I have long believed that the Tri Cities has some of the best trails and parks in the state. When you connect the Rock River National Water Trail and the National Recreation Trail of the Hennepin Canal to these local trails, you now have I believe some of the best trails not just in Illinois but quite possibly in the United States!! Oh come on Dave, here ya go again, what could you possibly see in these trails. Well first, Multi use trails, a connection by water and bike trail that allows you to bypass the dangerous and difficult task to interrupt traffic and communities. The trails from Dixon Lowell Park as far as Sheffield are uninterrupted trails when connected. Some 50 miles or more, and if ya add the main canal then you are adding 50 or so more making it well over 100 miles of connecting trails. if we ever open the Guard Lock gate in Rock Falls we would have a continuous uninterrupted waterway of more than 50 miles. I want to showcase this connection and all the synergies that are here. Historical places, culture and so much more. I believe this is a Historical Destination area. I like to include when I am talking about a destination area, Oregon, Grand Detour, and Byron along the Rock River. Still connected by a common thread. The Tri Cities Tampico Triathlon would promote and market this area. I believe those from the Chicago area and Rockford and the Quad Cities would love to come out to our trails and communities. We just need to make the transition from old Steel and factory towns to a active exciting recreation and river towns. Once we make this transition and embrace it I believe the are a will explode and we will finally be what we were suppose to be. A very energetic active healthy community of very exciting people and places to explore. The Triathlon would bring three major sports and its racers and families to our towns and trails. Its time to compete not only in these races but to compete with other communities and towns that do not have nearly what we have. Our greatest assets are our waterways and trails. Either you attract sportsman and tourists or you attract drug dealers and drug users and crime. Yes crime will come no matter what and there is a price to pay. This Triathlon race event will attract many visitors and tourists who will come and spend money here in our communities and businesses. We need a economic stimulus and why not get a direct shot in the arm. Tourism and these types of events are driving economies today. States and cities and towns are scurrying to develop waterways and trails and river fronts. Some are even creating there own waterways and digging ditches, tearing out dams for watersports. Canals in Canada and Europe have been developed and the economies are booming there. This event is not just a race my friends, its marketing, its promoting and showcasing and inviting tourists to come and enjoy and spend their money while having a great time with their families. I hope you all will support this race and our efforts....
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