Restoring the Hennepin Canal
PRINCETON — The Friends of the Hennepin Canal were instrumental last fall in keeping the canal open, and now the group wants to see the canal restored to its original working condition.
The Friends of the Hennepin Canal is developing a “Renaissance Hennepin Canal” plan to reach its restoration goal.
Gary Wagle, Friends president, and Cathy Foes, Friends director, presented the “Renaissance Hennepin Canal” proposal at a May 19 meeting in Annawan. About 40 people attended from surrounding communities.
In his presentation, Wagle showed slides on the Schropshire Canal near Birmingham, England, and talked about the popularity of canal cruising in Europe. The same opportunity could be available on the Hennepin Canal, he said.
“We have a treasure in our own backyard, unique to the entire United States,” Wagle said. “We have a 100-mile, full-water canal flowing through picturesque central Illinois. If the locks were restored to working order, the tourism potential would be significant, and we would save our canal for future generations.”
The mission statement for Phase 1 of the project is to transform the Hennepin Canal into a navigable waterway, with working locks, from the Guard Lock at Rock Falls through Lock 24 at Geneseo. Phase 1 would require the restoration of three locks, Nos. 22, 23 and 24. The culverts that have replaced bridges on this section of the canal are 12 feet in diameter, easily wide enough for leisure boats, Wagle said.
Foes said the next project meeting is set for 6 p.m. July 15 at the Annawan Best Western. The group will meet with a representative of the Resource Conservation and Development Agency to help with strategic planning.
The idea for the canal restoration came as a result of the strong community support shown for the canal during the past couple years, Foes said. At the 2007 anniversary celebration of the canal, the Friends were hoping for 350 people to come. Instead, 2,500 people showed up. Then last year, when the governor announced the closing of the canal, the Friends collected more than 5,000 signatures of people opposed to the decision. The support of the local communities for the canal has been tremendous, she said.
With that enthusiasm and support spurring them on, the Friends have decided to press on with a restoration project. The ultimate goal is to have all 100-miles of the canal restored for recreational boats.
“The restoration would expand the recreational opportunities that have always existed along the Hennepin Canal,” Foes said. “This could open up not only domestic tourism but also international tourism. The restoration of the canal could be a very beneficial development for the rural communities all along the canal.”
However, the restoration project, even Phase 1, will not be accomplished overnight, Foes said. There’s a lot of strategic planning and work to done first, she said.
More information on Renaissance Hennepin Canal is available through the Friends of the Hennepin Canal Web site.
