On January 11, 2018, participants from 20 organizations and the public took part in a discussion on the current state and future of the Hennepin Canal. Issues regarding maintenance of the century old canal and towpaths were discussed among state legislators, nonprofit organizations, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, and local city and county officials. A steering committee will be organized with the goal of seeking funding for the continued maintenance of the canal as a parkway and waterway, and coordination of volunteer efforts along the 105-mile canal.
The Hennepin Canal is a prominent tourism asset to Henry County. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Hennepin Canal State Park is a 105-mile linear park spanning five counties including the entire width of Henry County and extends to Bureau County. The park is multi-functional offering a variety of outdoor activities, including bicycling, hiking, canoeing, horseback riding and fishing. In Henry County, there are access points in Annawan, Atkinson, Geneseo and Colona, as well as many unincorporated areas in between. Maintenance issues along the canal have created access issues for visitors and users of the trail and waterway,.
The parkway receives nearly one million visitors a year. The canal’s multi-purpose recreational trail is a portion of the American Discovery Trail, a 6,800-mile coast-to-coast trail devoted to non-motorized use. It is also part of the Grand Illinois Trail, a 535-mile loop through northern Illinois. It is popular with bicyclists who ride from town to town exploring the history, dining, lodging, and entertainment possibilities. Maintaining this trail is important for tourism to the many communities along it.
Due to budget cuts and reduced staffing, maintenance of the Hennepin Canal has suffered. Areas along the trail have become overgrown, locks have deteriorated, and the canal itself has experienced washouts. Leaders and volunteers in Henry County are willing to help by directly maintaining and/or adopting sections of the canal and seeking out assistance for larger repairs. A new, recently passed “Adopt-a-Trail” law in Illinois will create a program similar to Adopt-a-Park programs that already exist. The attendees of the January 11 meeting agreed that the increased use of and accessibility to volunteer groups will benefit the conditions for users of this National Historic Landmark.
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