Plainfield residents, officials await state’s clarification on allowed uses of DuPage River

Plainfield residents and officials are awaiting clarification from a state agency concerning questions about the legal uses of the DuPage River.

Property owners in the area have complained that users of the river have left trash and even trespassed on their land. The concerns have lead to one property owner in Plainfield requesting that the Illinois Department of Natural Resources review whether companies operating along the river are doing so legally.

William Sima, 24, said his parents have lived at their home along the DuPage River in Plainfield since before he was born. He said that a few years ago, recreational activity along the river began to increase, which has lead to his parents and their neighbors dealing with trash disposed by users.

In 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic forced many to turn to outdoor recreation for entertainment, Sima said the trash increased. Once, when he was cleaning one stretch of the river less than a mile long, Sima said, he collected two 55-gallon trash bags worth of garbage.

“It was crazy last year,” Sima said.

Sima said that was when he first decided to reach out to the village of Plainfield and the Plainfield Park District about the trash problems, adding that property owners also have seen visitors kayaking or tubing on the river get off private land, which constitutes trespassing.

One concern the interested parties want clarity on is how much of the river is considered private property. Sima said his parents’ property extends to exactly halfway through the the river, which is approximately 115-foot wide at that point.

Sima insisted that his family’s complaint is not meant to bar public use of the river, but he does want more clarification on what public use of the river is permitted. He asked the IDNR in a complaint to stop public access to the river “until there has been reevaluation of all tubing, boating and fishing regulations of the DuPage River.”

The review prompted the creation of an online petition demanding the river remain open to public access. It has been signed by more than 7,300 people.

The owners of Plainfield River Tubing, a company that uses the river for tubing trips, said they fear that if the IDNR says the public can’t use parts of the river adjacent to private property, then they won’t be able to operate their business.

There’s “no way we can restrict our people to one side of the river,” said Scott Most, who owns Plainfield River Tubing with his wife, Kris.

Most said his company takes multiple measures to ensure garbage is disposed of properly. He said his family takes tubes down the portion of the river customers use to clean up loose garbage. They also clean up garbage at access points his company uses and hand out garbage bags to customers. He said they emphasize to their customers not leave any trash on the river.

“Those are steps we’ve done since day one,” Most said.

He said he has yet to see photo or video evidence of any of his customers littering, but if he did, they would not be welcome back to Plainfield River Tubing.

Local officials said they have been talking to the business owners and residents, hoping to come to a resolution.

Carlo Capalbo, the executive director of the Plainfield Park District, said his agency has taken steps like adding signage about proper garbage disposal and proper access points for users. The a park district runs property used by the tubing company with access to the river.

Capalbo also said the district had no comment on the river’s recreational status and that his agency is waiting for word from the IDNR on the matter.

Plainfield Mayor John Argoudelis said he also is awaiting clarification from the IDNR. He said it’s difficult to take action since he didn’t know what the law specifically says on public use of the river. The village granted a business license to Plainfield River Tubing and would presumably be in charge of enforcing the law on the parts of the river which touch the village.

“I’m trying to get the facts,” Argoudelis said. “We’re trying to abide by the law.”

When asked about the status of the DuPage River, IDNR spokeswoman Rachel Torbert said the river is not designated as a public body of water, meaning members of the public do not have a right to use it for recreation. However, any person can petition for the river to be designated as a public body of water.

As of Friday, the IDNR has not responded to specific questions about the legal status of the businesses operating along the river and how any trespassing or littering would be enforced.