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Aurora Beacon-News
August 19, 2002
By Dave Parro
STAFF WRITER
BIG ROCK ó The leading Prairie Parkway opposition group still hopes to gain support for its cause even though
the state has made its final alignment decision for the 36-mile highway.
Citizens Against the Sprawlway plans to hold a "Stop the Beltway" rally and picnic Sunday in Big Rock,
the center of opposition to the road that would cut through farmland in Kane, Kendall and Grundy counties.
The Illinois Department of Transportation announced its modified central alignment late last month.
"It's just to get people together to show opposition and get a large number of people together to voice
that opposition," said Jan Strasma, spokesman for the organization.
The three-hour event, which starts at 4 p.m., will be at the Marvel Davis farm, one of the properties divided
by the 400-foot-wide protected corridor. The Davis farm long has been a social center for the Big Rock community,
and Davis has been one of the leading opponents to the highway.
The rally will include a picnic supper served by highway opponent volunteers, music by two Sandwich groups and
hayrack rides along the Big Rock Creek near the highway corridor.
Local legislators and candidates have been invited to the rally, including U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert,
R-Yorkville, the highway's leading backer, and his opponent, Auroran Larry Quick.
Strasma, who expects a couple hundred people to attend the rally, said highway foes want the speaker to know
the level of opposition to the project.
"We want to send him a message that his constituents don't want his highway," Strasma said.
Donations also will be accepted at the rally, which could be used to cover court costs for a landowner lawsuit
planned by the organization. Contact Dave Parro at (630) 801-5495 or dparro@scn1.com.
08/19/02