Oh! What a day for the Riverwalk, just steps from the central business district in downtown Naperville.
Gentle breezes accompany seasonal temperatures without much humidity. Colorful flowers are blooming beautifully throughout the natural treasure. Baby ducks swim independently near their mother duck. And dozens of individuals enter the walk to enjoy the sights, sounds and fresh smells of the early morning.
The view of the Jaycees Marina from the fishing pier just off Eagle Street provided good news that the old limestone quarry was free of geese. Â Taking time to reflect on 32 years of growth and development along the Riverwalk and its proposed extension beyond Hillside Road to Martin Ave., across from Edward Hospital, we also are mindful of 12 years of reminding folks “Do not feed wildlife.” Â Suddenly it appears the sight of a simple silhouette in the shape of black dog is doing the trick to keep away the waterfowl from the marina where folks line up to board the paddle boats available for rental.
The free-standing decoy, a cut-out of a dog in motion, seems to have served its purpose to scare away the growing population of geese attracted to the Riverwalk, gaggles that create quite a fowl mess when they leave their droppings on the marina and the winding brick paths from Hillside to Jefferson.
The dropping mess aside, what’s equally important to know is that feeding ducks and geese white bread or any human snack can be harmful to their health, causing their wings to droop and preventing their ability to fly and migrate. For many years, ponds and lakes throughout the nation have posted signs asking visitors not to feed the ducks and geese. Still, tossing bread crumbs seems to be a pleasure for many well-intentioned bird feeders who wish to bring the waterfowl closer to watch.  We simply ask you to imagine how you’d feel if multitudes of people fed you white bread crumbs throughout the day, every day.
Also note that for many years, members of the Riverwalk Commission, Riverwalk Foundation as well as Naperville Park District  have strived to educate about the deleterious effect of feeding wildlife food other than what they find on their own in nature. Stamped messages along the low flow walkway at the edge of the DuPage River remind visitors, “Do Not Feed Wildlife.”
Reflections of Thursday
On Thursday, the Moser Covered Bridge provided the perfect place for ABC 7 news anchor Alan Krashesky to interview early morning risers about the new ABC7Chicago app for an upcoming broadcast.
According to Krashesky, the new app will help users stay on top of the latest breaking news and weather alerts in the Chicago area, as well as news from across the nation and around the world.
With a smart pad in hand, Krashesky demonstrated how the app also features the latest entertainment news, as well as more offbeat stories.
The free app provides unlimited access to content and videos.
When Krashesky commented about folks feeding the ducks along the Riverwalk, we provided a little info about the deleterious effects that can happen when well-meaning humans feed waterfowl and other wildlife, which he seemed to appreciate prior to venturing into the heart of downtown to observe merchants and shoppers during the first day of the 3-day Summer Sidewalk Sales.
Summer Sidewalk Sales in downtown Naperville continue Friday and Saturday.
Enjoy the weekend in downtown Naperville, all along the Riverwalk and over at the Naperville Woman’s Club Fine Art Fair on Saturday and Sunday at Naper Settlement.
More than ever, thanks to everyone who has ever had anything to do with the Naperville Riverwalk, a showcase of the city’s volunteer spirit that provides a natural setting to experience the ever-changing  seasons with joy and recreation 365 days a year!
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