CALL TO ACTION: COMMENTS REQUESTED TO REOPEN GIANT CITY AIRSTRIP
Giant City State Park in southern Illinois has posted a survey asking for public comment on reopening its backcountry airstrip. Your RAF Illinois State Liaison, Mike Purpura, and Illinois Ambassador Dave Warner have diligently worked for several years to bring this exciting project to fruition. This recreational asset will provide access to a place in southern Illinois with distinctive geography, geology, and plant and animal diversity. The State Park offers abundant fishing, hunting, and hiking opportunities throughout its 4,000+ acres.
Giant City airstrip stands to be a true gem in the region for pilots if opened back up for public use.
Your Help is Needed
Click on the link below to access the Community Feedback Survey and provide comments supporting the reopening of the airstrip.
We ask that you simply provide positive responses to the 15 multiple-choice questions. For the six narrative questions, talking points are below. Please include original responses in your own words. Identical cut and paste comments do not get counted.
Historic use –
This airstrip was previously used from the 1950s to the 1980s. No legislative action is required to authorize reopening.
Recreational value –
Giant City State Park is on the River to River trail, close to opportunities for water recreation, spectacular hiking, and shuttled tours of wine country and wildlife viewing.
Proximity to those seeking recreation –
The airfield would provide another way to access Illinois’ third most popular state park, just an hour or two by small aircraft from the metro centers of Chicago, Memphis, St. Louis, and Indianapolis.
Economic benefits –
Tourism is a clean industry, worthy of promotion, and reopening this recreational asset will be a great benefit to the region.
Management and maintenance –
The Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF) has successfully partnered with the US Forest Service, the National Park Service, The Nature Conservancy, and Michigan State Dep’t of Natural Resources among others, by providing volunteers and resources to maintain and improve public access airfields.
Your public comments count.
Thank you for helping preserve another backcountry aviation asset.
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