Covid-19 Causes Major Changes to River Action Events
Because of coronavirus, the 36th-annual Ride the River on Father’s Day is canceled, and Davenport-based River Action is substituting a month-long outdoor alternative – “Ride and Seek” – during June.
River Action collaborated with both the Scott County and Rock Island County Health Departments and “received support to move forward with social distancing practices to ensure that Ride and Seek accommodates the safety of riders and our community during Covid-19,” according to a release from the environmental organization.
From June 1 to 30, you can participate on your own or with your household in an outdoor scavenger hunt adventure during social distancing. When you register for Ride and Seek, you will be sent a packet including a route map, a clue sheet with 36 clues to solve, a River Action face mask, and chalk for adding some pictures or positive messages to the trails.
Participants who solve the most clues during the month of June will be entered to win prizes. River Action has planned this event “so that our participants can get some outdoor exercise without having to worry about the crowds that can occur during a conventional Ride the River,” according to the release. “Please maintain recommended social distancing guidelines during the event.”
You can register to ride with your household at River Action’s website.
River Action will provide to those who register for the touch-free scavenger hunt ($15 per adult and $5/child):
- Face covering
- Chalk for leaving positive messages
- 36 Discover History clues on a map
- Reflective snap bands for kids courtesy of Davenport Noon Kiwanis
- Chance to win great prizes
- Helmets for sale, $10 each
- Ride and Seek T-Shirts for sale, $10 each
The scavenger-hunt clues contain historic facts, persons, and landmarks. Choose the day and time of day for your rides.
River Action works to protect and restore the Mississippi River and the RiverWay environment, including public trail systems and educational signage; foster cultural and economic activities that showcase the river and RiverWay environment, and promote awareness and adoption of sustainable practices that enhance the river and surrounding areas.
The popular Ride the River event was not canceled last year, but because of historic flooding in early May 2019, organizers had to make other plans for the 600-plus riders who signed up. The base moved to the Davenport YMCA on West 2nd Street, and the route included Arsenal Island, a 30-minute cruise on the Celebration Belle, and a ride along River Drive into East Moline.
“Just the fact that it was during the time of a record-breaking flood was interesting,” Kathy Wine, River Action’s director, said after last year’s ride. “People mentioned that. I’ve never been down here at this stage of a flood.”
“To me, you have more appreciation of it and understanding of how it works,” she said of the river. “There are aspects of living by the river we are learning to cope with and appreciate. It’s also a thing we’re going to see more of, so we’re going to get more resilient as cities with more flooding.”
Henry Farnam
When the River Action ride debuted in 1985 – to promote and help fund development of riverfront trails in the area – it used mostly streets because there was only about two miles of trail in existence, along Ben Butterworth Parkway in Moline.
Because of closures caused by the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, River Action also has canceled the 17th-annual Henry Farnam Dinner, scheduled to be held Thursday, May 28 at Jumer’s Casino Hotel, Rock Island. It will be postponed to a yet-to-be determined date in March 2021.
Registrations for this year’s event will be transferred to and honored for the 2021 event which will feature the same program. For more information, call RiverAction at 563-322-2969.
The event honors Henry Farnam (1803-1883), the man who, with business partner Joseph Sheffield, built the Chicago and Rock Island Railroad in 1854, and completed the first railroad bridge across the Mississippi River in 1856, connecting Rock Island and Davenport.
Last year’s Henry Farnam Dinner was held at the Radisson Hotel, Davenport, and a group of Quad-City historians — George Eaton, Gayle Rein and Curtis Roseman — spoke about various aspects of Farnam’s life and work.
Due to the Covid-19 outbreak, this year’s Fish and Fire Friendraiser Dinner — with its silent auction and Eddy Awards — also is being postponed to Aug. 28.
