Ben Butterworth Parkway (Moline, IL)
Ben Butterworth Parkway is more like a way of life if you live in Moline. Growing up it was a common family past time to go to the river to feed the ducks (but please don’t do that now). And if the weather is at all tolerable, you will see people walking, riding bikes, and rollerblading. The parkway has a 2.2 mile paved path along the Mississippi River with several playgrounds, a marina, and some boat launches. It’s easy to visit because of the many parking lots and restrooms. And it is part of the Great River Trail, connecting to the Rock Island and East Moline sections.
At the west end of the parkway is the dock for the Celebration Belle (dinner cruises) and Channel Cat Water Taxi which can be used recreationally or for actual commuting. Fun fact - I spent the summer before college working as a deckhand on the Channel Cat! From the Riverbend Commons stop on Ben Butterworth Parkway, it crosses the Mississippi River over to the Isle of Capri Casino in Bettendorf, Iowa, then goes west to Lindsay Park in the Village of East Davenport (Iowa), back across the Mississippi to John Deere Commons, and home to Riverbend Commons (both Moline, Illinois). The whole loop takes just over an hour if you didn’t hop off anywhere.
There aren’t many restaurants along the path, but Milltown Coffee is a great spot to grab coffee or breakfast and it has a view of the parkway and river.
The major downsides to Ben Butterworth Parkway are that it is accompanied by River Drive for it’s entire stretch (traffic noise, ugh), and that it can be crowded with groups that take up both lanes of the path. For a place that’s so accessible, this is to be expected, but you should be aware when you go here you’re not exactly ‘getting away from it all’ and you may need to have some patience. But when it’s muddy in the spring and I’m itching for a walk with a water view, this is a great option.
Except…this path is also prone to annual spring flooding. As ice melts upriver, the Mississippi swells with water in the QCA and leaves her banks, leading to closures of the path and road nearly every year. When the water recedes, it can leave a mess behind. Oh, and the mayflies can be bad in early summer. So I guess what I’m saying is this path can suck, but also it can be perfect if you catch it at the right time!
If you have more time, you can continue walking past the Celebration Belle and onto the I-74 Bridge Pedestrian Path that leads to the oculus. Or, on the opposite end of that path, you could walk towards Beacon Harbor and McNeil Reserve (I love this stretch!) The River Benders Cycling Group hosts rides that go that direction, too. They leave from the Celebration Belle and go all the way to Rapids City for tacos and drinks. It’s a great summer evening ride.