54-509: Kickapoo State Recreation Area is an Illinois state park on 2,842 acres (1,150 ha) in Vermilion County, Illinois , United States. Located between Oakwood, Illinois and Danville, Illinois , this park is easily accessible through route I-74. It is 28 miles (45 km) away from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and 95 miles (153 km) from Indianapolis . According to
108-553: A carcinogenic effect. All parts of sassafras plants, including roots, stems, twig leaves, bark, flowers, and fruit, have been used for culinary, medicinal, and aromatic purposes, both in areas where they are endemic and in areas where they were imported, such as Europe. The wood of sassafras trees has been used as a material for building ships and furniture in China, Europe, and the United States, and sassafras played an important role in
162-440: A 0.2-mile portion which is ADA accessible. Over 200 acres have been allocated for mountain bike use in the park. There are 11 mountain biking routes in this area, ranging from easy to difficult, located in the northeast section of Kickapoo State Park. Some of the more difficult trails have 1–2 foot jumps, steep inclines, switchbacks, and benchcut ravines. The bike trails wind through the forest, abandoned strip mine area, and along
216-401: A citrus-like scent when crushed. The tiny, yellow flowers are generally six-petaled; S. albidum and (the extinct) S. hesperia are dioecious , with male and female flowers on separate trees, while S. tzumu and S. randaiense have male and female flowers occurring on the same trees. The fruit is a drupe , blue-black when ripe. The largest known sassafras tree in
270-444: A conservation land holding district, after approval by county voters. Although most of the 102 counties have not established such a public landholding agency, below are the approved county districts: Sassafras Sassafras albidum † Sassafras ashleyi † Sassafras columbiana † Sassafras hesperia Sassafras randaiense Sassafras tzumu † Sassafras yabei Pseudosassafras Lecomte Sassafras
324-494: A fungicide, dentifrice, rubefacient, diaphoretic, perfume, carminative and sudorific. Before the twentieth century, Sassafras enjoyed a great reputation in the medical literature, but became valued for its power to improve the flavor of other medicines. Sassafras root was an early export from North America, as early as 1609. Sassafras wood and oil were both used in dentistry. Early toothbrushes were crafted from sassafras twigs or wood because of its aromatic properties. Sassafras
378-470: A number of walk-in sites for back country tent campers. The maximum length of stay is 14 days within a 30-day period. Almost half of the sites have electric hookups and there are two shower houses which are open from May 1 through November 1. Note that campers staying at sites with electric hookups must pay for the availability of electricity even if it is never used. Campers must also have their own camping equipment as well as their camping permit before entering
432-494: A spokeswoman from former Governor Rod Blagojevich 's office, said "[p]arks are closing across the country; people are being laid off...[you] have to consider the national economy. The national economy is part of...[why we must close the park]." The decision to close the park was met with much resistance. More than 300 protesters, made up of a conglomeration of local Danville residents and University of Illinois students, met at Kickapoo in late August 2008 to protest its closure. Due to
486-772: A statewide network of numerous recreation opportunities and conservation schemes, sometimes in a small area. For example, DeKalb County contains a 1,000-acre (4.0 km ) forest preserve system and a 1,500-acre (6.1 km ) state park ( Shabbona Lake State Park ); within DeKalb County, the DeKalb Park District in the City of DeKalb has a 700-acre (2.8 km ) park system. Illinois state-owned protected areas include state parks , state forests , state recreation areas , state fish and wildlife areas , state natural areas, and one state trail. These areas are all administered by
540-557: A substantial degree its original natural or primeval character, though it need not be completely undisturbed, or has floral, faunal, ecological, geological or archaeological features of scientific, educational, scenic or esthetic interest.” Illinois contains one national forest , the Shawnee National Forest , one national grassland, Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie , and several other sites administered by
594-503: A variety of soil types, attaining a maximum in southern and wetter areas of distribution. Sassafras albidum ranges from southern Maine and southern Ontario west to Iowa, and south to central Florida and eastern Texas, in North America. S. tzumu may be found in Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Sichuan, Yunnan, and Zhejiang, China. S. randaiense
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#1732854759816648-415: Is a genus of three extant and one extinct species of deciduous trees in the family Lauraceae , native to eastern North America and eastern Asia . The genus is distinguished by its aromatic properties, which have made the tree useful to humans. Sassafras trees grow from 9–35 metres (30–115 feet) tall with many slender sympodial branches and smooth, orange-brown bark or yellow bark. All parts of
702-571: Is also allowed within the park. According to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, archaeological evidence indicates the existence of a village inhabited by Native Americans of the Woodland and Mississippian cultures somewhere between 500 and 1500. This village was located at the junction of the Middle Fork and Salt Fork Rivers. The village was home to Kennekuk , a Native American known as
756-666: Is also the longest trail in the park and ran from the group camp area across the Johnson Hill Bridge. However, the Johnson Hill Bridge was demolished in 2006, significantly limiting the length of this trail. The Mountain Bike Trail is a 6.5-mile trail which circles Stump Pond and is located in the northeastern corner of the park. Some of the other shorter trails are: Clear Lake Trail (3 miles), Nature Trail (0.75 miles), High Lake Trail (1.5 miles), Riverview Trail (2.0 miles), and Brian Plawer Nature Trail (0.9 miles). High Lake Trail also has
810-413: Is available at the park office. In addition to the multitude of bird species spotted within the park, there are also a variety of mammals including white-tailed deer, squirrels, raccoons, cottontail rabbits, and muskrats . Between the two campgrounds within the park there are 184 sites available for tent camping and trailer camping. Reservations can be made at online at Reserve America , however there are
864-667: Is home to a wide variety of plant and animal species. Middle Fork Woods Nature Preserve is located within Kickapoo State Park and is the only known location of the silvery salamander in Illinois. This nature preserve of 69.2 acres is home to many different tree species including white and black oak, hickory, blue beech, sugar maple, basswood, ironwood, redbud, and sassafras . Cypress trees have been planted along pond edges while strip mine banks have been naturally covered by cottonwood and ash trees. This variety of hardwood species colors
918-987: Is native to Taiwan. The leaves, bark, twigs, stems, and fruits are eaten by birds and mammals in small quantities. For most animals, sassafras is not consumed in large enough quantities to be important, although it is an important deer food in some areas. Carey and Gill rate its value to wildlife as fair, their lowest rating. Sassafras leaves and twigs are consumed by white-tailed deer and porcupines . Other sassafras leaf browsers include groundhogs , marsh rabbits , and American black bears . Rabbits eat sassafras bark in winter. American beavers will cut sassafras stems. Sassafras fruits are eaten by many species of birds, including bobwhite quail , eastern kingbirds , great crested flycatchers , phoebes , wild turkeys , gray catbirds , northern flickers , pileated woodpeckers , downy woodpeckers , thrushes , vireos , and northern mockingbirds . Some small mammals also consume sassafras fruits. Sassafras oil contains safrole , which may have
972-533: Is protected and listed as a state-owned historic site. Two of the eight World Heritage Site structures exemplifying the 20th-Century architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright are also located in Illinois: Unity Temple and the Robie House , and are protected by local and federal schemes. In addition to cultural sites, Illinois contains five wetland areas designated as wetlands of international importance under
1026-429: Is used in filé powder , a common thickening and flavoring agent in gumbo . Methods of cooking with sassafras combine this ingredient native to America with traditional North American, as well as European, culinary techniques, to create a unique blend of Creole cuisine, and are thought by some to be heavily influenced by a blend of cultures. Sassafras is no longer used in commercially produced root beer since sassafras oil
1080-602: The Illinois Department of Natural Resources . In addition, dozens of state historic sites are administered by the Illinois Historic Preservation Division . State historic sites are typically protected for their historic and cultural importance but may include a nature preservation component, such as at Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site and Lincoln's New Salem . For a list, see Illinois Historic Preservation Division . State parks are owned by
1134-670: The National Park Service , including portions of National Trails. There are also National Wildlife Refuges . The following U.S. Wilderness areas are located within the Shawnee National Forest and are administered by the U.S. Forest Service : Crab Orchard Wilderness is located within Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge The National Park Service operates the federally owned Lincoln Home National Historic Site in Springfield ,
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#17328547598161188-955: The Pullman National Historical Park in Chicago , and the New Philadelphia National Historic Site in Pike County in rural western Illinois. The Chicago Portage National Historic Site is a National Park Service-affiliated site which is located in the Forest Preserve District of Cook County . In addition, the National Park Service partners with the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area . One UNESCO World Heritage Site in Illinois, Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site ,
1242-643: The Ramsar Convention : A variety of county and town protected areas exist in Illinois, including city park districts and county-wide Forest Preserve or Conservation Districts, as well as land owned by private conservation organizations. One of the largest systems is the Forest Preserve District of Cook County , which includes Brookfield Zoo and the Chicago Botanic Garden as well as 70,000 acres (280 km ) of open land, or 11.6 percent of Cook County's land area. Under Illinois law, counties may set up
1296-529: The "Kickapoo Prophet," who brokered many treaties between the European settlers and Native Americans. Kennekuk was a proponent of a new form of Christianity that had elements of Roman Catholicism and Protestantism. The Native Americans lived in the area which is now Kickapoo State Park until sometime during the 16th century. Europeans were drawn to what is now the Kickapoo State Recreation Area with
1350-718: The Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the name Kickapoo originated from the Kickapoo village that once existed near the junction of the Salt Fork and Middle Fork branches of the Vermilion River . After Europeans settled in the area and displaced the Native Americans, the Europeans began to dig wells to harvest salt from salt springs, called salines. In the early 20th century the land was then strip-mined for coal. Kickapoo State Park
1404-565: The Vermilion River and paddling through 3 lakes in the park. In addition to rental services, Kickapoo Adventures sells fishing licenses, tackle, and an assortment of worms for bait. The concession also has live music at the dockside cafe Tuesday and Friday nights all summer long. There are 7 marked hiking trails within Kickapoo State Recreation Area. One of the more challenging trails is the 7.6-mile Out and Back running trail which winds through forest and edges of cropland. The Out and Back trail
1458-496: The Vermilion River. Mountain bike trails are open for visitors to use year-round, although they close during the annual fall firearm hunting seasons (usually falling on 2 to 4 weekends in November and December), and occasionally due to extended muddy conditions such as the spring thaw or damage following heavy storms. Registered hunters (using firearms or bows) are allowed to hunt white-tailed deer, cock pheasant, rabbit, and squirrels in
1512-475: The campgrounds. There are many fish species found within the park's 22 ponds and the Vermilion River. Some of the most common catches by fishermen are largemouth and smallmouth bass, catfish, bluegill , crappie , and redear sunfish according to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Rainbow trout is another popular fish species to catch in the fall and spring months when the lakes are stocked. For boating activities, there are 12 launching ramps on 9 of
1566-428: The discovery of salt springs in 1819. Most of the immigrants to this area were English. After the Europeans settled in the area, they began to dig wells all over the land. From these wells they harvested salt brine and boiled it down to produce salt. This salt operation continued until 1848, producing as much as 120 bushels of salt per week during the peak of its production process. One of the iron rendering kettles used in
1620-775: The family Saxifragaceae . Early European colonists reported that the plant was called winauk by Native Americans in Delaware and Virginia and pauane by the Timucua . Native Americans distinguished between white sassafras and red sassafras, terms which referred to different parts of the same plant but with distinct colors and uses. Sassafras was known as fennel wood (German Fenchelholz ) due to its distinctive aroma. The genus Sassafras includes four species, three extant and one extinct. Sassafras plants are endemic to North America and East Asia, with two species in each region that are distinguished by some important characteristics, including
1674-546: The frequency of three-lobed leaves (more frequent in East Asian species) and aspects of their sexual reproduction (North American species being dioecious). Taiwanese sassafras, Taiwan , is treated by some botanists in a distinct genus as Yushunia randaiensis (Hayata) Kamikoti, though this is not supported by recent genetic evidence, which shows Sassafras to be monophyletic . Many Lauraceae are aromatic, evergreen trees or shrubs adapted to high rainfall and humidity, but
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1728-415: The genus Sassafras is deciduous . Deciduous sassafras trees lose all of their leaves for part of the year, depending on variations in rainfall . In deciduous tropical Lauraceae, leaf loss coincides with the dry season in tropical, subtropical and arid regions. Sassafras is commonly found in open woods, along fences, or in fields. It grows well in moist, well-drained, or sandy loam soils and tolerates
1782-613: The history of the European colonization of the Americas in the 16th and 17th centuries. Sassafras twigs have been used as toothbrushes and fire starters. Sassafras albidum is an important ingredient in some distinct foods of the US. It is the main ingredient in traditional root beer and sassafras root tea, and ground leaves of sassafras are a distinctive additive in Louisiana Cajun cuisine . It
1836-432: The lakes in Kickapoo State Park although only electric motors are allowed on these lakes. Kickapoo Adventures, previously known as Kickapoo Landing, is a concession place within the park offering canoe, paddle board, tube, and kayak rentals, shuttle services to parts of the Middle Fork of the Vermilion River, bait, firewood, and a restaurant for visitors to enjoy. Visitors may rent boats by the hour for use on Clear Lake within
1890-515: The name of Thunder Wolf Trail Rides used to offer horseback riding lessons, trail rides, hay rides, and birthday parties in the park area but it closed in 2015. List of Illinois state parks Illinois has a variety of protected areas , including over 123 state-protected areas, dozens of federally protected areas, hundreds of county-level and municipal park areas. Illinois also contains sites designated as internationally important protected areas. These multiple levels of protection contribute to
1944-400: The oil, roots and bark of sassafras have analgesic and antiseptic properties. Different parts of the sassafras plant (including the leaves and stems, the bark, and the roots) have been used to treat scurvy , skin sores, kidney problems, toothaches, rheumatism , swelling, menstrual disorders, sexually transmitted diseases , bronchitis , hypertension , and dysentery . It is also used as
1998-498: The opium-based Godfrey's Cordial ), and in homemade liquor to mask strong or unpleasant smells. Sassafras oil has also been added to soap and other toiletries. It is banned in the United States for use in commercially mass-produced foods and drugs by the FDA as a potential carcinogen . For a more detailed description of uses by indigenous peoples of North America, and a history of the commercial use of Sassafras albidum by Europeans in
2052-517: The park area was strip-mined for coal, leaving many mine pits and spoil piles. The mine in Kickapoo State Park was one of the first in the country to use mechanization for strip-mining. Over the years these mine pits have filled with water and become lakes and barren areas have been largely reforested. The state of Illinois initially purchased 1,290 acres of land from the United Electric Coal Company in 1939 and added additional areas to
2106-497: The park in subsequent years. Clint C. Tilton, a local newspaper owner and historian, began the drive that brought this park to Vermilion County. Since then the park has gradually recovered from the mine pits and spoil piles left behind from the strip-mining process. In the fall of 2008, a shortage in the state budget of $ 2 billion led to the threat of park closure. The state was planning to close 11 parks on November 1, including Kickapoo State Park, to help meet its budget. Kelley Quinn,
2160-431: The park in the fall season and attracts many visitors. In the springtime, a variety of wildflowers can also be seen including: violets, bluebells, spring beauties, Dutchman's-breeches , and nodding trilliums. Of the 100 different bird species spotted within the park, the belted kingfisher , pileated woodpecker , red-winged blackbird , great blue heron , and least bittern are the most commonly seen. A birding checklist
2214-443: The park twice a year. There are over 1,000 acres of land for hunters to use each fall. Trap and archery ranges are available to visitors to Kickapoo State Park as well. Other recreational activities at Kickapoo State Recreation Area include cross-country skiing and scuba diving, and is one of the few state parks in Illinois that allows scuba diving. Certified divers may explore the depths of Inland Sea and Sportsman's Lake. A company by
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2268-419: The park, or sign up for a trip down the Middle Fork of the Vermilion River with a canoe, kayak, or inner tube. The tube trip is 2 miles long starting at Sportsman's Lake and ending in the state park. For visitors wishing to partake in kayaking or canoeing activities down the river they may choose between a 13-mile trip beginning at Kinny's Ford, an 8-mile trip starting at Bunker Hill, or a combination of 2 miles on
2322-610: The plant can be peeled, dried and boiled to make tea. Numerous Native American tribes used the leaves of sassafras to treat wounds by rubbing the leaves directly into a wound and used different parts of the plant for many medicinal purposes such as treating acne, urinary disorders, and sicknesses that increased body temperature, such as high fevers. East Asian types of sassafras such as S. tzumu (chu mu) and S. randaiense (chu shu) are used in Chinese medicine to treat rheumatism and trauma . Some modern researchers conclude that
2376-596: The plant). Sassafras wood was also used by Native Americans in the southeastern United States as a fire-starter because of the flammability of its natural oils found within the wood and the leaves. Steam distillation of dried root bark produces an essential oil which has a high safrole content, as well as significant amounts of varying other chemicals such as camphor , eugenol (including 5-methoxyeugenol), asarone , and various sesquiterpenes . Many other trees contain similarly high percentages and their extracted oils are sometimes referred to as sassafras oil, which once
2430-523: The plants are fragrant. The species are unusual in having three distinct leaf patterns on the same plant: unlobed oval, bilobed (mitten-shaped), and trilobed (three-pronged); the leaves are hardly ever five-lobed. Three-lobed leaves are more common in Sassafras tzumu and S. randaiense than in their North American counterparts, although three-lobed leaves often occur on S. albidum . The young leaves and twigs are quite mucilaginous and produce
2484-580: The production process can be seen at the Salt Kettle Rest area on I-74. Many European settlers from the early 20th century are buried in Allhands Cemetery, which is located in the eastern section of the park. Other settlers such as John Cox, an Indian fighter and scout in the Black Hawk War, and his wife are buried at the entrance to Fox Campground in a small pioneer cemetery. Between 1850 and 1940
2538-427: The protests, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich decided to allow Kickapoo to remain open while 7 other state parks were closed. In celebration of the park remaining open, a cleanup day of Kickapoo was scheduled on April 25, 2009. Volunteers were provided with the equipment necessary to remove litter from campsites and lakes. Since then there have been many cleanup efforts by local residents. Kickapoo State Recreation Area
2592-564: The state and generally administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources . Specifically, “State Park” refers to sites “exhibiting exceptional scenic and natural features and terrain” and that “offer a wide range of recreational opportunities for the public to enjoy”. Areas whose primary purpose is to “reserve land and water areas for production and conservation of fish or wildlife and to provide hunting, fishing, trapping, observation, and other forms of compatible recreational use.” Areas of land which “either retains or has recovered to
2646-426: The winter season, ice fishing and cross-country skiing are popular pastimes for visitors to the park. Campsites are available year-round with RV and electric hookups available. There are 22 deep water ponds which are accessible to electric motor boats, canoes, and kayaks. Visitors to the park may rent a canoe or kayak to paddle down the Vermilion River, which runs through the center Kickapoo State Park. Scuba diving
2700-714: The world is in Owensboro, Kentucky , and is over 30 m (100 ft) high and 6.4 m (21 ft) in circumference. The genus Sassafras was first described by the Bohemian botanist Jan Presl in 1825. The name "sassafras", applied by the botanist Nicolas Monardes in 1569, comes from the French sassafras . Some sources claim it originates from the Latin saxifraga or saxifragus : "stone-breaking"; saxum "rock" + frangere "to break"). Sassafras trees are not within
2754-575: Was also used as an early dental anesthetic and disinfectant. Sassafras albidum is often grown as an ornamental tree for its unusual leaves and aromatic scent. Outside of its native area, it is occasionally cultivated in Europe and elsewhere. The durable and beautiful wood of sassafras plants has been used in shipbuilding and furniture-making in North America, in Asia, and in Europe (once Europeans were introduced to
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#17328547598162808-473: Was banned for use in commercially mass-produced foods and drugs by the US Food and Drug Administration in 1960 due to health concerns about the carcinogenicity of safrole, a major constituent of sassafras oil, in animal studies. Sassafras leaves and flowers have also been used in salads, and to flavor fats or cure meats. The young twigs can also be eaten fresh or dried. Additionally, the subterranean portion of
2862-426: Was extensively used as a fragrance in perfumes and soaps, food and for aromatherapy . Safrole is a precursor for the clandestine manufacture of the drugs MDA and MDMA , and as such, sales and import of sassafras oil (as a safrole-containing mixture of above-threshold concentration) are heavily restricted in the US. Sassafras oil has also been used as a natural insect or pest deterrent, and in liqueurs (such as
2916-566: Was the first park in the United States to be located on strip-mined land. The state of Illinois purchased the Kickapoo State Park Area in 1939 with donation money from Danville residents and the land has since recovered from the extraction of these resources. Today, Kickapoo State Park has 221 acres (89 ha) of ponds and lakes with nearly 35 miles (56 km) of hiking trails for many types of recreational activities including camping, canoeing, hunting, mountain biking, and fishing. In
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