2011-840 FILE RESOLUTION NO. 2011-840
A resolution supporting the establishment of a recreation water trail along the course of
the Rock River and a scenic and historic road route through the City of Janesville
WHEREAS, the mission of the Rock River Trail Initiative is to establish and interpret a
Rock River Water Trail along the 300 -mile river course from the headwaters in Fond du
Lac County, Wisconsin, to the Mississippi River at Rock Island, Illinois, and a separate
Rock River Route on roads within the river corridor to provide access for all to the
natural resources, recreational opportunities, scenic beauty and historic and cultural
assets of the Rock River Valley; and
WHEREAS, the Rock River Trail Initiative requested the involvement of the City of
Janesville in this initiatives and have demonstrated their desire to obtain feedback from
the City to enhance the economic, cultural, historic, recreational opportunities along the
Rock River; and
WHERAS, President Obama's America's Great Outdoors Initiative of 2010 is designed
to reconnect Americans, especially children, to America's rivers, waterways, parks and
landscapes; and
WHEREAS, the Rock River is a Legacy Place named in the Wisconsin Land Legacy
Report and recognized as a major natural resource corridor with potential for recreation,
scenic and historic trails; and
WHEREAS, the Wisconsin State Trails Network Plan for the South Central Region
includes trail number 34, Rock River - Watertown to Beloit, with potential for rail, roadway
and natural resource corridors; and
WHEREAS, the Rock County Parks, Outdoor Recreation & Open Space Plan calls for
partnerships to develop a Rock River Trail" from Janesville through Beloit to the Illinois
state line and connectivity with other scenic and recreation trails, including the Ice Age
National Scenic Trail; and
WHEREAS, the City of Janesville Parks and Open Space Plan calls for the City to
promote the Rock River corridor as an environmental corridor of regional significance
and increase the diversity of land and water based recreational opportunities; and
WHEREAS, Wisconsin is an integral part of a two -state initiative to establish a national
recreation water trail known as the Rock River Water Trail and a separate Rock River
Route on roads within the river corridor through Wisconsin and Illinois; and
WHEREAS, Janesville has a long history of supporting initiatives concerning the Rock
River, such as purchasing riverfront for open space; leasing land to the Rock Aqua Jays
for their skiing performances; and encouraging recreational opportunities along the
river, such as boating and fishing; and
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Common Council of the City of
Janesville on this 14 day of November 2011 that the City of Janesville supports the
establishment of a recreation water trail along the course of the Rock River and a scenic
and historic road route through the City of Janesville.
ADOPTED: November 14, 2011 Motion by: McDonald
Second by: Voskuil
APPROVED: Councilmember Aye Nay Pass Absent
// Dongarra -Adams X
Liebert X
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Eric . evit i ∎ .� ! M ager McDonald X
Rashkin X
ATTEST: Steeber X
Voskuil X
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Jea Ann Wulf, City Clerk -Tre rer
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
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Wald Klimczyk, City Attorney -
Proposed by Rock River Initiative
Prepared by: Mgt. Asst. --`-