St. Charles riverwalk plan's feasibility put to test
St. Charles officials tore down a virtual dam impeding the transformation of the city's portion of the Fox River into a recreational water haven Monday night. Now they'll see if science supports the tearing down of an actual dam on the water.
Aldermen, sitting as a committee, agreed to provide at least some funding for a $113,000 feasibility study. The study will tell officials, in broad terms, if the river can be transformed into a host for more active use without causing any major harm.
The city's active river committee continued its push for various local government agencies to embrace the plan Monday. A white water rafting element is perhaps the most-discussed aspect of the project. However, it also entails the creation of a full riverwalk with various community gathering places, abundant artwork and a children's splash pad right on the river water.
"These projects create a new lifestyle," said active river committee member John Rabchuk. "It just makes the town be special. We have an opportunity here because there is no other town that has a river run through it like we do. We can stand out from a very, very wide geographic area."
Rabchuk emphasized how one in four of the city's downtown storefronts are vacant. And many of the other locations are occupied by taverns, an aspect some citizens have repeatedly said they'd like to see less of.
"If we ever want to get rid of our bar image, this is the way to do it," Rabchuk said.
The $113,000 price tag was low enough for aldermen to buy into, even though the money is not specifically in the city's budget. They directed city staff to make sure they are comfortable with the ability of the study to provide real answers about the viability of the project. Aldermen also said they want to see some financial buy-in from the river committee and St. Charles Park District. That means picking up some of the $113,000 study cost.
The study will go forward, but the fate of the actual project may take more than just a scientific green light to become a reality.
Resident Jean O'Sullivan lives right by the river. She said St. Charles is already a "very special place" without a white water rafting course. O'Sullivan expressed major doubts about the Fox River's ability to host any such course that would be on a level to draw much outside interest.
"Are we going to create a kiddie ride here?" O'Sullivan asked. "Are we really doing to build new hotels if all we build is a kiddie ride? If this were to destroy the river, would you really want this to be the legacy of St. Charles?"
Alderman William Turner supported funding the feasibility study. But he wants a better feel for how much the community would support major changes to the river before any actual changes occur.
"Are we going to be OK with bringing in this different demographic to the city?" Turner asked. "We don't know that. I don't see where we get off saying we're going to change the demographics of St. Charles, and all the rest of you people don't count any more."