A complaint about people using the DuPage River for tubing has triggered a state review that could result in part or all of the waterway being shut down to public use, potentially impacting Naperville Kayak.
Plainfield resident William Sima lodged the complaint about Plainfield River Tubing with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, saying the company’s customers were leaving trash and trespassing on the riverfront property he owns with his parents.
“If (the state rules) it a private river, there could be repercussions for everybody,” said Scott Most, who owns Plainfield River Tubing with his wife, Kris.
Among those that could be affected is Naperville Kayak, which offers kayak and paddleboards trips starting at Riverview Farmstead and ending at Knock Park in Naperville. It also rents kayaks and paddleboards at Whalon Lake in Naperville.
Riverview Farmstead on Book Road is part of the Forest Preserve District of Will County, just south of Hassert Boulevard/111th Street and Route 59 and near the Plainfield village border.
Naperville Kayak owner Troy Cooper says his trips do not go into the Plainfield portion of the river and much of his route is along county- and city-owned property. But he also knows the state’s decision could affect how the waterway is used, he said.
He is “cautiously optimistic” the river’s status won’t change, he said.
“There are a lot of people who love going through this river,” Cooper said. “I am confident good will prevail and (everyone) will be able to use the river for recreation. It’s not only good for wellness and health but it’s an economic driver to the communities.”
Local residents angered that Sima’s complaint could result in the state changing access to the DuPage River have launched an online petition drive in opposition.
Their change.org petition had been signed by more than 3,200 people as of Saturday afternoon.
It says, in part, “our goal is to show the organizations and government bodies that are making these decisions that there are a lot of people that use the 28.3 mile DuPage River for recreational purposes and want to continue to do so for generations and generations.”
Plainfield River Tubing patrons travel a route from Eaton Forest Preserve at 135th Street to West Electric Park in downtown Plainfield.
Sima, who lives along the river, said he initially brought his complaints about people getting off their tubes and leaving garbage on his property to the village of Plainfield and the Plainfield Park District. Unhappy with the slow response, he contacted the state, he said.
He maintains that people with riverfront property own the riverbed halfway into the river and therefore anyone who gets off their tube and walks in that portion of the river is trespassing. Beyond that, tubers are leaving litter behind — Sima said he filled two 55-gallon trash cans with garbage he picked up on his property and along the river banks into Plainfield last summer.
“We have noticed that the bulk of the trash is beer cans,” he said.
Plainfield River Tubing’s website says alcohol is not permitted but customers can use cooler tubes to transport food and beverages.
Sima said he believes the public is receiving distorted information through online and social media forums and emphasized that he does not want the river completely shut off to recreational users. He only wants the stretch near his home temporarily closed while the state gathers the information needed to make a decision and there’s a reassessment of local recreational water use regulations, he said.
“It’s come to a point where me and my family are scared of how this is being handled (and the potential for backlash),” Sima said.
Most said he has obtained some of the documents related to the complaint via a Freedom of Information Act request and objects to some of the allegations made, such as that they’re operating an “illegal business.” The Plainfield Village Board approved a permit for the company in June 2020.
Rachel Torbert, a spokeswoman for the Department of Natural Resources, did not return phone calls. An email note she sent to Naperville Sun did not address the DuPage River complaint specifically and did not say when a decision might be made on the case.
“All we want to do is create a company to make it easier to float the river,” Most said. “We never thought we’d be in this type of situation.”
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