A $150,000 grant from the David L. and Rita E. Nelson Family Fund within the Community Foundation will help build improved portages along the Fox River locks system. The locks open May 17.

Since reopening the locks in 2015, non-motorized boaters have been portaging around the lock and dam system through temporary or makeshift portages often made by the boaters for one season. Existing portages are muddy, rugged paths or have not been maintained and are unsafe. And in recent years the Fox Locks have attracted a growing number of paddlers.

“We have seen steady growth in people exploring the Fox River through the locks on kayaks and canoes,” said Phil Ramlet, executive director of the Fox River Navigational System Authority. “Improving the portages is the best thing we can do to make the river accessible to a broad range of users and this grant will help us do that.”

Portages will be designed for safety and convenience of boaters at improved access points along the lock system. Another benefit of upgrading the portages is they will help to stabilize the shoreline along the locks.

“Most people are not aware of how the swift current of the Fox River erodes and destabilizes the shoreline along the lock system,” Ramlet said. “The grant will help us support our mission of repairing and maintaining the lock system for all boaters.”

Non-motorized boaters use the portages to carry their canoes or kayaks overland rather than going through the locks. Because the locks operate primarily on weekends from Memorial Day through Labor Day, paddlers often use the portages to navigate the elevation change on the Fox River when the locks are not operating.

The project is still seeking additional donations to complete the portage construction which is estimated at $495,000 and the portages will be phased in over a period of three to five years.

If you are interested in supporting this effort, please donate to the Fox Locks Preservation Fund.  The goal of the fund is to sustain the only restored, hand-operated lock system in the nation operated by the Fox River Navigational System Authority.

The fund supports the ongoing preservation and operation of the historic lock system located on the Fox River.

Fox River Navigational System Authority is launching a community-wide initiative to raise $3 million-$4 million to ensure the Fox Locks will become a living history experience and recreational gem for generations to come with sustainable funding for operational support.

• The Fox Locks system is the only restored, hand-operated lock system in the United States and has been restored to working order thanks to $14.5 million federal and state investments and local fundraising efforts in the early 2000s.
• All of the 17 locks are on the National Register of Historic Places and were originally constructed in 1846 before Wisconsin became a state in 1848.
• The cleanup of the Fox River is attracting citizens from across the Midwest to use the river for recreation and cultural events.

The David L. and Rita E. Nelson Family Fund within the Community Foundation is a permanent, donor-advised endowment that generates millions of dollars in grants annually to charitable organizations reflecting the philanthropic interests of the late David and Rita Nelson and their family, primarily in the Fox Cities and Green Bay areas. These interests include parks, recreation and waterways; education; health care; community services and community centers; historic preservation and history — including lighthouses, museums and historical societies; and community catalyst opportunities.   Who were the Nelsons? Learn more about the David L. and Rita E. Nelson Family Fund and find out more about this couple here.