Dorothy Brown, Andrew Brachman/Henry County Soil and Water Conservation District, Alderman Rick Lack, Public Works Director Rick Crew, Mayor McDaniel and Carles Brown dedicate the Rock River Water Trail site in Colona.
Rock River Trail in Colona
Local recreation and conservation enthusiasts and officials from Colona gathered at the Timbrook Field boat ramp at the Rock River in Colona to formally open a segment of the Rock River Water Trail. The river segment extends from the Glen Miller Marina in Erie to Lock Number 29 of the Hennepin Canal in Colona, a distance of 25 miles.
The official opening of the water trail segment is organized by representatives of the Rock River Trail Initiative Council. New water signs will be donated by the council to Colona for posting at the river site access. Carles Brown, trail representative from Geneseo, explained that the water trail is a delineated path on the Rock River that connects access sites, resting places and attractions for users of water craft. Unified signage incorporating the logo of the water trail provides a consistent appearance along the river.
"The Rock River is a tremendous resource offering scenic beauty and recreational opportunities for all of us who live in Henry County and for visitors to our area," said Brown. "Unified signage, user-friendly maps and an online presence will help to increase public awareness of the water trail, guide trail users, identify access sites and portages around dams and provide for a safe recreational experience." Brown and his wife, Dorothy, are members of the Natural Area Guardians of the Henry County Soil and Water Conservation District and represent the county on the trail initiative council.
When all segments of the river are officially signed and opened, the Rock River Water Trail will extend over 320 miles from headwaters in Fond du Lac and Dodge Counties, Wisconsin, to the Mississippi River at Rock Island, Illinois. "The trail initiative council is working closely with river communities, the Illinois and Wisconsin departments of natural resources and the National Park Service to develop a comprehensive plan for the water trail," added Brown. "Ultimately we hope to apply to the U.S. Department of the Interior for designation of the Rock River Water Trail as a national water trail."
Based in Rockford, Illinois, the trail initiative council also plans to establish a Rock River Scenic and Historic Route for road travelers and a separate bike and hike trail along the river through Illinois and Wisconsin.
Further information on the Rock River Trail is available at www.rockrivertrail.com.
The official opening of the water trail segment is organized by representatives of the Rock River Trail Initiative Council. New water signs will be donated by the council to Colona for posting at the river site access. Carles Brown, trail representative from Geneseo, explained that the water trail is a delineated path on the Rock River that connects access sites, resting places and attractions for users of water craft. Unified signage incorporating the logo of the water trail provides a consistent appearance along the river.
"The Rock River is a tremendous resource offering scenic beauty and recreational opportunities for all of us who live in Henry County and for visitors to our area," said Brown. "Unified signage, user-friendly maps and an online presence will help to increase public awareness of the water trail, guide trail users, identify access sites and portages around dams and provide for a safe recreational experience." Brown and his wife, Dorothy, are members of the Natural Area Guardians of the Henry County Soil and Water Conservation District and represent the county on the trail initiative council.
When all segments of the river are officially signed and opened, the Rock River Water Trail will extend over 320 miles from headwaters in Fond du Lac and Dodge Counties, Wisconsin, to the Mississippi River at Rock Island, Illinois. "The trail initiative council is working closely with river communities, the Illinois and Wisconsin departments of natural resources and the National Park Service to develop a comprehensive plan for the water trail," added Brown. "Ultimately we hope to apply to the U.S. Department of the Interior for designation of the Rock River Water Trail as a national water trail."
Based in Rockford, Illinois, the trail initiative council also plans to establish a Rock River Scenic and Historic Route for road travelers and a separate bike and hike trail along the river through Illinois and Wisconsin.
Further information on the Rock River Trail is available at www.rockrivertrail.com.