Comments on: Forest Preserve District bans alcohol at Kishwaukee River access points

By: Jared

Jared — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 16:59:14 +0000

@John Kania — There is no reason to throw empties overboard before stepping on FP land. Empty cans/bottles are not prohibited.

What I’m envisioning is people dropping floating coolers full of alcohol from a bridge before their put-in point. Sure, they could get called for littering, but is it still littering if they catch up to it down river to pick it up again? :-)

By: John Kania

John Kania — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 13:12:13 +0000

The only thing this law will do is promote littering. Drinking ON the river is legal.( lThe rivers of Winnebago County are public bodies of
water controlled by the state. Once you set foot on
Forest Preserve land from the rivers (posted by white
boundary signs) you are subject to provisions of the
Forest Preserve District. So anyone drinking on the river will just throw their empties overboard before stepping on FP land.

Let’s vote out these idiots that enacted this law.

By: Brian Leggero

Brian Leggero — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 14:21:28 +0000

That is absolutely crazy. Does the board know how many recreation loving people this is going to effect and upset? Do they even care? What are they going to ban next “fun” at our Forest Preserves? How many of the board know what an actual “access point” is? I felt that having a separate body govern our forest preserves was going to be a GREAT thing. Boy was I wrong and I feel that I am not alone thinking this way. WE need to get together and overturn this A.S.A.P. I do not drink often but one of my favorite places to enjoy one is while floating down the Kishwaukee River in a light boat or canoe fishing while enjoying a nice packed lunch. It’s the cheapest therapy one can have. Does anyone know if there is anything in place to overturn this Forest Preserve Boards decisions? Do we have any recourse to this action? Does this Forest Preserve Board want less people enjoying the river or are they wanting to turn our Forest Preserves into private clubs or something? This November we can elect 3 new board members and I suggest we do. Let’s look into what they would do if elected and make sure it isn’t much of the same. I was going to run again but decided that the City of Rockford is in much worse shape and could really use my help to turn our City around so I will not be running for the Forest Preserve Board this time around. I do wish to endorse 3 great candidates!

Sincerely,

Brian Jenkins Leggero