites and lakes. Since then there have been many cleanup efforts by local residents .
Plant and Animal Species
Kickapoo State Recreation Area is home to a wide variety of plant and animal species. Middle Fork Woods Nature Preserve is located within Kickapoo State Park and is the only known location of the silvery salamander in Illinois . This nature preserve of 69.2 acres is home to many different tree species including white and black oak, hickory, blue beech, sugar maple, basswood, ironwood, redbud, and sassafrasSassafras
Sassafras is a genus of three extant and one extinct species of deciduous trees in the family Lauraceae, native to eastern North America and eastern Asia.-Overview:...
. Cypress
Cypress
Cypress is the name applied to many plants in the cypress family Cupressaceae, which is a conifer of northern temperate regions. Most cypress species are trees, while a few are shrubs...
trees have been planted along pond edges while strip mine banks have been naturally covered by cottonwood and ash trees . This variety of hardwood species colors the park in the fall season and attracts many visitors. In the springtime, a variety of wildflowers can also be seen including: violets, bluebells, spring beauties, Dutchman's-breeches, and nodding trilliums .
Of the 100 different bird species spotted within the park , the belted kingfisher
Belted Kingfisher
The Belted Kingfisher is a large, conspicuous water kingfisher, the only member of that group commonly found in the northern United States and Canada. It is depicted on the 1986 series Canadian $5 note. All kingfishers were formerly placed in one family, Alcedinidae, but recent research suggests...
, pileated woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
The Pileated Woodpecker is a very large North American woodpecker, almost crow-sized, inhabiting deciduous forests in eastern North America, the Great Lakes, the boreal forests of Canada, and parts of the Pacific coast. It is also the largest woodpecker in America.Adults are long, and weigh...
, red-winged blackbird
Red-winged Blackbird
The Red-winged Blackbird is a passerine bird of the family Icteridae found in most of North and much of Central America. It breeds from Alaska and Newfoundland south to Florida, the Gulf of Mexico, Mexico, and Guatemala, with isolated populations in western El Salvador, northwestern Honduras, and...
, great blue heron
Great Blue Heron
The Great Blue Heron is a large wading bird in the heron family Ardeidae, common near the shores of open water and in wetlands over most of North and Central America as well as the West Indies and the Galápagos Islands. It is a rare vagrant to Europe, with records from Spain, the Azores and England...
, and least bittern
Least Bittern
The Least Bittern is a small wading bird, the smallest heron found in the Americas.This bird's underparts and throat are white with light brown streaks. Their face and the sides of the neck are light brown; they have yellow eyes and a yellow bill. The adult male is glossy greenish black on the...
are the most commonly seen. A birding checklist is available at the park office. In addition to the multitude of bird species spotted within the park, there are also a variety of mammals including white-tailed deer, squirrels, raccoons, cottontail rabbits, and muskrats .
Camping
Between the two campgrounds within the park there are 184 sites available for tent camping and trailer camping . Reservations can be made at online at Reserve America, however there are a number of walk-in sites for primitive tent campers. The maximum length of stay is 14 days within a 30 day period. Almost half of the sites have electric hookups and there are two shower houses which are open from May 1st through November 1st . Note that campers staying at sites with electric hookups must pay for the availability of electricity even if it is never used. Campers must also have their own camping equipment as well as their camping permit before entering the campgrounds .Fishing
There are many fish species found within the park's 22 ponds and the Vermilion River. Some of the most common catches by fishermen are largemouth and smallmouth bass, catfish, bluegillBluegill
The Bluegill is a species of freshwater fish sometimes referred to as bream, brim, or copper nose. It is a member of the sunfish family Centrarchidae of the order Perciformes.-Range and distribution:...
, crappie
Crappie
Crappie is a genus of freshwater fish in the sunfish family of order Perciformes. The type species is P. annularis, the white crappie...
, and redear sunfish
Redear sunfish
The redear sunfish , also known as the shellcracker, Georgia bream, cherry gill, chinquapin, improved bream, rouge ear sunfish and sun perch, is native to the southeastern United States, but since it is a popular sport fish it has been introduced to bodies of water all over North America...
according to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Rainbow trout is another popular fish species to catch in the fall and spring months when the lakes are stocked .
Boating
For boating activities, there are 12 launching ramps on 9 of the lakes in Kickapoo State Park although only electric motors are allowed on these lakes . Kickapoo Landing is a concession place within the park offering canoe, paddle boat, tube, and kayak rentals, shuttle services to parts of the Middle Fork of the Vermilion River, bait, firewood, and a restaurant for visitors to enjoy . Visitors may rent boats by the hour for use on Clear Lake within the park, or sign up for a trip down the Middle Fork of the Vermilion River with a canoe, kayak, or inner tube. The tube trip is 2 miles long starting at Sportsman's Lake and ending in the state park. For visitors wishing to partake in kayaking or canoeing activities down the river they may choose between a 13-mile trip beginning at Kinny's Ford, an 8-mile trip starting at Bunker Hill, or a combination of 2 miles on the Vermilion River and paddling through 3 lakes in the park . In addition to rental services, Kickapoo Landing sells fishing licences, tackle, and an assortment of worms, minnows, and crickets for bait. The concession also has live music at the dockside cafe Tuesday and Friday nights all summer long .Hiking
There are 7 marked hiking trails within Kickapoo State Recreation Area. One of the more challenging trails is the 7.6-mile Out and Back running trail which winds through forest and edges of cropland. The Out and Back trail is also the longest trail in the park and runs from the group camp area across the Johnson Hill Bridge. However, the Johnson Hill Bridge was demolished in 2006, significantly limiting the length of this trail . The Mountain Bike Trail is a 6.5-mile trail which circles Stump Pond and is located in the northeastern corner of the park. Some of the other shorter trails are: Clear Lake Trail (3 miles), Nature Trail (0.75 miles), High Lake Trail (1.5 miles), Riverview Trail (2.0 miles), and Brian Plawer Nature Trail (0.9 miles). High Lake Trail also has a 0.2-mile portion which is ADAAmericans with Disabilities Act of 1990
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 is a law that was enacted by the U.S. Congress in 1990. It was signed into law on July 26, 1990, by President George H. W. Bush, and later amended with changes effective January 1, 2009....
accessible .
Mountain Biking
Over 200 acres have been allocated for mountain bike use in the park .There are 11 mountain biking routes in this area, ranging from easy to difficult, located in the northeast section of Kickapoo State Park . Some of the more difficult trails have 1-2 foot jumps, steep inclines, switchbacks, and benchcut ravines. The bike trails wind through the forest, abandoned strip mine area, and along the Vermilion River. Mountain bike trails are open for visitors to use year-round, although they will be closed during firearm hunting season November 19-21 and December 2-5 2010 .