Kankakee River State Park Popular for Watersports, Scenic Beauty
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No one can accuse the Kankakee of being a lazy river.
In fact‚ this river stays busy year-round‚ from playing host to national powerboat races in September to setting the stage for a spectacular fireworks display in July. And there’s not a weekend that doesn’t find campers‚ hunters and bass fishermen descending on its banks.
The 4‚000-acre Kankakee River State Park‚ which parallels the river’s path‚ is not only ideal for family picnics and outdoor adventures‚ but it also provides a scenic refuge for badgers‚ white-tailed deer‚ turtles‚ herons and wild turkeys. Bluffs and woods line a number of the park’s long river trails‚ which can be used for biking‚ hiking or horseback riding; a suspension bridge over a deep gorge even provides a panoramic view of limestone canyons and a cascading waterfall in the distance.
And despite all its public usage‚ “the Kankakee River is still one of the cleanest rivers around‚” says Cheryl Miller‚ site technician for the park. “Its fresh water offers a perfect fishing setting to catch smallmouth bass‚ as well as catfish‚ walleye‚ crappie and northern pike.”
The Kankakee is also a favorite of canoeists and kayakers.
“Canoeists utilize the Kankakee from early spring to the end of fall‚” Miller says. “The river features a rocky bottom and shallow areas that can be unpredictable to paddlers‚ and that makes for a more exciting canoe experience.”
As for the river’s perpetually unpolluted appearance‚ credit the adopt-a-river initiative started here in 1979.
“We were actually the first conservation group in the United States to organize an adopt-a-river campaign‚ and we chose the Kankakee‚” says J.R. Black‚ executive director of the Northern Illinois Anglers Association. “The river runs 59 miles in Illinois‚ and every mile is now adopted by groups or companies that clean their portion twice a year. The Kankakee is a pristine and active river‚ and we want to keep it that way.”
And the Kankakee certainly sees its share of action. Each Labor Day weekend‚ the river plays host to the Kankakee River Regatta‚ a national racing competition sanctioned by the American Power Boat Association.
“More than 100 power boats compete … in 10 divisions‚ with speeds ranging from 40 to 160 mph‚” says Joe Walz‚ regatta chairman. “It is one of the biggest power boat events of the year in the United States.”
The Kankakee lights up on Independence Day when Kankakee Community College stages its annual Fourth of July Pops Concert and fireworks display. The event draws 8‚000-10‚000 spectators to the campus for activities that include an evening concert by the Kankakee River Valley Symphony Orchestra and a spectacular light show beginning at 9 p.m.
“People watch the concert and the fireworks display from our back lawn that faces the river‚” says Kelly Janssen‚ KCC coordinator of student activities and college events. “It’s a fabulous show made even more visual with the reflections of the fireworks in the water.”
Story by Kevin Litwin
Photo by Theresa Montgomery
