Members of the LaSalle County Tourism Committee discussed a newly acquired parcel connected to Matheson Park and asked staff to seek clarification from state and park officials.

The nut graf: committee members said the parcel is sizable but not yet open to the public, and they want state and park staff to explain plans for trails, parking and public access.

A committee member said the parcel appears to have been in state hands for years and had not been opened to the public: “We need to get our state rep… she needs to get involved in this,” the member said. Committee members proposed inviting the state representative and the Starbuck (Starbrack) site superintendent to the next meeting so the committee could press for timelines and a voice in planning.

Committee members identified the new site superintendent for the Starbrack complex as Monte Bernadoni (listed in the meeting as the new site superintendent overseeing Starbrack, Matheson and the nature preserve). One member raised a concern about imagery in marketing materials depicting a feature called Cascade Falls at Matheson, asking whether the photo showed an actual maintained trail or an off‑trail spot.

Direction: staff agreed to try to invite the state representative and park officials to a future meeting and to provide contact information for the new site superintendent. No formal motion or vote on land management or funding took place at the meeting.