[BOATERS] Sunday paddling event to show support for the Rockford WW course !

[Erik Sprenne]

 This Sunday, Oct. 29, the Illinois Paddling Council is sponsoring a 9 mile 
float on the Rock River in Rockford as a show of support from the paddling 
community for the development of the much discussed whitewater park in 
Rockford on the Rock River.  The trip announcement is at the bottom of this 
post, which is being sent to all area paddling boards in an attempt to 
convince paddlers - and especially whitewater boaters - to attend this event 
as a show of support for the Rockford WW Park.

 Why should whitewater paddlers attend?
Because potential development of the river at the dam will benefit the 
whitewater paddling community the most.
The Illinois Paddling Council has planned a 9 mile float on the Rock River 
to help draw attention to the proposed WW park, and the whitewater community 
should be thankful that this organization has invested time and resources 
for this effort.  Even if there is no interest in paddling 9 miles of 
flatwater, showing up at the put-in between 10 and 11 AM (directions in the 
notice below), where the main media event (local TV station and newspaper 
reporters will be present) will happen, will help show that whitewater 
paddlers are also supporting both this event, and construction the proposed 
WW park.

 Paddle 9 flatwater miles????
 Doesn't really make sense for whitewater boats, but being present for the 
media coverage does make sense.  The cameras will be rolling, and doing a 
roll or throwing some flatwater ends may provide paddlers with their '15 
minutes of fame' on the Rockford nightly news.  But more importantly, being 
present in shear numbers when the reporters are there will help ensure a 
successful media event, and will help show Rockford officials that the 
paddling community supports efforts for building a whitewater course in 
Rockford.

 Pay $10 for ACA Insurance/event membership?
This is a requirement for those that do the 9 mile float as part of the IPC 
trip.  Kayakers showing up only for the media event at the put-in do not 
have to pay if they are not going to paddle the 9 miles.

 What to do after the media event?
Driving to downtown Rockford to check out the dam and the proposed WW course 
site makes sense.  A map of the area can be found here: 
http://rivers-end.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=228 (scroll down for the map, as 
well as a picture of the dam).  Imagine S. Water St. extending south of 
Business 20 along the river (between warehouses/industrial buildings), 
ending in a gravel parking area at the proposed site for the WW course. 
There also is a natural shoal in the river a ways downstream of the dam that 
channels the river flow into several jets of water, and may offer some mild 
play opportunities, but certainly some current differentials/eddylines to 
play.  The best standing waves I saw in a May scouting trip were along the 
river-right bank below the shoal.  If paddling below the dam, usual safety 
precautions pertaining to dams should be observed, and those not knowing 
what these are should not go near the dam at all.  Note that the 
neighborhood around the proposed course site is not the best, and be sure to 
lock vehicles and keep valuables out of site if paddling below the dam.

 Possible media event at the takeout:
Another option would be to go to the takeout at Beatie park 
(http://tinyurl.com/yczxej) between 2-3 pm, and either wait there for the 
IPC flotilla to take out, or possibly to paddle upstream to meet the 
flotilla on their way to the takeout.  There may also be reporters at the 
takeout, and having more boaters there will also help show more support for 
the Rockford WW park effort.

 Further support:
A write-up about the proposed WW park is on the Chicago Whitewater 
Association's web site at http://www.chicagowhitewater.org/cwa/rockford.asp, 
and efforts should be complete in the next few days on an update to the 
article, with re-activated links to newspaper articles and additional 
information.  More letters to the editor of the newspaper and to city 
officials are needed - contact information for sending letters is also found 
in this writeup.

 Please come help show support for the Rockford WW park this Sunday!

 Play Hard,
Erik Sprenne
Advocacy Chairman
Chicago Whitewater Association

 =======================================
Illinois Paddling Council "SEASON ENDER" TO SUPPORT ROCKFORD'S PROPOSED 
WHITEWATER PARK
Please pass on this information to any paddler you know - we need a big 
turnout!

 Mark your calendars for Sunday October 29th and come out in support of the 
establishment of the Rockford Whitewater Park. The Illinois Paddling Council 
is dedicating its annual End of Season Paddle to supporting the building of 
the park.

 We will meet at 10:00AM at the Atwood Homestead put-in on the west side of 
the Rock River and paddle 9.4 miles into downtown Rockford. We will be able 
to paddle within about a quarter mile of the proposed site and plan to 
invite all of the Rockford Media to cover the event.

 There will be a $10.00 Event Membership/Insurance Fee if you are not a 
member of the ACA. Wear clothing appropriate to the weather, wearing a PFD 
is required.

 Directions

  a.. Take I-90 to Rockford
  b.. Take the East Riverside Blvd exit (0.4 miles)
  c.. Take the ramp towards Loves Park/Machesney Park/Rockford (0.1 miles)
  d.. Turn Left onto CR-55 / E. Riverside Blvd (1.0 mile)
  e.. Turn Right onto CR-11 N / N. Perryville Road (2.2 miles)
  f.. Turn Left onto CR-25 / Harlem Road (0.4 miles)
  g.. Turn Right onto Forest Hills Road /CR-7 (1.7 miles)
  h.. Turn Left onto IL-173 / W. Lane Road (1.0 miles)
  i.. Stay Straight to go onto Railston Road / CR-17, Continue to follow 
CR-17 (1.6 miles)
  j.. Turn Right onto CR-64 / Old River Road (1.5 miles)
  k.. Turn Right into the Atwood Homestead Park and drive all the way in to 
the Boat Ramp