Starved Rock State Park, near Utica, Illinois, is considered by the State Department of Tourism to be one of the “Seven Wonders of Illinois.” This is a wonderful nature area with many sandstone bluffs and canyons along the Illinois River. There was once a French fort near here, one of the first (possibly the first) European outpost in Illinois. Marquette and Joliet passed this way in the 1600′s. The Illinois River is dammed at this point, forming the “Starved Rock Pool.” Detritus from a large portion of the greater Chicago Metropolitan area flows down the Illinois and its tributaries – including the Fox River, which is only blocks away from my home in Batavia. Because of this, the shoreline of the river (or pool) at Starved Rock is lined with an amazing variety of SHIT. Below are a few examples I found over the last year – Barcaloungers, boats, dumpsters, propane grills hanging from the trees! Not to mention literally tons of “little stuff” – the usual, Styrofoam cups, soda bottles, pretty much everything one can imagine (and more!). This trash has a negative impact of any visitors experience at this park. Perhaps Starved Rock should be one of Illinois Seven Landfill Wonders!
