Strolling the Streets of Geneva

Welcome back!

There’s a line from a Joni Mitchell song that goes something like this, “oh, you don’t know what you got till it’s gone, they paved paradise and put up a parking lot”.  That line has stuck with me over the years…encouraging me to take note and advantage of all the good things around me…things that can easily become taken for granted, missed or regretted. I was reminded of these thoughts last week.  I’d like to tell you about a “great weekend” I spent one evening last week.

My wife Barb and I live in Geneva just west of Randall Road in the Randall Square Subdivision. We didn’t have anything planned last Tuesday evening so I suggested to Barb that we ride our bikes into downtown Geneva and visit Third Street.  We have a pretty decent bike route into downtown and that alone makes for an enjoyable evening. We headed down Fargo Blvd through Randall Square across Randall Road and into the Eagle Brook Subdivision along Fargo. Turning left onto Loran Lane and then into Bingham Court to pick up a sidewalk path to Sunset Park of the Geneva Park District. We could hear the children laughing as they played and swam in the Geneva Pool.  From Sunset Park we took a short right on Western Avenue to Cheever and passed Dryden Park…the kids had a ballgame going and the parents were on the sidelines enjoying an evening in Geneva.  We continued on Cheever to Third Street and decided to park our bikes at the Geneva Metra Station. This bike ride only took us about 12 minutes to get downtown from our home in Randall Square.

What a great atmosphere Third Street has!  …Brick pavers, park benches, buildings with rich architecture, drinking fountains, gas lit lamp posts and shady trees…families and couples taking an evening stroll.  We walked north along Third Street past Shodeen Development’s new retail and condo residential  projects…they really do classy work!  We stopped and enjoyed the water feature at the courtyard in Dodson Place. What a relaxing place.  The water feature was designed and constructed by Aquascape Inc., located right here in the Fox Valley in neighboring St. Charles.  Others who were outdoor-dining at Wildwood Restaurant and Lounge were also benefiting from the therapy of the gentle flowing stream.

As we continued up Third Street we passed Geneva Lutheran Church…they’re doing some nice update construction that includes a circle drive up to the entrance.  Next we came to Le Berry Bistro…this is one of Barb’s favorite special lunch spots.

Across from the Kane County Court House we did some window viewing into the Geneva History Center.  If you haven’t visited the center yet, you should.  Geneva has a great heritage of immigrants and industry.

We ended the length of Third Street at the Merra-Lee Shops and headed back south.  Merra-Lee is one of Barb’s favorite stores for woman’s clothes.  She has always enjoyed their selections of items.  Needless to say, there was some window shopping done along this stretch of Third Street.

Before returning to our bikes, we made a stop at Graham’s Chocolates and Ice Cream for a double dip cone.  Rob Untied who owns Graham’s has created a very nice relaxing patio in front of the shop….flagstone surface with many wonderful white Adirondack chairs to sit on and eat ice cream, relax, or visit with a love one or friend.  A friendly place to top off a leisurely stroll upon Third Street.

Earlier in this article I said I spent a “great weekend” one evening. Have you ever had an evening like that…when everything just seemed to meld together for a wonderful experience and time just seemed to slow down for awhile.  How fortunate we are to live by such a place…only a short bike ride away!   Speaking of bike riding…our ride home was equally enjoyable.  I slept well and rested that evening.  Life is good in Geneva!

Geneva Arts Fair Scheduled for July

July 25, 2009
10:00 am	to	5:00 pm
July 26, 2009
10:00 am	to	5:00 pm

The Geneva Arts Fair will take place throughout the full length of S. Third Street from 10am to 5pm on July 25-26.

The Geneva Arts Fair was voted “Best Craft or Art Show” in 2008 by West Suburban Living magazine.

The Fair will showcase over 140 artists from around the country. Art mediums include photography, pottery, fiber, printmaking, glass, mixed media, watercolor, oil/acryllic, wood, sculpture, and jewelry.

There will also be an emerging artists opportunity for up and coming new artists displaying their artwork on Dodson Place Plaza.

Geneva Third Street Plaza has New Name

July 25, 2009
10:00 am	to	11:00 am

At the Monday night June 15th Geneva City Council meeting, Mayor Kevin Burns announced the winning name in the “Name the Plaza” city-wide contest.  Mayor Burns said there had been about 50 entries.  The winning entry selected was “Joshel Plaza”.

The name submitted acknowledges Robert Joshel a long time Third Street businessman and public servant in Geneva.  Robert Joshel, ran Mid Valley Lumber at the site until the early 1990s.  Joshel was a relative of former Geneva Mayor A. Joshel, city officials said.

Also at the dedication will be Geneva’s city attorney, William Radovich, who suggested the Joshel name. His suggestion won the contest the city was having, and was chosen as the winner by Mayor Kevin Burns, with help from aldermen Dawn Vogelsberg, 3rd Ward, and Robert Piper, 2nd Ward.

In addition to Shodeen, Inc., dedicating the plaza land to the city, it also donated the sculpture “Rain Man” by Miles Metzger. The company Aquascape will install the sculpture in the plaza.

The plaza located at Third and Crescent Streets will be officially dedicated as Joshel Plaza on Saturday July 25 at 10:00am and will coincide with The Geneva Arts Fair to be held July 25-26.

Pleasant Respite at Geneva Dam

The Geneva Dam is a special gem to be found just north of the Route 38 / Main Street bridge over the Fox River.  Originally constructed to harness water power for the mills of local industry, today it stands notable feature of history and a water feature to take note of.  Access to the dam can be attained by parking lots to the north of Route 38 on both the east and west sides of the river on streets immediately adjacent to the river.

The east side of the river several amenities.  There is a canoe / kayak ramp and pathway for launching up-river trips or circum-navigating the dam for down river trips.  A small gazebo shelter provides a nice picnic / resting spot as well as the lovely stone walls for sitting and relaxation while gazing…being rejuvenated by the roar and passing of the waters.  The Fox Valley Bicycle Trail runs north-south with the Fox River along this edge of the river passing to the south underneath the bridge, thus becoming also a connecting path to the beautiful Island Park in Geneva to the south.  For fisherman who wish to access the water of the Fox River, this eastside parking lot provides best access to the gentle slope to the river to enter in waders or fish the banks.  Regularly you will see fisherman out in the river below the churning pools created by the dam.  A word of caution though!…stay well clear of those pools as they have a backward churning motion and by the under-tow created have a current that sucks water back to the dam and down…a definite drowning hazard.  Fisherman stand beyond these dangerous currents and cast into the pools.  Likewise there are wonderful opportunities progressing away from the dam to find deep pools in which fish congregate.  Remember the movie “A River Runs Through It”?  Go to Geneva Dam to watch the beautiful motion of a fly-fisherman casting!   At this location you will also find some great area businesses: Geneva Kayak Center, Geneva Cyclery, and the wonderful restaurant “Mill Race Inn”…also an ice cream stand to purchase a treat and top off a special respite.

The west side of the river on North River Lane is also a great spot for viewing and access to a much larger supply of parking.  On the west side you will find higher riverbanks with linear park created for viewing and relaxing from park benches.  RiverPark is a community inspired and built park.  It represents community enhancement and cooperation at its best.  The park is 1.8 acres and follows the west bank of the Fox River from Geneva Garden Club Park, north along North River Lane in downtown Geneva.  Here you will also find access to the “Geneva on the Dam” business center of retail and offices…notably “River Lane Pub & Eatery”.

The Geneva Dam is easily accessible and provides all Genevans and visitors a “quick fix” of the peace to be found through nature.