BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND”
You can kayak and canoe on Busse Lake, Tampier Lake, the Des Plaines River, Camp Bullfrog Lake, the Skokie Lagoons, and other waterways in Forest Preserves of Cook County (FPCC) properties. You can even pilot a fishing boat with a small motor on some FPCC waterways. But you cannot use a stand-up paddleboard.
This seems like a missed recreational opportunity for the nature-loving residents of Cook County, Illinois, whose taxes fund its beautiful preserves. Stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) has become very popular in the United States in recent years. It’s an endeavor that’s good for your health, allows people to experience and explore nature, and provides fun for the whole family, among other benefits.
Rob Cheney, a local stand-up paddleboarder, has created a petition to encourage Forest Preserves of Cook County to allow stand-up paddleboarding in its preserves. We recently discussed his love for stand-up paddleboarding and why FPCC should allow SUP in its preserves.
Q. What is stand-up paddleboarding, and why do you enjoy it?
A. Stand-up paddleboarding is a water sport where a person stands on a long, wide board similar to a large surfboard, and uses a single-bladed paddle to propel themselves through the water. SUP can be enjoyed on oceans, lakes, and rivers and can be done for varying purposes like surfing waves, fishing, yoga, and racing. I enjoy SUP as a form of fitness where I get to surround myself with nature and receive a good, low-impact workout.
Q. Where do you currently like to paddleboard?
A. I enjoy paddling on Lake Michigan, which is near my home and allows for fantastic views. However, as most readers can imagine, Lake Michigan usually does not have favorable conditions for SUP, which means that having a second waterway option available is very important. In my area, that second option should be Skokie Lagoons, part of the FPCC. Although kayaking, canoeing, and even fishing boats with small motors are allowed in FPCC preserves such as Skokie Lagoons, SUP is currently prohibited.
Q. Why should Forest Preserves of Cook County allow stand-up paddleboarding in its waters?
A. The prohibition of SUP in FPCC preserves is outdated and unfair and these regulations need to be revised. Not only is SUP as a sport not receiving equal access to the taxpayer-funded preserves (like kayaking and canoeing receive), but the prohibition is also outdated in light of SUP’s growing appeal. According to the Outdoor Foundation’s 2022 report, SUP participation increased by over 30 percent over the preceding decade. FPCC should represent this fast-growing sport in their preserves. Allowing SUP in preserves is also a safety matter: SUP paddlers often have no choice but to expose themselves to dangerous, quick-changing conditions on Lake Michigan or to drive significant distances outside the county to perform their sport.
Q. Can you tell me about your petition and its goals?
A. I am hoping that my petition will increase awareness of this issue and inspire people to support it. I hope to accumulate hundreds of signatures for the petition such that we can demonstrate to the Forest Preserve District Board of Commissioners that their constituents demand this issue be revisited and corrected.
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My Final Thoughts
Stand-up paddleboarding, with the appropriate use of personal flotation devices (where required), is a great way to enjoy the outdoors and should be allowed in appropriate lakes, ponds, and other water spots in Forest Preserves of Cook County properties. If you agree, click here to sign Rob Cheney’s petition. I was happy to sign Rob’s petition, and I hope that you will do so, too.
For more information about SUP, check out the following resources:
How to Stand Up Paddleboard: The Basics
How to Launch and Stand Up on a Paddle Board
How to Paddle Board (SUP) for Beginners
Copyright: Rob Cheney retains the copyright to his interview responses; Andrew Morkes holds copyright to the opening and concluding text after the interview
Copyright (photos): Rob Cheney
Looking for some other great nature destinations in Chicagoland? If so, check out my book, Nature in Chicagoland: More Than 120 Fantastic Nature Destinations That You Must Visit. It features amazing destinations in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Click on the title to learn more. The book has 306 pages and 210+ photos and is only $19.99.
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ABOUT ANDREW MORKES
I’ve been writing and editing for more than 30 years. I’m the founder of College & Career Press (2002); the author and publisher of “The Morkes Report: College and Career Planning Trends” blog; and the author and publisher of Hot Health Care Careers: 30 Occupations With Fast Growth and Many New Job Openings; Nontraditional Careers for Women and Men: More Than 30 Great Jobs for Women and Men With Apprenticeships Through PhDs; They Teach That in College!?: A Resource Guide to More Than 100 Interesting College Majors, which was selected as one of the best books of the year by the library journal Voice of Youth Advocates; and other titles. They Teach That in College!? provides more information on environmental- and sustainability-related majors such as Ecotourism, Range Management, Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Built Environment, Sustainability Studies, and Sustainable Agriculture/Organic Farming. I also served as a member of the parent advisory board at my son’s school for five years.
In addition to these publications, I’ve written more than 70 books about careers for other publishing and media companies including Infobase (such as the venerable Encyclopedia of Careers & Vocational Guidance, the Vault Career Guide to Accounting, and many volumes in the Careers in Focus, Discovering Careers, What Can I Do Now?!, and Career Skills Library series) and Mason Crest (including those in the Careers in the Building Trades and Cool Careers in Science series).
Here’s a list of the environmental-focused titles that I’ve written:
- Nature in Chicagoland: More Than 120 Fantastic Nature Destinations That You Must Visit
- Wind Turbine Technicians (Great Careers Without a Bachelor’s Degree series)
- Environmental Scientists (Cool Careers in Science series)
- Renewable Energy Careers (Cool Careers in Science series)
- Environment (Getting Started series)
- Solar Power Technicians (Careers in Infrastructure series)