These will probably be phased-in gradually over a number of years as funding becomes available, Harty said. Recreational activities would be limited to certain areas or open seasonally so as not to disturb habitats of endangered species or allow the public to interact with bison or elk. Also receiving major consideration is a bus or tram system that would ferry riders from a proposed visitors center to wildlife viewing areas or recreation areas throughout the site. I think everybody's familiar with the problems they're having at Yosemite and Yellowstone parks. One solution is to have a big parking lot.
People leave their cars, are orientated at the visitors center and get on a tram.
A tram would provide three benefits for site managers, Harry said. Harry was careful to point out that Midewin is still very much in the planning stages and that the final plan won't be completed until August 1999 at the earliest. This past summer, five open house meetings were held in various communities throughout northeastern Illinois. Following analysis of comments made at those meetings, public workshops to consider alternative proposals will be scheduled later this fall. A draft environmental impact statement is scheduled for publication in February, followed by a 90-day public comment period and more open house meetings.