A plan to convert part of a western Illinois state park into a facility for all-terrain vehicles is awaiting a decision from the new head of state parks.

The Springfield bureau of Lee Enterprises newspapers reports it's not clear when a verdict could come from Wayne Rosenthal, who took over as director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources this month. The plan calls for putting the facility in an undeveloped portion of Siloam Springs State Park.

Local officials, hunters and residents near the park say the ATVs would be noisy and increase traffic, while also eliminating a prime spot for hunting white-tail deer.

Advocates for the facility say Illinois should go forward with the plan, pointing to a $10 to $15 fee for ATVs meant go to a park for the vehicles.

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