We would like to make a correction to the title of an article published this morning regarding the Cliffs along Route 6 just north of Marseilles.
We spoke with the owner Jimmy Lawry who explained that the Cliffs were given an IDPR grant to help them acquire the remaining 125 acreage of land which now total 265 acres.
So the grant money of $612,000 dollars allowed owner Lawry to acquire the land. In return, a OHV or Off Highway Vehicle travel permit is now required to ride at the Cliffs. It’s just 18 dollars if you live out of state and 11 if you are an Illinoisan. The stickers cover you for 1 year and pair actual users of the Cliffs with the cost of the Grant because that’s where the money goes, the IDNR. The grant is 100% non tax payer funded.
Lawry says if you’ve never purchased a sticker or a machine, you’ve never spent a dime of taxes toward the grant.
Here is Mr Lawry in his own words to be clear.