EFFINGHAM, Ill. (AP) — The Illinois Department of Natural Resources says Ramsey Lake State Recreation Area and Horseshoe Lake State Park have reopened after a donor paid to turn the electricity back on.
IDNR spokesman Chris Young says the parks reopened Wednesday after they were closed about two weeks ago due to the state budget impasse. Young says the electric company didn’t name the donor. Southwestern Electric Cooperative officials didn’t identify the donor citing privacy concerns.
The parks were closed because electric and trash service were terminated. Young says Ramsey Lake owned $1,765 in electric bills and Horseshoe Lake owed $829. Young said it wasn’t clear how long the parks would remain open.
Young says the agency owes about $3,500 for trash service at Horseshoe Lake, but he says Republic Service recently has been picking up trash there.
