Matthiessen State Park

Ideas ranging from an additional volleyball court and a pump track to new parking lots and new playground equipment were among some of the items suggested to improve Lehigh Park during a public meeting Thursday at Oglesby City Hall.

Very quietly, the IDNR has mapped out plans for what to do with the 2,629 acres acquired six years ago from Buzzi Unicem, which grew Matthiessen and Starved Rock state parks a combined 55%. The annex still is not safe, as the area is being cleaned up.

In October 2018, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources purchased 2,628 acres from Lone Star Industries Inc. near Oglesby. This formerly mined property is adjacent to Matthiessen State Park and is now referred to as the Matthiessen Annex property. In its reclaimed state, this property will provide recreational opportunities, as well as habitat and public access to the Illinois River and Bailey Creek.

The annual Eagle Watch Weekend will have a plethora of events this weekend highlighting to the local eagle population.

The waterfalls have frozen at Starved Rock and Matthiessen state parks. Ice climbers will be out this weekend climbing the magnificent ice columns in Wildcat and Ottawa canyons. Ice climbing is only allowed at specific canyons at Starved Rock.

Members and volunteers from the Starved Rock Community Foundation present a check Sunday in the amount of $5,400 from the 2024 Starved Rock and Matthiessen State Park Calendar sales at the Starved Rock Visitor Center.

Matthiessen State Park narrowly missed setting an attendance record in 2023, accordingly to data released Wednesday, while Starved Rock clinched its 10th best year on record.

The Starved Rock Foundation is inviting the community to the ribbon-cutting ceremony of its newly revitalized audio/visual theater at the Starved Rock State Park Visitor Center.

Matthiessen State Park won’t set an attendance record this year – it could be close, however – but 2023 will be remembered as one of the 10 best years Matthiessen and Starved Rock have ever had.

Sales are ongoing for the 2024 Starved Rock and Matthiessen state parks calendar. Proceeds benefit the Starved Rock Foundation, which supports the state parks through volunteer efforts.

I started jotting down ideas for hiking challenges within Starved Rock Country’s tourism region. The plan is to create a few dozen hikes, write them on slips of paper and put them in a jar. Pull one out, complete, repeat.

The sunflowers are back at Matthiessen State Park. The field attracts many visitors and pollinators. Park staff asks visitors not to take the sunflowers, nor drive into the fields, nor park along roadways.

The sunflowers at Matthiessen State Park are in bloom.

A 35-year-old man from South Beloit was injured Friday after falling while climbing near in Matthiessen State Park, according to IDNR Conservation Police Sergeant Phil Wire.

Memorial Day weekend has brought its wave of visitors to La Salle County’s state parks.