Kishwaukee Riverfront Development

Riverfront Development Committee

2012 Harvest Fest Event- October 13, 2012

The third annual Boone County Harvest Fest will be held Saturday, October 13, 2012 in the Belvidere Park area!  The proceeds from this event will benefit the Kishwaukee Riverfront Development with the goal of path development linking Boone County. 

Activities in Belvidere Park include a market place, scarecrow competition, live music and food booths. Families can go on a hayride, build their own scarecrows and roast s’mores. Please visit http://www.boonecountyharvestfest.com/ for more complete details.  

If you are interested in selling related products, produce, art or crafts or demonstrating a skill related to the harvest, please consider a booth at the 2012 Boone County Harvest Fest!  Registration forms can be dropped off at the Belvidere Park District Administration Building, 1006 W. Lincoln Avenue or for more information call Kelly at 815-547-4252.

Growth Dimensions' Kishwaukee Riverfront Development committee continues to make progress with the completion of additional mileage on the Kishwaukee Riverfront multi-use recreational path. In 2009, the latest portion developed was a path extension from State Street to Beloit Road. There are currently 6.86 continuous miles completed that stretch from Doty Park through Belvidere Park, the Boone County Conservation District and on to Prairie Fields.

The path originates on the south side of State Street bridge in downtown Belvidere and extends westerly past The Embankment to Doty Park.  From Doty Park it crosses the Kishwaukee River to the Burgess Street boat launch and then follows the riverbank to Belvidere Park affording views of the dam, swinging bridge, the mill race and Baltic Mill.
 
 The path includes a loop around the former race track of the old county fairgrounds including views of the oak grove and picnic shelters which formerly served as county fair exhibit buildings. 

The Spencer Path extension was completed in fall of 2006 and the path links from the Belvidere Park District, City of Belvidere and the Boone County Conservation District, providing an essential, non-motorized route for public transportation and recreational uses. 

 Kishwaukee Riverfront Development Plan
A Glance at our Accomplishment...

• Completed construction of path loop in Belvidere Park with     extension along the north bank of river to Burgess Street and along the south bank of the river in Legion Memorial Field
• Completed construction of pedestrian bridge from Burgess Street to Legion Memorial
• Partially Completed acquisition of rights-of-way along the south bank of the river from Legion Memorial Field to Main Street Bridge
• Partially completed construction of path from Legion field easterly to Main Street Bridge
• Completed Acquisition of rights-of-way along the south bank of the Mill Race from Belvidere Park westerly to Spencer Park
• Completed Construction of the path along the south bank on the Mill Race under the north bridge of Stone Quarry to Spencer Park including a pedestrian bridge across the Mill Race to Spencer Park and Cline’s Ford     
• Completed the recreation path extension along the south bank of the Kishwaukkee River from Doty Park
• Completed the path extension from the intersection of North  Appleton Road and North State Street, north to Central Middle School
• Completed the path extension in Spencer Park. The new path links from the Belvidere Park District, City of Belvidere and the Boone County Conservation District
• The Committee, in cooperation with the Belvidere Park District and local schools raised $5,162 during the 17th Annual Kishwalk. Students in grades three thru five participated in the event, which  was held at River Edge Recreation center