Whenever February begins, thoughts turn to memories of packing up of our family of five and saying good bye to our wonderful next door neighbors, Diane and Jack Conlan, in Chatham, NJ. For many good reasons in 1993, including being closer to my folks in Muncie, Ind., we planned our move back to the Midwest. Other than navigating life’s often bumpy road for the last 28 years, and trying to stay on the bright side, not much since has been quite as difficult as that move.
During my first visit to Naperville at the invitation of my cousin, Candyce Krumwiede, who lived then in West Wind near May Watts Park, we toured downtown. While standing along Jackson Avenue at Main Street, just a block from Eagle Street where banners now fly high in the sunshine, Candy enlightened me about the can-do spirit that built the Riverwalk along the DuPage River west to the Grand Pavilion. She explained the Riverwalk was a gift to the city to commemorate Naperville’s first 150 years in 1981.
The path had yet to extend to Jefferson Avenue through Sindt Woods or from Washington Street to Hillside Road. Nor did Fredenhagen Park mark the spot of the former Cock Robin restaurant where servers dipped square scoops of sherbet and ice cream until 2000.
Those were the days! And friends of the Riverwalk continue to imagine big ideas for the beautiful linear park in the heart of downtown, the perfect setting for many successful fundraisers.
I was fortunate to meet longtime Riverwalk Commission Chairman Cliff Preston during a call for volunteers in the mid-1990s when Riverwalk devotees gathered to embrace the Riverwalk 2000 Campaign led by Ed Channell and Glen Ekey. The plan was to extend the brick path from Washington to Hillside. Long story shortened, in 1997, I was honored to serve on a committee that created the Riverwalk Foundation under the guidance of Preston and then-City Councilman Kevin Gallaher.
Five years ago when the Riverwalk celebrated its first 35 years, the Riverwalk Foundation took a quack at organizing a Duck Race to inform families about the deleterious effects of feeding human snacks and bread crumbs to wildlife. Ducks and geese are wildlife. Plans for the 2020 Duck Race were canceled. This year’s race has yet to spread its wings.
Nonetheless, the message remains the same here and throughout the world. Not only is feeding snacks harmful to the health of wildlife and the environment, care and maintenance to clean up excrement come with a cost. As good stewards, our aim has been to provide education for visitors of all ages, helping and hoping to reduce the expenses of keeping the Riverwalk clean.
Sometimes I feel as though I’m an obstacle when my focus turns toward care and maintenance during weekly walks that highlight our natural treasure is aging, turning 40 years old in September. While trying to imagine new enhancements, my pragmatic side fights my creativity, reminding me of lessons learned from Preston.
More than a few times, I enjoyed walks with Preston, entering the Riverwalk from the Jefferson Avenue Bridge near his home. He’d share stories of volunteerism and this city’s progress, and often picked weeds along the path. His passion was to care for the community’s pride and joy left in his charge. A tribute to his dedication looks out over the quarry with the fishing pier and the Jaycees Marina that he enjoyed. Find it located near the Farmers Plaza at Eagle Street.
The Riverwalk and 140 local parks are open every day, ready to attract all of us for recreation in the great outdoors.
Treat natural settings wherever you go with respect and care. Bundle up. Be safe. Stay healthy. As always, thanks for reading.
– Stephanie Penick, PN Publisher
