Elgin chapter of the Izaak Walton League ‘adopts’ city’s Central Park for national group’s 100th anniversary – Chicago Tribune

The Elgin chapter of the Izaak Walton League is celebrating its national charters 100thanniversary with a project that will add to its legacy in the city.

Members have adopted Central Park on State Street and have been clearing the site of nonnative plants and trees in cooperation with the citys Parks and Recreation Department, said Bill Jones, a longtime member of the Elgin Ikes chapter.

The steeply sloped 3.5-acre linear park (offers) views of the west edge of the Fox River and was donated to Elgin by the Lord family in 1905, the citys website says.

Its really going to be a neat park for the city, Jones said.

While the Izaak Walton League of America was launched in Chicago in 1922, formed by a group of avid fishermen tired of dirty rivers and peoples failure to pay attention to the environment, most people dont know much about the organization, he said.

The Hanover Township Izaak Walton Center was built by members of the Elgin chapter of Izaak Walton League and features fireplaces made of Fox River stone. (Hanover Township / HANDOUT)

The Elgin chapter was formed in 1931 and has been part of the citys fabric for decades, Jones said.Hanover Township Izaak Walton Center is located at 899 Jay St. in Elgin, and the group sponsors a Cub Pack, Boy Scout Troup and Venturing Crew, its website says.

We volunteer our time to introduce youth and families to conservation, outdoor recreation and land ethics by building nature trails, restoring stream banks, monitoring and cleaning creeks, planting trees and eliminating invasive species, the site said.

Jones said the lack of awareness shows how much the group is still needed.

It just tells you that a lot of people are not that concerned about conservation with their busy lives, but we think its pretty important, Jones said. (Nature) is Gods gift to everyone. It feels good to take care of it.

The Izaak Walton League of America, named for the English philosopher who wrote The Compleat Angler in 1653, played a role in getting the landmark Clean Water Act passed in 1972 and has had a fingerprint on almost every major conservation issue that has come about in our country, he said.

Its taken a while, but (the Clean Water Act) made a huge difference here in Elgin, Jones said.

For many years, we turned our backs on the river. Now, people are enjoying it every day. These are fishermen down there every day. You see American eagles, great blue heron, egrets and all kinds of waterfowl, he said. Its just beautiful to go down there and sit.

One of the groups greatest contributions to the city is Walton Island in the Fox River, which was named after the chapter when it was dedicated in 1937. Members turned what was a mud flat into an island, with much of the work done by hand, Jones said.

Elgin's Central Park on State Street is being cleared of invasive and nonnative plants and trees in a project being undertaken by the Elgin chapter of the Izaak Walton League in commemoration of the national organization's 100th anniversary. (City of Elgin / HANDOUT)

More recently, the chapter gifted its 11-acre Jay Street property to Hanover Township. The lodge on the site was built in 1939 and features multiple fireplaces built with stones from the Fox River.

The township recently completed renovating the site, which is now known as the Hanover Township Izaak Walton Youth Center & Reserve. The league holds its monthly meeting at the lodge every month and has become stewards of the reserve, which includes nature trails and an archery range.

The people who go down there just love it, Jones said.

In honor of the leagues anniversary, Hanover Township and the city of Elgin adopted proclamations lauding the local and national organizations.

Elgins cites the chapters good works, which have been a significant asset to this community by providing conservation and outdoor recreation that have greatly benefitted the area and its citizens.

I urge all citizens to recognize the contributions of the Elgin Chapter of the Izaak Walton League in America has made to our community and commend the chapter for a wonderful heritage and bright future, Mayor David Kaptain said.

Gloria Casas is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.

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Elgin chapter of the Izaak Walton League 'adopts' city's Central Park for national group's 100th anniversary - Chicago Tribune