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Doug Welch (left) from the Mackinaw Canoe Club and Matt Fraker (right)
from the Parklands Foundation
In these times where state park closings and river dam rule changes make you feel paranoid about being
a paddler, a little ray of sunshine beams through in Woodford County. The Mackinaw Canoe Club and the ParkLands
Foundation have partnered in improving access to the Sparks Bridge area along the Mackinaw River.
(See Paddling Illinois by Mark Svob for his article on the Mackinaw River trip 1.)
The ParkLands Foundation (www.parklandsfoundation.org) acquired several acres of property near the Sparks Bridge.
The foundation is dedicated to preserving and restoring natural areas. They then invited the Mackinaw Canoe Club
to collaborate on the design, financing, and construction of a 12-vehicle parking lot. The lot provides, for the
first time, safe parking for those using the river north of Carlock, Illinois. Paddlers, fishermen, birdwatchers,
and others wanting to enjoy the outdoors can use the access.
A local person who provided substantial funding for the effort named the lot. The Mackinaw Canoe Club and
members as individuals also contributed. Mac Arnold of the ParkLands Foundation and Doug Welch of the Mackinaw
Canoe Club worked together to get permits approved, designs discussed, and other details resolved.
If you find yourself in Central Illinois, travel north of Carlock (about 6 ½ miles ) and take a trip on the
Mackinaw.
LEMAN CANOE LAUNCH OPENED
