Why doesn't illinois promote or build up the river areas (Chicago: condominiums, home)

[joee]

I wonder why il doesn't promote and build up the river areas like other states do, i realize the land is so low flooding is a major problem but you see other states with great river areas and illinois has nothing unless you count the gambling boats, other states have great state parks but not illinois, what's up with that.

[Drover]

River-side parks in Illinois include Starved Rock State Park, Buffalo Rock State Park, Fort Massac State Park, Fort Kaskaskia State Park, Pere Marquette State Park, Loud Thunder Forest Preserve, State Game and Wildlife Park, Goose Lake Prairie State Park, Kankakee River State Park, Illini State Park, Spring Lake State Park, Fort Defiance State Park, Cave-In-Rock State Park, Beall Woods State Park, and Mississippi Palisades State Park. I'm sure there are some that I've missed.

The Tribune just wrapped up a 4-part series on the Illinois River and its various attractions, with a decent amount of supplemental video shorts.

Part 1: Rediscovering the Illinois River

Part 2: Ready. Aim. Fish!

Part 3: Ferry Tales

Part 4: River People (http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/lifestyle/living/chi-mxa0828tempocoverriveraug28,0,4267124.story - broken link)

[2beamissourian]

Grafton Illinois is a river town .. they are building a new Marina now and condominiums on the river.

Yes the area was pretty washed away in 93 .. it was not the first time ..but now there are many things coming to the area...

Alton has the river boat casino
then u head North of Alton up the Great River road .. you will see
Raging Rivers - a Water park .. with lots to do
as you drive we have a bike trail ... or walking trail whatever u prefer ..
We have the Eagle Watchers as well...

as You head into Grafton there are the places that I mentioned ..

then some old favorites .. Antique stores, The Candy store - that makes fudge, lots of home style restaurants, some drinking establishments, My favorite Winery is in Grafton- Check out Illini White Wine - Yum!!,
You go past Grafton head to Calhoun area there are Peaches, and river restaurant ..........not to mention a beautiful View!

Oh and in Alton there building some Theater thingy .. right on the river front .. and if You head South of Alton to Woodriver there is the Marquette Center ..(I Dont think thats what it is called)


There is more to Illinois that Chicago! Not all of us enjoy that fast pace life style!

come check us out in the country towns .. ya might just want to stay!

[2beamissourian]

oh I forgot about Pere Marquette State Park
Hiking, horseback ridding, boating, fishing, camping, ... lots to do in my neck of the woods ......... I dont think the Eagles would like to see some fancy sky rise! Nor would I

[Scribbler]

Originally Posted by Drover

River-side parks in Illinois include Starved Rock State Park, Buffalo Rock State Park, Fort Massac State Park, Fort Kaskaskia State Park, Pere Marquette State Park, Loud Thunder Forest Preserve, State Game and Wildlife Park, Goose Lake Prairie State Park, Kankakee River State Park, Illini State Park, Spring Lake State Park, Fort Defiance State Park, Cave-In-Rock State Park, Beall Woods State Park, and Mississippi Palisades State Park. I'm sure there are some that I've missed.

The Tribune just wrapped up a 4-part series on the Illinois River and its various attractions, with a decent amount of supplemental video shorts.

Part 1: Rediscovering the Illinois River

Part 2: Ready. Aim. Fish!

Part 3: Ferry Tales

Part 4: River People (http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/lifestyle/living/chi-mxa0828tempocoverriveraug28,0,4267124.story - broken link)

Thank you. Almost every state park in Illinois IS along a river.

To the OP: Do you mean commercial/residential development? Guess what? State park areas don't WANT that. Starved Rock/the Lt. Governor's office in recent years has successfully FOUGHT to prevent development on the Illinois River's Plum Island, which is adjacent to the park. In the end, the bald eagle nesting grounds won out over condo development. Nature/culture preservation - 1, big business - 0.

They weren't so successful on keeping a horrid "resort/theme park" out of the area, though, which is a tremendous eyesore.

[Drover]

Yeah, when I think "river development" one of the first things that pops into my mind is Wisconsin Dells. Ick.

[Scribbler]

Which is what "they" would DESPERATELY like to do in the Utica area, albeit on a smaller scale. Lotsa luck with that. The Grand Bear Lodge (see eyesore mentioned above) is certainly not the goldmine they'd hoped for.

[joee]

What I mean is towns like burlington ia they have it built up looking really nice along the river with a few others down river, st louis has their river front built up, Chattanooga tn, etc, nauvoo could be built up a little better, alton docking a gambling boat is not really what I call built up, peoria from what I’ve seen isn’t too terribly bad, chester nothing really to speak of there besides popeye lol, cairo well it’s a lost cause which is a shame, but in general all the towns along the Mississippi and illinois are just real small farm towns that won’t support build up so in a way why build up nothing so to say, perhaps I may have answered my own question in a way. Missouri has excellent state parks, it just seems like there isn’t that much to the state excluding chicago, you have chicago then you have chicago the rest is just somewhat blah with the exception of some places in southern il of which is my favorite old stomping ground.

The parks which are north I can’t really say good or bad since I really never go north since I left chicago, but midstate and south they’re so so, pere marquette is ok, the town of grafton I never was really too fond of, carlyle just a big mud hole in the ground, the river ferry no biggy there, the old piasa bird was unique until they refinished it and it just doesn’t look the same as it did many years ago.