This is a topic that needs to be talked about and needs our attention. Rock Falls has over 600,000 dollars in Hotel Tax waiting to be spent. Other cities that have Hotels also have this money. How should they spend that money? Where should they spend that money? Who will benefit? As you all know I am a Hennepin Canal & Rock River advocate. I believe both these waterways are our ticket out of some of the budget and money problems we have in our cities. With manufacturing pretty much gone and never to return as it once was for us here in the Rock River Valley its time to turn to our main resources for help. Water and Trails generate activities which in return generate interest which generates money. Recreational activities and sports draw people to an area, make it attractive to live in. Recreational sports create a buzz and excitement a lively atmosphere a playground so to speak. Most of all it creates tourism and tourism creates jobs and money. My focus is the Hennepin Canal finished in 1907 today it is over 108 years old and is on the National Registry Of Historical Places. With a feeder Canal of over 30 miles of water feeding the main canal of 75 miles of water the canal has over 104 miles of bike, kayak, snowmobile and equestrian trails and could be used in the winter for ice Skating and more. The feeder canal has no portages, no dams, no locks to portage around. So you have 30 miles of unobstructed waterway and bike trail to enjoy, you do not find that just any where. the canal was made for a relaxing, peaceful journey of kayaking or biking with trees and land on both sides and a shelter and canopy of privacy. I believe if the tourism money is going to be spent it should be spent here right in our back yard. Why hear Dave? Well we have everything we need already in place and all we need to do is create events and promote them and people will come. We have a niche in Rock Falls that no one else has. Starting with the Guard lock Gate at the Rock River we have a Landmark here. Restored and opened would be a major Historical Attraction, a working 108 year old gate that would open up and allow boaters and kayakers to pass through. As these boats move down the canal feeder they will have parks to stop at, Crystal Lake Campground with Go Cart Track, lake, beach and Rv Camping. Moving down the feeder you will be able to stop at the restaurants, hotels, walmart and then cruise on down another 2 to 3 miles before coming to the Buell Road culvert. Most would have to turn around but some could continue on for 30 miles ending up at a beautiful large opening like a lake at the main canal. This section of the feeder canal from the Rock River to IL 40 would allow for Rock Falls to compete for boat traffic business and money. Right now the dam stops boaters from passing by our River Fronts and Dixon is now drawing all the boaters and we are not competing at all in this area. We are missing thousands of dollars or more here. With the dams in our way this is the only way. Draw the boaters into the Hennepin. This is why I think the tourism money in Rock Falls should be spent where they could team up with the State and Sterling who has connected their bike trails to the Hennepin. For many many years Rock Falls has not invested in the Hennepin as far as I know. There has been volunteer organizations such as the RRDA that were a big supporter and advocate of the Canal,. Mowing, landscaping, bathrooms, tree removal and trimming should be the first order of business and tourism money spent here. Once cleaned up then create events people will stay in the hotels and more money will be generated. Creating events that will put people in the hotels in return will allow you to spend more on other upgrades and restoration projects and continue to build from there. By gaining the boat traffic and business the Guard Lock Gate and other projects could be paid for in no time.
No comments:
Post a Comment