Dedication Ceremony Planned for Oct. 6 for New Educational Fishing Pond at Pere Marquette State Park

GRAFTON, IL - Pere Marquette State Park will host a dedication ceremony and grand opening on Friday, Oct. 6 at 11:30 a.m. for the park's new Educational Fishing Pond.

The public is invited to the ceremony to help celebrate the completion of the project.  The new fishing pond will be used at the annual Two Rivers Family Fishing Fair every June, as well as for other park interpretive programs and Urban Fishing Program events.

The new pond is located just outside of the Visitor Center in front of the Log Cabin at Pere Marquette State Park.

The pond was constructed thanks to the support of individual and corporate donors. 

The Phillips 66 Wood River Refinery was the primary donor for the project.  Monsanto, Friends of Pere Marquette State Park Foundation, and another sponsor who wishes to remain anonymous also were major donors for the project.  The Illinois Department of Natural Resources Division of Fisheries provided funding to pay for aerator and pump services and supplies for the pond. Total Lawn Care, Inc. of Jerseyville was the contractor for the project. Other project partners include:

Pere Marquette State Park staff

IDNR Region 4 Hot Shot Crew

IDNR Office of Resource Conservation, Fisheries

IDNR Office of Land Management

IDNR Office of Realty and Environmental Planning

Illinois Federation for Outdoor Resources (IFOR)

Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT)

Unique Concrete Concepts - Jerseyville, IL

Trico Electric - Jerseyville, IL

Baxter Gardens - Chesterfield, MO

Gorman Brothers Ready Mix -  Jerseyville, IL

Goedecke Company - St. Louis, MO

McClintock's Tree Service - Jerseyville, IL