OAKWOOD — A little girl has plenty of big-hitters on her side as she campaigns to prevent the closure of Kickapoo State Park.

Ryce Tuggle, 11½, of Oakwood has enlisted the help of two mayors and a state representative, as well as many other adults, in her quest to keep the park open.

Tuggle is the organizer of Kids Interested in Conserving Kickapoo, which is gathering signatures on petitions to be presented to Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

The Blagojevich administration said last week it will close 13 state historic sites and 11 parks — including Kickapoo — in an effort to balance the budget. The closures are expected to happen Nov. 1.

A highlight of her campaign will be an informational picket and walk Saturday morning at the park. She had to get a permit, and has made dozens of calls to organize it. She also has appeared on local radio and television stations to publicize the campaign.

Saturday’s event will feature Oakwood Mayor Tom Cook and Danville Mayor Scott Eisenhauer as emcee. State Rep. Bill Black might attend.

She expects more than 100 people — especially young people up to high-school age — to attend.

“I know a lot of people who go out there and families who go there,” she said, explaining why Kicka-poo is special to her. “We have memories.”

Her 17-year-old brother, Brycin, likes to ice fish and kayak at the park, while Ryce prefers tubing, sledding and canoeing.

She and her mother, Tracey Turner, follow the lives of the ducks and geese, from the time they’re born until they’re grown. The birds eat out of their hands.

Ryce also saw her first snake at the park.

“We live in Oakwood. That’s all we have,” she said.

Ryce, a sixth-grader at Oakwood Elementary School, became interested in saving the park when a teacher had her class write letters to their legislators, urging the governor not to close the park.

When the class letters were finished, Ryce took the assignment a step further and drew up a peti-tion and formed the kids’ group.

Last weekend, she set up a table at Casey’s store in Oakwood and asked people to sign her petition. She met people from all over, including one person who said her family reunion has been at Kickapoo for 75 years.

She also sat at Kickapoo Landing for six hours and collected signatures there.

On Monday, she handed out flyers at the Westville Labor Day parade, and gathered more signatures.

Ryce is getting help from her mother, but the youngster has set up her own interviews with the news media, Turner said, and has contacted businesses on her own.

“This is just her own thing,” Turner said.

Ryce also has been invited by Kickapoo Landing owners Tracy and Tod Satterthwaite to travel to Springfield with them when they deliver the petitions to the governor.

Dozens of names

Tod Satterthwaite said the restaurant has been a central location for petitions, which are due by Sept. 13. He has a stack of petitions with more than 4,000 signatures, he said, adding, “They’re still coming in.”

He’s not sure how and when the petitions will be delivered to Springfield.

If the park closes, his business will close, but Satterthwaite isn’t worried about that yet.

“This is the beginning of the discussions, not the end,” he said. “We hope the governor and the legislators will change their minds.”

He added, “It’s clear that citizens in east central Illinois are not standing idly by while parks are being closed. They’re taking action. Hopefully, it will make a difference.”

As for Ryce, Satterthwaite is pleased with her involvement, adding, “We need people like her.”

Ryce said people have been taking her seriously, despite her age, and her school has shown support by letting her out of class to do interviews.

Although she has a taste of political life now, she said she wants to be a veterinarian when she grows up. She’s also involved in dance, cheerleading and softball.

Her father is Ben Tuggle of Covington, Ind.

SAVE KICKAPOO

An informational picket/walk geared toward young people will be from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at Ironwood Pavilion at Kickapoo State Park. Water and popsicles will be provided.

Kickapoo Fire District will have a truck on display and Showtime costumes will give free airbrush tattoos. Kid-friendly refreshments will be provided by County Market and Earl Gaudio & Son.

A gathering geared toward adults will follow at 1 p.m. It’s being organized by Dave Lowe of Fithian.