Business & Tech
Fundraising for Push for the Path at 40 Mph
Yorkville Alderman Diane Teeling is going to ride Raging Waves' new zip lines if she meets her $1,000 Push for the Path goal by July 5.
held garage sales. There have been concerts. And wine-tastings. All to raise money for Yorkville's portion of the Kennedy Road bike trail.
Yorkville Alderman Diane Teeling is going to let gravity take control, though. From about seven stories in the air.
Teeling plans to ride the new zip line course at if supporters donate $1,000 toward her Power of One goal by July 5. Power of One is a program challenging teams and individuals to raise $1,000 by the third anniversary of the accident on Kennedy Road that killed Darlene McCue.
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As of Wednesday, Power of One had raised $56,980, the bulk of the $64,392 Push for the Path has collected so far. Push for the Path leaders want to raise $357,000, which is the city’s 20 percent share of the project’s cost. The 2.72 miles of trail would run along Kennedy Road from Route 47 to Mill Road.
With the Power of One, the dollars are going to have to zip in if Teeling is going to, well ... zip.
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The four zip lines, which opened June 9, take dare-devils around Illinois' largest water park. Two guides take groups of six customers through 2,000 feet of line.
Zippers must wear attached shoes (no sandals or flipflops) and empty their pockets to avoid unpleasant hazards for water park patrons below, said Al Shelton, Raging Waves' food and beverage manager.
So far, they have peaked at about 75 zippers a day. On busy days, they take reservations, but otherwise, patrons just wait until a group of six gathers, Shelton said.
"Kind of like when you go to Benihana, you wait until the table is full to start," Shelton said.
Zippers also attend a short "flight school," where they learn things such as how to turn themselves mid-zip. Zippers can reach up to 40 mph on the fastest line, which starts about seven stories high. Completing the instruction and the four courses take about 45 minutes.
Click here for more information about the zip lines. Zippers must be at least 48 inches tall and weigh between 70 and 275 pounds.
To donate toward Teeling's goal for Push for the Path, mail a check to Push for the Path, P.O. Box 705, Yorkville, IL 60560, and enter Team 37 in the memo line. You also can donate online here.
