Quantcast
   
Friday - March 29, 2024
Quad Cities USA - Guide to Davenport & Bettendorf Iowa and Rock Island & Moline Illinois
 

Illinois House Passes Resolution Supporting New Bison Bridge Proposal

April 7th, 2022
Illinois House Passes Resolution Supporting New Bison Bridge Proposal

Rock Island’s Illinois State Representative Mike Halpin (D-Rock Island) led a bi-partisan resolution in support of the Bison Bridge Foundation’s proposal to repurpose the Interstate 80 bridge over the Mississippi River. The proposal passed through the Illinois house with bi-partisan support. Bison Bridge’s proposal, led by East Moline environmentalist, Chad Pregracke, includes  a wildlife crossing on one side of the bridge and a park on the other. Pregracke has been leading the charge on the bridge since last year, collecting over 40,000 signatures of support on their website at... Read More

Bison Bridge More Than Half Way Toward Public Support Goal

April 18th, 2021
Bison Bridge More Than Half Way Toward Public Support Goal

One month after Quad-Cities environmentalist Chad Pregracke announced his ambitious Bison Bridge plans, the creative concept has earned over 27,000 supporters online, an endorsement from The Chicago Tribune editorial board, and a strong social-media shoutout from TV’s Mike Rowe. “This is VERY cool. My old friend Chad Pregracke – whom many of you will remember as the self-appointed garbageman of America’s rivers – is on a mission to create a brand new National Park on the Mississippi River,” Rowe (well-known for cable’s “Dirty Jobs”) posted on Facebook late last month... Read More

What’s Next With The Quad-Cities’ Bison Bridge Project? Chad Pregracke Gives Us The Scoop!

March 24th, 2021
What's Next With The Quad-Cities' Bison Bridge Project? Chad Pregracke Gives Us The Scoop!

Living Lands and Waters’ Chad Pregracke talked at length with us about the new Bison Bridge project — a National Park slated for the old I-80 bridge, which is set to be replaced over the next six years. Pregracke told us about his ideas which led to the bridge, how the project got kicked off, and what comes next over the next 5-7 years of the project in the latest episode of our podcast QCUncut! Check out the link below and listen to the entire conversation to get the scoop! QC Uncut: Chad Pregracke (Episode #103)  Read More

New Video Offers Sneak Preview Of Future Bison Bridge Location

March 22nd, 2021
New Video Offers Sneak Preview Of Future Bison Bridge Location

The Bison Bridge Foundation debuted a new video today of the proposed site for the future National Park! The video displayed a panoramic view of the current bridge and the future spot for the National Park, as previously reported on QuadCities.com, which would include a bison crossing, breathtaking views and other amenities. The video can be seen here. The foundation also posted the following on its social media: What will be the location of the new I-80 Bridge? The Iowa and Illinois DOT is in the first phase of replacing the current I-80 Bridge, which includes an environmental study. They... Read More

Chad Pregracke and Bison Bridge Forum Begin Push for Public Support, Private Funding

March 19th, 2021
Chad Pregracke and Bison Bridge Forum Begin Push for Public Support, Private Funding

The morning after he gave a visionary talk on repurposing the I-80 bridge across the Mississippi River, Chad Pregracke was back at the Rust Belt Friday to push the process of gathering public support for the planned Bison Bridge. Jake Ford, director of government affairs with the Quad Cities Chamber, led a morning legislative forum on the project with Pregracke, president/founder of Living Lands & Waters; Matthew Hughes, consultant with MRH Solutions, Kevin Marchek, retired engineer from the Illinois Department of Transportation, and Illinois state Sen. Neil Anderson. Before the meeting, Quad... Read More

BREAKING: Chad Pregracke Expounds On Plans To Repurpose I-80 Bridge for New National Park

March 18th, 2021
BREAKING: Chad Pregracke Expounds On Plans To Repurpose I-80 Bridge for New National Park

BREAKING NEWS/EXPANDED INFORMATION: As reported first earlier on QuadCities.com, Mississippi River cleanup champion Chad Pregracke and a newly formed foundation unveiled conceptual plans tonight (March 18) for repurposing the I-80 bridge over the Mississippi River into a wildlife crossing and pedestrian parkway called Bison Bridge. Pregracke, president/founder of Living Lands & Waters, joined fellow members of the new Bison Bridge Foundation at East Moline’s Rust Belt to announce the grassroots effort and professional concept for the existing Fred Schwengel Memorial Bridge. “I truly believe... Read More

EXCLUSIVE: Chad Pregracke Unveils Plans to Repurpose I-80 Bridge for New National Park

March 18th, 2021
EXCLUSIVE: Chad Pregracke Unveils Plans to Repurpose I-80 Bridge for New National Park

EXCLUSIVE: River cleanup champion Chad Pregracke and a newly formed foundation unveiled conceptual plans tonight (March 18) for repurposing the Interstate 80 bridge over the Mississippi River into a wildlife crossing and pedestrian parkway called Bison Bridge. Pregracke, President & Founder of Living Lands & Waters, joined fellow members of the Bison Bridge Foundation in announcing the grassroots effort and professional concept for the existing Fred Schwengel Memorial Bridge. Halfway between Chicago and Des Moines, it connects Illinois and Iowa in the Quad-Cities, the largest metropolitan... Read More

Living Lands & Waters To Announce New Quad-Cities Project March 18

March 17th, 2021
Living Lands & Waters To Announce New Quad-Cities Project March 18

Since national hero Chad Pregracke founded East Moline-based Living Lands & Waters in 1998, the nonprofit has worked on removing trash from 24 rivers in 21 states. With the help of more than 115,000 volunteers, it’s removed 10.5 million pounds of debris from U.S. waterways. On Thursday, March 18, Pregracke will announce formation of a major new effort in the Quad-Cities, Bison Bridge Foundation, and the 90-minute event will be livestreamed from The Rust Belt in East Moline. Starting at 6:30 p.m. March 18, tune in live at https://bisonbridge.org/live-stream, where he and his team will discuss... Read More

Learn About Living Lands & Waters at Davenport Eastern Public Library

February 1st, 2020
Learn About Living Lands & Waters at Davenport Eastern Public Library

Headquartered in East Moline, Living Lands & Waters is an environmental organization that is best known for cleaning up rivers. But there is so much more to this amazing group of hardworking individuals. And now you have the chance to learn it all! Join the Davenport Public Library (6000 Eastern Avenue Davenport – Meeting Room B) and Living Lands & Waters on Monday Feb 3 from 2 – 4 p.m. to learn more about the history of this organization, what they do to help our environment and how you can reduce waste in your every day life. If you would like to get a head start on exploring all... Read More

Quad Cities Icons: Chad Pregracke from Moline, IL – Founder of Living Lands & Waters

July 29th, 2019
Quad Cities Icons: Chad Pregracke from Moline, IL - Founder of Living Lands & Waters

The Quad Cities Icons Series is a collection of paintings by local artist Jon Burns celebrating people of fame and notable achievement who were raised in, grew up around or spent significant time in the Quad-Cities. A showing of the various artworks will take place at Rock Island’s DeSoto Gallery through August. Chad Pregracke from Moline, IL is the founder of Living Lands & Waters an organization that aids in the protection of our nation’s rivers and watersheds. They have removed over 10 million pounds of garbage from America’s rivers. He was named CNN 2013 hero of the year.  Read More