By EDWARD HUSAR
Herald-Whig Staff Writer

Quincy engineer Mike Klingner says the time may be right to consider building a major new tourist attraction on Quincy's riverfront.

See the proposed museum plan here

Klingner is among a handful of individuals promoting the idea of creating a Mississippi River Interpretive and Heritage Center that would celebrate Quincy's rich history and its cultural, commercial and environmental ties with the river.

The group envisions a $40 million to $50 million center overlooking the river. It would feature an elaborate aquarium along with a series of educational areas offering insight into a wide range of river-related topics and issues.

For example, one section could show how slaves escaping from Missouri in the 1800s crossed the river into Illinois to seek refuge through Quincy's Underground Railroad network -- or how thousands of Mormons fleeing persecution in Missouri fled across the river and received hospitality in Quincy.

Another section could focus on Quincy's heritage as a hub for steamboat traffic in the 1800s, as a boat-building center during World War II or as a destination for thousands of German immigrants arriving by boat in the late 1800s.

Other sections could focus on the city's ties to commercial and sport fishing, flood control, navigation, water purification, agriculture, recreation and the current effort to harness the river's power through the production of hydroelectricity.

Klingner believes a large-scale aquarium with a hands-on interpretive center has the potential to become a "star attraction" for Western Illinois.

"This would be a good location for it," he said. "We've certainly got a story to tell here."

Klingner said local schools and universities would be able to use the center as a springboard for educational studies.

The idea has been quietly kicked around for more than a decade as part of the Quincy Park District's long-range "Riverfront Renaissance" development plan. But the concept has been picking up steam in recent months. One incentive is the possibility some federal funding could materialize through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program authorized by Congress in 2007.

This program -- still awaiting funding -- would provide $2.1 billion for navigation improvements at seven locks and dams on the Mississippi and Illinois rivers, including Lock and Dam 21 in Quincy. It also would provide $1.7 billion for environmental projects designed to mitigate any ecosystem damage caused by the lock expansions.

"A cultural and habitat resource center is something that could be part of those mitigation dollars," Klingner said.

One site being touted for the center is the former Monogram Stove Co. property on Bonansinga Drive at the foot of Cedar. Bill Shaffer, who owns the site, demolished the factory years ago and has been raising the elevation. It's now two feet above the 1993 flood level.

"We've got a fantastic site there," Klingner said. "It's available for sale right now."

Realtor Bob Mays, whose firm represents Shaffer, said the 14-acre site is listed for $2.5 million and would include the Baywatch Cafe and Rivers Edge Hall.

Mays, a former 30-year member of the Quincy Park Board, said putting an aquarium/interpretive center at that location would work well because the site is safely above the floodplain and it's close to neighboring Park District facilities, including Quinsippi Island. This would allow easier coordination of recreation-related activities geared for families.

One idea being pitched by Mays and Klingner calls for building a 10-acre swimming lake with a beach on Quinsippi Island. The lake, the interpretive center and riverfront parks could then be connected by a trail system that would include a pedestrian bridge over the mouth of Quincy Bay. The bridge would connect Quinsippi Island with the northwest point of Clat Adams Bicentennial Park, just south of The Pier restaurant.

The entire Quincy Bay complex could then be promoted as a regional tourist attraction.

"I think it would be a great thing," Mays said. "It could be our No. 1 national attraction for families."

Mike Parks, executive director of the Quincy Park District, said the idea of building an interpretive center along the riverfront has potential.

"I think the concept has merit, but you have to take a careful look at where it should be," he said.

Parks said the Shaffer property might be a good location, "but there may be other sites that are just as good or maybe better."

One site Parks considers ripe for development is the land between Clat Adams Park and Edgewater Park to the south. That site contains the city's aging water filtration plant intake, which was threatened by floodwater in 1993 and 2008.

Parks thinks the city of Quincy may want to update the filtration intake at some point. Doing so would provide an opportunity to incorporate an interpretive center into the plant's construction.

"Trying to couple this kind of project with an improvement like that just kind of makes sense," Parks said. "If you can identify multiple benefits at a site like that, it becomes pretty attractive pretty fast."

Parks said he has some concerns about building a swimming lake on Quinsippi Island. He said this would require removing a large expanse of forested wetlands.

"There would be a tremendous environmental impact," he said. "That would have to be considered at the earliest stages in terms of feasibility."

Parks said building an interpretive center of this magnitude would require support and cooperation of the Park District, the city of Quincy, Adams County, local organizations and existing museums, which would be invited to help create and coordinate exhibits and events.

Mike Troup, a member of the Great River Economic Development Foundation's board, has recommended the board evaluate potential support for the project.

"No action was taken, but I think they liked the proposal," Troup said. "Something like that could be pretty significant as an attraction and make Quincy a destination spot."

Troup said he'd like to see a community meeting organized to hear more ideas and give those in attendance a chance to comment on what direction the proposal should take.

-- ehusar@whig.com/221-3378