Calumet City is planning a riverwalk and canoe launches on the Little Calumet River in Calumet City near the River Oaks Mall. Calumet City expects to start construction this spring on the riverwalk which will be called Blues Water Run Park near Torrence Avenue. (Image above courtesy of Calumet City).
An article in the Chicago Tribune states that for years, the south branch of the Little Calumet River was polluted and smelled really bad. It was also conducive to flooding. All of this will now be changing.
Plans call for Blues Water Run to run west from Torrence and south of Ring Road along the river.
The park will include the following features:
- Walking trails
- Biking trails
- Disc golf course
- Dog Park
- Bocce ball courts
- Band shell
- Canoe and kayak launch
Plans call for the trails to link up with other trails leading to the Cook County Forest Preserve District's Camp Shabonna Woods and Sand Ridge Nature Center in South Holland.
Most of the $2.4 million price tag is being covered by grants. Last month, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity awarded the city $1.4 million. In January, the city received two grants totaling $480,000 from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources: $80,000 from the Boat Access Area Development program and $400,000 through the Open Space Land Acquisition and Development program.
Work is expected to be completed by next summer.
Canoes and Kayaks would enter the river near Torrence Avenue and come out at River Oaks Drive, behind the Outback Steakhouse.
The City Administrator, William Murray, stated that he envisioned recreational kayakers as the first to take advantage of the launch but said canoes and kayaks would eventually be available for rent.
The park will be in the 159th/River Oaks Corridor where a tax incentive plan was recently approved for economic and recreational growth. One development has already started. Wilder Fields will build and operate a 135,000 square foot indoor vertical farm and retail store inside the former Target store on 159th Street.
A casino is also planned for the River Oaks mall area. It will be one of four that are being proposed by the Illinois Gaming Board.
Hopefully, this will be the start of more business opportunities coming to the River Oaks area.
The Little Calumet River area is full of wildlife such as turtles, beavers and waterfowl.
The $1.4 million award was part of $39.5 million in new grants awarded for 27 capital development projects to support continued economic development across the state as part of the Fast-Track Public Infrastructure Capital program.
Michael Negron, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity acting director stated that in addition to the residents being able to enjoy the river run, a lot of economic development could take place similar to what we have seen in the river walks and other cities in Illinois and across the country.
