Pint Night To Rally Support For DuPage River Public Access

Plainfield IL

04 August, 2021

5:18 PM

Description

PLAINFIELD, IL — Issues surrounding public access to the DuPage River have been brewing recently. To discuss them, Illinois's chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers is hosting a pint night at the Will County Brewing Aug. 12. The event will take place at the brewery in Shorewood, 1142 W. Jefferson St. in Shorewood, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. next Thursday. Those interested can RSVP for the pint night here. Issues surrounding the public's right to access the DuPage River — which is designated a private body of water by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources — arose in early July when homeowners with land off the river filed complaints about companies using and profiting off private land. Around the same time news broke about the complaint filings, a Plainfield resident of 20 years, Ralph Osuch, started a Change.org petition to garner support for the public's right to use the river. To date, it has received more than 10,500 signatures. "The Illinois Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers believes all Americans should have the opportunity to access and recreate on our nation's waterways," organizers of the upcoming event wrote in a statement. "The ability to hunt, fish or float should not depend on a person's economic or social status. Navigable waters should be held in the public trust to ensure the public's right to recreate on accessible waters is not limited." Pint night organizers didn't respond to Patch's request for comment at the time of publication. Other DuPage River access news: 'Logic Would Say Keep It Open': Use Of DuPage River In QuestionState Lawmakers Voice Support For Public Access To DuPage River (For more news and information like this, subscribe to the Plainfield Patch for free. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here. Don't forget to like us on Facebook!)