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A pedal-paddle hub? If everything flows according to plan, Aurora, Ill., could become an urban whitewater Mecca by Jeff Long As he paddles south on the Fox River, Charlie Zine enjoys a spectacular view. The city of Aurora – a far west suburb of Chicago and Illinois' second largest city with a population of 175,000 – looms downriver. In Zine's eyes, the sight is much more than a bustling metropolis. "I envision an urban state park," Zine said. "It's something that's never been done in Illinois." Zine's plan is more than picnic tables, however. Much more. The centerpiece would be an exciting, multifaceted whitewater park in the heart of downtown Aurora that would transform this longtime industrial river city into a recreational playground. The Aurora Whitewater Park would consist of three distinctly different channels designed for paddlers and fun-seekers of all ability levels. And, rather than attempt the "politically unviable" by seeking removal of two low-head dams at Galena Boulevard, the plan is to modify the concrete dams (obsolete as they may be) and alleviate the dangerous conditions they present. The concept was hatched last spring during a visit by three-time Olympic kayaker Scott Shipley, an engineer for Colorado-based Recreation Engineering & Planning (REP) that has created 90 percent of the country's in-stream whitewater parks. (REP has also considered the possibility for one or more whitewater park on the other Fox River – the one that runs through east central Wisconsin. An initial feasibility study by the firm, reported in the March issue of Silent Sports, concluded that a segment of the river through Menasha, as well as three other sites, showed promise.) Shipley's initial consultation in Aurora centered on fixing the faulty and poorly designed canoe chute, which has often been in disrepair. But Shipley found an ethical question instead: How can you redesign a canoe chute that releases water beneath a dangerous and potentially fatal dam? Answer: You don't. Instead, build a whitewater park and tailor it to the two-channel, double-dam river that is the Fox in downtown Aurora. "These are not cookie-cutter water parks," Shipley said. "We create them to fit into the current environment." A canoe chute would still be part of the plan, but reconfigured in conjunction with the whitewater park to provide safe and easy passage around the west dam. "Kids on inner tubes ... moms and dads with kids in the middle of a canoe could go through without fear of being tipped over," Zine said. "We'd also make it friendly for Kevlar and fiberglass canoes to pass through during the Mid-American Canoe Race. Eventually, we'd like to extend the race through downtown." (The Mid-American Canoe Race, which draws up to 1,000 boats for the 15-mile paddle on the Fox River from St. Charles to Aurora, was suspended this year due to bridge reconstruction in Batavia. The 47th edition of the event will likely take place next June.) The adjacent west channel, which is similar to the notoriously deadly Yorkville dam 12 miles downriver, would be developed into a whitewater play area by taking advantage of the sizable drop and short distance. The east channel would be earmarked as a competition area. With input from the Chicago Whitewater Association, there's talk of creating a giant slalom course that would draw competitors and spectators alike. Public support for the proposals has been highly favorable. Ditto for Aurora city officials, from the mayor to local business owners and numerous aldermen. Zine also believes the park can co-exist with the Hollywood Casino's monstrous riverboat that holds residence in the impoundment pond above the dams. Because water levels in the pond will drop if the whitewater park is created, planners are recommending it be dredged to remove as much silt as possible, allowing the riverboat to remain afloat. Then, with the increased water flow and current velocity a whitewater park would bring to the river, more silt would effectively be whisked away, creating a clearer, cleaner river – a boon for all. "We improve the fish habitat," Shipley said of his company's projects. "You treat fish and wildlife like part of your client base." Shipley also said the whitewater park design can be engineered so the velocity of the water flow matches the burst speed of desired fish species that will allow them passage through the dam. And with the addition of rocks and boulders on the riverbed, fish habitat is further enhanced and a healthier, more oxygenated waterway is created. Zine is also pursuing looking into removal of the earthen dam alongside the concrete Montgomery dam about two miles south. If successful, paddlers could soon enjoy unimpeded travel for 42 river miles from North Aurora all the way to Wedron, once a planned bypass channel is completed at the Yorkville dam. Zine said the Village of Montgomery recently passed a resolution supportive of the dam's removal. Ultimately, Zine envisions Aurora as the epicenter for recreation and athletic lifestyles and is pushing the slogan "Pedal-Paddle Headquarters." With the Fox River Trail running through Aurora, cyclists can easily connect with the Illinois Prairie Path, the Virgil Gilman Trail and the Great Western Trail. "Pedal-paddle is a phenomena happening around the country," Zine said, "because cyclists tend to be kayakers and kayakers tend to be cyclists. Aurora really is a natural hub for those kinds of recreation." Like any ambitious project, however, the Aurora Whitewater Park proposal still has many hurdles to clear if it's to become reality – primarily funding and permits. Securing an Army Corps of Engineers permit is an 18-month process, and funding questions don't have firm answers yet. But Zine believes that by designating it as a state park project, which is entirely feasible because it involves a navigable waterway, state funds could provide the financial backing. Zine said one model is Detroit, which successfully built its river walk with state funds after designating it as an urban state park. The Aurora project would be relatively inexpensive, somewhere in the $4 million range. But the economic, community and environmental benefits are highly attractive. Whitewater parks in Wausau, Wisconsin, and South Bend, Indiana, are two regional examples. "Whitewater parks are wildly popular in the Rocky Mountain states," Zine said. "The Midwest is the hottest growth market now because there are some 30,000 low-head dams in our part of the country. "We want Aurora to be the prototypical example of what that growth market can be and stop urban sprawl as well. The only way to get people to quit building homes on farm fields around the edges of big cities is to make the downtowns more attractive, and a whitewater park is a great way to do that." Jeff Long is a veteran journalist and lifelong silent sports enthusiast who resides in Naperville, Illinois, and lives on adrenaline.
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