Hennepin Canal plans continue

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SHEFFIELD — The Friends of the Hennepin Canal is continuing its efforts to promote and preserve the Hennepin Canal.

On Oct. 4, from 1 to 6 p.m., the group will meet for its annual meeting at the Hennepin Canal Parkway State Park Visitor Center, located at16006 875 East Street in rural Sheffield.

Cathy Foes, public relations director for the group, said the early afternoon events will include recreational activities and the Visitor Center will be open. At 4 p.m., the Friends will meet to conduct business, elect board members and to give an update on the Renaissance Hennepin Canal project. The business meeting will be followed at 5 p.m. by a fish and hot dog dinner, provided for a freewill donation.

On Thursday, Gary Wagle, president of the Friends, said the business meeting is for members only, but the public is encouraged to attend the day’s activities and to meet Friends members, enjoy the canal, and learn more about the Renaissance project.

The goal of the Renaissance project is to organize and direct resources to transform the Hennepin Canal into a navigable waterway with working locks, from Rock Falls to Geneseo. The 50-mile waterway will create abundant recreational, cultural and economic benefits to northern Illinois, the Renaissance group has stated.

Wagle and Foes, along with Cathy Brunner, Rhonda Ludwig and Todd Sieben, are serving on the steering committee for the Renaissance project. Advisors are Mark Jackson with the Interstate Resource Conservation and Development corporation and Steve Moser, Hennepin Canal Parkway superintendent. Subcommittees have been formed and have met.

Earlier this week, Foes talked about the history and importance of the Hennepin Canal.

“It was in November of 1907 that the first boat, the Marion, made its way down the Hennepin Canal from the Illinois River to the Mississippi River, with thousands of people lining the banks for this event,” Foes said. “Now 102 years later, we have this hidden jewel of a state park, which offers fishing, hiking, biking, boating, horseback riding, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and other recreational opportunities.”

Foes said the Hennepin Canal is also a major part of the 475-mile long Grand Illinois Trail and part of the coast-to-coast American Discovery Trail. The canal’s 100 year birthday was celebrated in 2007. Area communities joined the Friends in 2008 in its fight to save funding for the canal.

The mission and work of the Friends of the Hennepin Canal will hopefully continue for many years, Foes said.

“We want our organization to grow, so there will be more Friends to preserve the canal for another 100 years,“ Foes said. “We are a not-for-profit group of volunteers dedicated to the education and preservation of this great historic landmark.”

For more information on the Friends of the Hennepin Canal, visit the group’s Web site at www.friends-hennepin-canal.com.

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