Promotes a Scenic Byways program to protect the beauty of designated scenic routes in Illinois. Maintains a library of visual material to assist interested individuals and media. Coordinates neighborhood beautification and parkway improvement projects. Sponsors educational presentations for groups and environmental events. Conducts inventories of billboards in the Chicago area, and audits statewide statistics.
Moderate signage is good for business.
Effective signage for local shops can increase business without detracting from the character of the community. But overwhelming use of billboards almost always lowers property value and adds to the deterioration of a community. And, most billboards are actually unnecessary because they advertise products and services which are not related to local businesses. Almost nothing creates blight faster than unchecked use of signs and billboard in our neighborhoods and along our highways. Our preliminary Illinois study indicates that just 15 years ago there were only 6 billboards along the Tri-State Tollway.