The whitewater bypass course is open to the public, but state officials plan to start building a pedestrian bridge next month.
Saturday’s Kayak Attack perhaps marked the ceremonial end to an effort a group of residents started more than a decade ago. The Yorkville-based Improve the Dam committee formed in 1999 to discourage state officials from removing the dam entirely in light of several drownings there. Some had argued that removing the dam would improve safety and wildlife along the river, but Improve the Dam committee members feared it also would reduce the river to little more than a trickle. So, they gathered more than 5,400 signatures in about three weeks, committee member Tom Baumgartner said. Ultimately, state officials added “steps” to the six-foot dam that dissipate the water’s energy as it spills over the dam and prevent the rolling water that had …
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Bicentennial Riverfront Park
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The new whitewater chute at the Glen Palmer dam is named in memory of Marge Cline, a beloved paddling instructor.
Yorkville’s whitewater course has been named for late paddling instructor Marge Cline afterall. The newly sworn-in Yorkville City Council adopted the name Tuesday, about two months after aldermen voted 4-4 to defeat the naming request. On Tuesday, Ward 2 Alderman Gary Golinski was sworn in as mayor and four new aldermen were seated. Golinski voted against the proposal in March but said this week he was comfortable with the name after Park Board members took another look at it. The Park Board initially had recommended against the naming request but had reconsidered before Tuesday’s City Council vote. “The Park Board should have an enormous amount of input on decisions like this,” Golinski said in an e-mail. “Once Mr. Koch, the Park Board …
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Bicentennial Riverfront Park
201 E Hydraulic St, Yorkville, IL
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Amy Cesich
1:18 pm on Sunday, May 15, 2011
Fabulous pics! Was a great time, and great to see everyone who attended! more ›