2011 Eddy Award Winners

River Action launched the Eddy Awards program in 2000 to recognize high quality riverfront work and encourage communities, developers, organizations, and individuals to strive for well-designed undertakings, environmental programs with far reaching effects, and cultural programs that celebrate either the industry, history, or art of the Mississippi. Judging criteria includes sensitivity of the design to the water, quality and harmony of the design, civic contribution, environmental values, and educational role.

This year’s awards jury, made up of members of the River Action Board of Directors, found a great deal to applaud in the strong crop of 25 entries from which they had to choose. They asked “How did this project succeed against such obstacles? How did it overcome such hardships to become extremely successful?”

The 2011 winners, like an eddy, have all gone against the current to accomplish excellence on the riverfront.

Art - Julie Malacke - Nahant Marsh book
Photography helps people to see; Julie Malake teaches us how to see without a camera. Through several thousand captured images, she selected the best of the best to reveal the real essence of Nahant Marsh in all four seasons with a 62 page book of photos published in 2010.

Of her subject, she says “Nahant Marsh is an island of wildlife habitat in an urban setting. I have been irresistibly drawn back again and again in all weather and seasons.” She spends a lot of time waiting for her subjects to evolve. The zoom lens is her legs; she gets up close, wading into the marsh at all times of the year for that close up shot.

It takes a lot of looking before you learn to see the extraordinary, and Julie has spent years photographing the marsh. She has preserved the beauty by clicking the shutter—making time stand still if you will. It is her wish to have the sale of her books help preserve the marsh in time by funding restoration and education there.

Design - Genesis Health Systems: Genesis East Green Roof
Many green building projects are proposed, but few are actually developed due to the complexities of adapting new technologies to building design and project budget constraints.

When Dr. Joseph Lohmuller, proposed a green roof for Genesis East Campus, he was thinking of the view from hospital rooms first and foremost. Second, but also important, was the message of retaining rain where it falls and making it a functional green roof, a demonstration project for the entire region.

Project costs totaled $165,000 once charitable gifts were secured.

While there are some additions the hospital wants to make to the roof this spring, the resulting roof design and engineering are exemplary and will surely lead the way to more green development in Davenport and the Quad Cities.

Education - Ballet Quad Cities: The Ugly Duckling
When art both entertains and educates, it is a powerful experience. With this powerful vehicle in mind, Ballet Quad Cities wrote the Educator’s Guide designed to help teachers enhance the learning and creative experiences of “The Ugly Duckling” ballet and set up some lasting impressions and classroom discussions for students.

In a multimedia, 24/7 world where we are bombarded by interactive messages, children are no longer content sitting in a dark concert hall listening to a story told through words and music. They need a variety of stimuli to capture and hold their attentions, and the specially designed children’s program is used as a springboard for classroom activities and learning.

The wetland home of these little Ducklings is on the Mississippi River, so the teacher’s
guide is a message about the watershed and its importance in providing clean water. If you are familiar with the tale, you know there is a strong anti-bullying message delivered to youth, as well. Incorporating these lessons in the popular Ugly Duckling story was an artful transformation of a familiar fairy tale made powerful.

Revitalization - Restoration St. Louis: Hotel Blackhawk & Forrest Block restorations
Saving threatened buildings is a massive undertaking and takes a great deal of eddy ingenuity, stamina, vision, and hard work. Restoration St. Louis, under the leadership of Amy and Amrit Gill, have revitalized every part of the 1915 Hotel Blackhawk and returned life to the building as well. It is absolutely radiant today.

They have retained its historical character while featuring modern conveniences. Use of history such as the feather in the logo, Bix in the Bistro, and period shapes in furniture throughout the hotel are just three examples of the care used in the restoration. The total cost of the work was $42 million.

Another long-vacant landmark, the Forrest Block, has become new luxury apartments. It is the cornerstone of an important historic district, and $5 million has renovated a threatened building that for years had citizens clamoring for its restoration. The Gills worked with the City of Davenport to complete the restored building which has a wondrous assemblage of historic features.

River Activity - Quad Cities Transit System: The Loop
The Quad Cities Transit System took on a challenge talked about for years, but never implemented. “Joined by a River” sounds easy, until one takes on the work of making the connections with public transportation, not just during festivals, that is daunting enough, but year round.

The Loop bus has been a success since it was launched in 2009. A seamless corridor through the cities and along the river, The Quad Cities Transit System epitomizes the kind of organization River Action recognizes as true advocates of urban waterfront development. The jury appreciated the Transit System’s not “giving in” to cold winters, but carrying on and being an inspiration for other Midwestern cities wanting to connect their jewels on the riverfront.

Stewardship - Fritz Fuhs: Area Maintenance Persons
Francis “Fritz” Fuhs has hung up his trash grabbers for now, but before we learn what his new service will be, attention must be paid to the extraordinary efforts Fritz made with Area Maintenance Persons, or AMP.

Taking an idea in 1991 , getting others to follow , working through initial skepticism of his big idea, and then seeing it through for 19 years, is the embodiment of an Eddy.

His first clean up was in May, 1992 with 15 volunteers. More citizens joined in the effort; he worked hard to do more and do it well, and before long 175 persons were sporting the signature yellow shirts, picking up litter all over Davenport and involved in weekly clean ups.

As a result, Fritz became an area hero. His work was caught in area media; and he always came across as an impressive leader who to this day continues to serve. One of the hardest working citizens we have known, he called attention to issues that are important to the environment by getting buy in from Scott County Beautification Foundation and Scott County Waste Commission. The recipient of the Iowa Governor’s Volunteer Service Award in 2008 and Davenport’s Senior Hall of Fame, Fritz receives our thanks for extraordinary volunteer service.