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May 20, 2007 marked the 50th anniversary of the Des Plaines River Canoe Marathon! This amazing race runs 19½ miles downstream from Oak Springs Road in Libertyville to Dam #2 at Kensington Road in Mt. Prospect.
In honor of the marathon's golden anniversary, UDPREP and a group of dedicated local partners organized a special outreach effort to showcase interesting sites along the river. Learn more about the project below.
See photos of the 50th Anniversary race.
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THE CANOE MARATHON
Launched in 1957 by Ralph Frese, the canoe marathon draws over 1,000 people each year to spend a fun day paddling down the Des Plaines River in hundreds of boats. While the event is recreational in nature, and many participants are serious paddlers, the main purpose is to draw attention to the river, its challenges, and opportunities for restoration and protection.
Today the event is managed by the nonprofit Des Plaines River Association (DPRA). Visit DPRA's web site to learn more about the marathon.
See photos of the 50th Anniversary race.
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In 2006, UDPREP met with DPRA leaders to learn more about the marathon and to discuss UDPREP 's involvement in the 50th anniversary celebration. Both organizations agreed that an outreach project would be a good fit for UDPREP's information-sharing mission.
To that end, UDPREP formed a committee of volunteers representing organizations and agencies throughout Lake and Cook counties to implement the project. Together we installed a series of temporary signs along the river to educate and amuse marathon participants.
We also developed a collection of interesting stories about the river entitled River Tales. Each story in River Tales corresponds with a temporary sign along the river.
UDPREP volunteer Nancy Schumm-Burgess holds a marathon sign describing the historic Rockland Road Bridge behind her.
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THANK YOU!
UDPREP would like to thank the following individuals and organizations who helped us develop River Tales and the temporary riverbank signs for the marathon.
Jim Anderson, Lake Co. Forest Preserve District
Nan Buckardt, Lake Co. Forest Preserve District
Andy Cocallas, Des Plaines River Association
Alison Cook, UDPREP
Molly Dapier, REI Niles/Northbrook
Jennifer Filipiak, Lake Co. Forest Preserve District
Ralph C. Frese, Chicagoland Canoe Base
Jamie Godshalk, Des Plaines River Association
Chris Kallis, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
Kelly Kearns, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Andrew S. Kimmel, Lake Co. Forest Preserve District
Ken Klick, Lake Co. Forest Preserve District
Bill Koenig, Forest Preserve District of Cook Co.
Arlene Lane, Cook Memorial Library
Dean Larson, Libertyville-Mundelein Historical Society
Deb Maurer, Lake Co. Forest Preserve District
Don Mueggenborg, Des Plaines River Association
Scott Oldham, Graphic Designer
Stephen M. Pescitelli, Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Mike Redmer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Eloise Saperstein, Forest Preserve District of Cook Co.
Lydia Scott, Village of Lincolnshire
Sheila Schultz, Des Plaines Watershed Team
Nancy Schumm-Burgess, Integrated Lakes Management
Jack Snarr, Des Plaines River Association
Tori Trauscht, Indian Creek Watershed Project, Ltd.
Susan Vancil, Lake Co. Stormwater Management Commission
Jim Wagner, Forest Preserve District of Cook Co.
Jean Weeg, Lake Co. Forest Preserve District
Patty Werner, Lake Co. Stormwater Management Commission
Financial support provided by
Illinois Department of Natural Resources' Conservation 2000 Program
Lake Co. Forest Preserve District
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