{"id":7681,"date":"2025-04-25T17:05:19","date_gmt":"2025-04-25T17:05:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/princetonillinois.com\/?p=7681"},"modified":"2025-04-25T17:05:19","modified_gmt":"2025-04-25T17:05:19","slug":"rename-starved-rock-state-park-its-a-possibility-idnr-says-shaw-local","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/princetonillinois.com\/?p=7681","title":{"rendered":"Rename Starved Rock State Park? It\u2019s a possibility, IDNR says – Shaw Local"},"content":{"rendered":"


An aerial view of the fall colors over Eagle Cliff above the Illinois River on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023 at Starved Rock State Park. This photo taken with permission through Starved Rock State Park. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources confirmed it\u2019s a possibility the park could be renamed as discussions should take place. <\/span>(Scott Anderson)
Would the state of Illinois rename Starved Rock<\/a> State Park? The Illinois Department of Natural Resources said it\u2019s a possibility.
Shaw Local News Network was told Tuesday of a tourist-centered meeting in which it was suggested Starved Rock could be renamed on the same grounds that have led sports teams to abandon mascots that are offensive to Native Americans.
No local sources confirmed any details of the report. But when the IDNR was reached for comment, the agency issued a statement acknowledging that park names could be reconsidered, including Starved Rock.
\u201cThe state of Illinois has a responsibility to listen to concerns and recommendations from Tribal Nations and Indigenous communities that have current and ancestral ties to Illinois,\u201d the agency said in a statement issued Friday afternoon. \u201cThey have repeatedly told us the names of some of our state parks and sites are harmful to their ancestors\u2019 remembrance and perpetuate false narratives to the public. Starved Rock is one example of many.
\u201cAt the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, we believe place names have power. In the future, the state, in consultation with Tribal leaders and Illinois residents, will explore more appropriate names for some of our parks and sites.
\u201cThis serves multiple purposes. Place names will better reflect sites\u2019 natural attributes and histories rather than the painful and often inaccurate colonial narratives they currently represent. These efforts will take time to happen, but we want to start having these conversations.\u201d
Several businesses and government entities in and around Starved Rock declined to comment or did not respond before press time Friday. Local lawmakers said the agency\u2019s intention previously had not been disclosed to them.
State Sen. Sue Rezin, R-Morris<\/a>, said she had not been apprised of the possibility of a name change. More concerning, she said, is that Starved Rock has a laundry list of urgent infrastructure needs, \u201cand this is what they decide to work on?\u201d
\u201cWhile I understand the desire to develop dialogue regarding subjects such as this, I have some concerns about the potential unintended consequences that this proposal could present,\u201d said Rezin, Illinois Senate deputy minority leader. \u201cThe name \u2018Starved Rock\u2019 has national recognition and has become an integral part of the local community\u2019s identity. A hasty name change could result in a potentially devastating impact on the local economy and the park\u2019s surrounding communities.\u201d
State Rep. Lance Yednock, D-Ottawa<\/a>, said he wanted to learn more but called Friday\u2019s report \u201cupsetting.\u201d
\u201cI understand this could merely be a conversation at this point, but our area has branded itself as Starved Rock Country, and changing the name without public input and consideration from the local residents, businesses and other interests would be unjust,\u201d Yednock said. \u201cThe name Starved Rock has a shared history and sense of pride for Illinois Valley residents for well over 100 years. I expect there will be more input and information going forward if this is a real consideration.\u201d
According to the park\u2019s website, Starved Rock \u201cderives its name from a Native American legend.\u201d
\u201cIn the 1760s, Chief Pontiac of the Ottawa tribe was attending a tribal council meeting,\u201d according to the website. \u201cAt this council of the Illinois and the Pottawatomie, an Illinois-Peoria brave stabbed Chief Pontiac.
\u201cVengeance arose in Pontiac\u2019s followers. A great battle started. The Illinois, fearing death, took refuge on the great rock. After many days, the remaining Illinois died of starvation, giving this historic park its name \u2013 Starved Rock.\u201d
Copyright \u00a9 2023 Shaw Local News Network
Copyright \u00a9 2023 Shaw Local News Network<\/p>\n

source<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

An aerial view of the fall colors over Eagle Cliff above the Illinois River on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023 at Starved Rock State Park. This photo taken with permission through Starved Rock State Park. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources confirmed it\u2019s a possibility the park could be renamed as discussions should take place. (Scott Anderson)Would the state of Illinois<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7681","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t