NEW HARRY OPPOLD MARINA OPENED;
PUBLIC LOVES IT

Begun 13 years ago, the Harry Oppold Marina Project was formerly opened in June, 1983, and the public immediately expressed its approval. "The usage of this facility this season," says the author, "has been tremendous and all because it was constructed as a complete park facility rather than a boat launching facility per se."

By Frank Duis

Launching Ramp at the Harry Oppold Marina Park. In foreground is one of the new shelters and restroom areas.

The Harry Oppold Marina Park, a complete park facility, was dedicated recently and is now in use by area residents of the Sterling Park District. In fact, residents from Chicago traveling to Sterling use the facility on weekends as a result of a recent article in the Tribune.

John J. Eckes, State Conservationist, was guest speaker at Open House Ceremonies. Seated (left to right) are Dr. Jack Webb, SPD Commissioner; Jim Jensen, Area USDA Engineer, and Neal Wick, SPD Board Vice President.

The project was initiated in 1970 when a 30.86 acre tract of land was condemned by the United States Corps of Engineers and held in litigation prior to turnover to the state of Illinois as part of the Sinnissippi Lake/Hennepin Canal Transfer. At that time the state of Illinois would not accept the lake or canal unless $8,000,000 was provided for repair of the bridges over the canal.

Concurrently, Sterling Park District officials began developing a master plan under the state of Illinois Department of Conservation Boat Registration and Safety Act known as the Boating Act Fund.

In late 1971, Sterling Park District received 100% funding, $131,000 for the initial development. These facilities included a 40x44 foot harbor house complete with restroom facilities, park service roads and park lighting, a 50 foot wide launching ramp, a 100 foot main dock, parking for 75 cars, and utilities.

On April 23, 1972, the marina park was named in honor of the late Harry E. Oppold, an avid sportsman who was a member of the Sterling Park District Board of Commissioners for eighteen years. Mr. Oppold also was president of the Board for eight years.

At this time approximately 15.86 acres remained undeveloped. Park District officials sought assistance from various agencies, including the United States Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Housing and Urban Development and finally the United States Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service.

Late in 1976, a six-county Blackhawk Hills Resource Conservation and Development Area was formed. RC&D, as it is known, includes Jo Daviess, Stevenson, Carroll, Ogle, Lee and Whiteside counties. Since Sterling was the largest city in Whiteside County, it was a logical step then for Park District officials to seek the assistance of the RC&D on the project.

The RC&D Program serves the area by providing the means for local people in government to come together and solve the natural and human resource problems in their area. The basic objectives of the RC&D is to develop, improve, conserve and utilize the natural and human resources of the area in order to provide the maximum contribution to the lives of the citizens.

Blackhawk Hills Resource Conservation and Development Area Council supported the request for funding of the Harry Oppold Marina Public Water Based Recreational Measure Plan, known as Measure 14 in 1977.

By September, 1978, a master plan, assisted by the United States Department of Agriculture and Soil Conservation Service in Champaign, was developed. This plan outlined three phases of development, including: Phase I, the Oxbow Lake Excavation; Phase II, Construction and

Illinois Parks and Recreation 14 November/December 1983

Development of Facility; and Phase III, Landscaping of Recreational Facility. Design engineering also was included which followed the master plan in detail.

Phase I, the dredging of the Oxbow Lake, a three-quarter mile body of water, was completed in 1981 at a cost of $59,760.96. The expansion of the Oxbow Lake and the spoil from the dredging was left to dry and used to elevate the center of the Oxbow which could not previously be maintained due to the swampy conditions.

After the spoil was leveled, Phase II, construction and development of the facilities, was begun in the summer of 1982. Phase II included 36 boat docking slips, two 28x100 foot picnic shelters, six sheltered picnic units, 18 picnic grills, and two large barbeque pits, 19 waste receptacle units, two outdoor restroom areas, a wooden theme playground with 37 areas of play, 3,125 lineal feet of walkways, a foot bridge linking the main park facilities to the Oxbow Lake area.

Phase III of the project, the landscaping of the recreational facilities, was begun in the winter of 1982 and concluded last spring. A total of 585 trees and shrubs were planted over the 30.86 acre site.

The original estimated cost of the project established in September, 1978, amounted to $349,200.00 on a cost-share basis with the United States Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service providing $194,000 and the Sterling Park District $155,200. The cost of the master plan basic design work was absorbed by the USDA Soil Conservation Service.

It was necessary to rebid Phase II of the project as the original bids came in too high. After the rebidding process, over $38,000 was saved without reducing the quality of the facility.

Also an excellent bid on Phase III of the project was received. The original engineers' estimate of $349,200.00 was reduced to $321,822.41, which included $18,337.00 in design engineering fees.

Finally, Sunday, June 26, 1983, an open house was held celebrating the formal opening of the Harry Oppold Marina Park. Those present at the ceremonies included the Park District Board of Commissioners, officials from the United States Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service, officials of the Blackhawk Hills Resource Conservation and Development Area, and the Sterling Park District staff.

Comments were given by John Lang, Blackhawk Hills RC&D President, and Eugene Bonneur, Chairman of the Whiteside County Soil and Water Conservation District.

The principal speaker for the open house was John J. Eckes, State Conservationist of the United States Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service of Champaign, who commended Sterling Park officials and stated the community of Sterling should be proud of its "fine array of parks."

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held with Mr. Eckes and William E. Eberley, President of the Sterling Park District, officially cutting the ribbon which opened Harry Oppold Marina Park to the public.

The usage of this facility this season has been tremendous and all because it was constructed as a complete park facility rather than a boat launching facility per se.

HARRY OPPOLD MARINA PARK

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Illinois Parks and Recreation 15 November/December 1983

There are several RC&D's throughout Illinois, but this is the first project completed under the United States Department of Agriculture and Soil Conservation Service. I believe park districts should check to see if they have an RC&D formed in their area.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Frank Duis has been Director of the Sterling Park District since 1965. He has been responsible for the development through an effective grantsmanship program, of eight major projects, including the recently completed Harry Oppold Marina and a solar hot water heating system for the Recreation Center. A member of the IPRA Board of Directors, he has received three awards for outstanding professionalism.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 21 November/December 1983