Downtown St. Charles May Get a Floating Park on the Fox River

Downtown St. Charles could one day feature a unique floating park on the Fox River, inspired by a similar successful project in Chicago. The idea is being proposed by the River Corridor Foundation of St. Charles, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the city’s downtown riverfront environment.

The foundation, known for hosting annual river cleanup days and organizing mass bulb-planting efforts, presented the proposal to the St. Charles City Council Government Services Committee on Monday. According to John Rabchuk, the foundation’s director, the project envisions a “destination floating garden” on the Fox River.

The proposed eco-park would consist of planting areas and walkways situated atop the river, modeled after Chicago’s Wild Mile project. Located on the North Branch of the Chicago River, the Wild Mile uses floating gardens to replicate a natural wetland habitat similar to those that existed before urban development.

Rabchuk noted that the St. Charles version would be smaller but would retain the key elements of walkways and planting areas floating on the water. Many details are still in the planning stages. Three potential locations on the Fox River have been identified, but no engineering studies have been conducted yet.

While construction and maintenance costs remain unknown, Rabchuk provided a rough estimate of about half a million dollars to build the floating park. “River Corridor has proven that we have a large base of volunteers that would love to be involved in this,” he said during the presentation.

Environmentally, the project aims to improve water quality and create wildlife habitats. The plants in the floating gardens can absorb excess nutrients from the river, helping to clean the water, while their roots provide shelter for fish. Additionally, native plants would attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and other wildlife.

Beyond its ecological benefits, the floating park would offer a scenic walkway for residents and visitors to enjoy along the river. It could also serve as an educational resource for local schools, including St. Charles School District 303. “These things become a real destination, in addition to being [an] ecological advantage,” Rabchuk explained.

Following the presentation to the City Council committee, the River Corridor Foundation planned to present the idea to the St. Charles Park District board as well. The goal is to gauge interest from government bodies before advancing the project further.

Rabchuk mentioned that securing city support is often a key factor when seeking donations for such projects. City officials asked several questions regarding logistics but were generally supportive of the concept. There was some discussion about the location, with Rabchuk noting the flexibility of the design. “Over a week or so, we could take it all apart and move it to one of the other locations,” he said.

One challenge facing the project is the ongoing debate about the possible removal of dams on the Fox River, which could impact the floating park’s future. It has also yet to be determined who would be responsible for managing the park once it is built.

At Monday’s meeting, City Administrator Heather McGuire expressed enthusiasm and suggested that if the City Council votes in favor, she could collaborate with the River Corridor Foundation to draft documentation demonstrating the city’s support. This would be crucial for the foundation as it begins seeking donations.

Looking ahead, the River Corridor Foundation plans to create a detailed design and then hire an engineering firm to assess costs. They intend to keep city officials updated throughout the process, Rabchuk said.

For further information, contact mmorrow@chicagotribune.com.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/31/river-corridor-foundation-of-st-charles-proposes-floating-park-on-fox-river-modeled-after-chicagos-wild-mile/