Ryan Awards $3.2 Million in Grants for Local Bicycle Path Projects

SPRINGFIELD -- Governor George H. Ryan today awarded $3.2 million in grants for 22 community bicycle path projects, expanding safe recreation and alternative transportation opportunities by providing an additional 56 miles of trails throughout Illinois.

"Bicycle paths and trails provide safe places for children, families and other cycling enthusiasts to ride, exercise and enjoy the outdoors," Ryan said. "These projects will expand existing trails and greenways, link parks and schools, and help bring neighborhoods closer together."

More than 832 miles of trails have been funded as part of the Illinois bicycle path grant program, which Governor Ryan helped establish in 1989 while serving as Lt. Governor.

The grants to the Cook County Forest Preserve District, Village of Carbon Cliff, Freeport Park District and McHenry County Conservation District will fund links to the Grand Illinois Trail, the 475-mile network of trails connecting Lake Michigan to the Mississippi River across northern Illinois.

Four projects will resolve safety problems by installing bridges or other improvements, including the grants to the Chicago Park District, Village of Frankfort, Freeport Park District and Village of Lombard.

Seven projects have received additional federal transportation enhancement funding through the Illinois Department of Transportation, including the Addison Park District, Village of Addison, Village of Carbon Cliff, City of Eldorado, Elmhurst Park District, Madison County Transit District and Village of Oak Brook.

Department of Natural Resources Director Brent Manning said the agency, which administers the state bicycle path grant program, received 49 applications seeking $7 million in funding.

"This matching grant program for trails and greenways is very competitive because community leaders know their citizens want more safe places to ride, skate and hike," Manning said.

Any local government with statutory authority to acquire and develop land for public recreation may apply for the grants, which are funded from a percentage of motor vehicle title transfer fees. The grants provide up to 50 percent of an approved project's total cost. Grants to develop bike paths are limited to $200,000. There is no cap for trail land acquisition projects.

Applications for Fiscal Year 2003 bike path grants will be accepted from Jan. 1 through March 1, 2002. Additional information about the program is available from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Division of Grant Administration, 524 S. Second St., Springfield, IL 62701-1787, or by calling 217/782-7481, Ameritech Relay 800/526-0844, TDD 217/782-9175, or check the IDNR web site at dnr.state.il.us/finast.htm.

Attached is a listing of local governments receiving bicycle path grants, grant amounts, project descriptions and local contacts.

FY 2002 Bicycle Path Acquisition and Development Grants

Village of Addison , Dupage Co., $180,400, to develop 0.41 miles of the 23.5-mile Salt Creek Greenway Trail. This segment connects to the DuPage County Forest Preserve segment of trail just north of I-290 and extends south to Woodland Avenue in Addison. (Local contact: Steven Weinstock, 630/620-2020).

Addison Park District, DuPage Co., $124,200, to develop 0.63 miles of the 23.5-mile Salt Creek Greenway Trail. This section of the trail will be constructed south from Woodland Avenue to Lake Street in Addison. (Local contact: Marvin Wolf, 630/833-0100).

Village of Bloomingdale, DuPage Co., $167,500, to develop 0.26 miles of multi-purpose trail to connect to an existing trail in Springfield Park and to the proposed Lake Street/Rosedale pedestrian/bicycle bridge. The trail is part of the North DuPage Trail corridor from Busse Woods Preserve in Cook County to the Illinois Prairie Path at Pratt's Wayne Woods in DuPage County. (Local contact: Robert Iden, Village President, 630/893-7000).

Village of Carbon Cliff, Rock Island Co., $165,600, to develop six miles of multipurpose trail. The project will connect the Great River Trail along the Mississippi River to the Hennepin Canal Trail, both of which are part of the Grand Illinois Trail. (Local contact: Richard D. Keehner Jr., 309/792-1143).

Champaign Park District, Champaign Co., $195,000, to develop 1.48 miles of trail that will connect the University of Illinois Bike Route System to the Windsor Road Bike Trail by paralleling First St. in Champaign. (Local contact: Terri Gibble, 217/398-2550).

Chicago Park District, Cook Co., $200,000, to develop the Lincoln Park Bikeway Path from Buena St. to Wilson St. in Chicago. The project will increase and improve access to the 18-mile Chicago lakefront bikeway along a one-mile stretch near Lincoln Park. (Local contact: Andrea Adams, 312/747-6290).

Cook County Forest Preserve District, $200,000, to develop the Thorn Creek CSX Bicycle Trail, a two-mile trail along the recently acquired CSX railroad right-of-way within the Thorn Creek Forest Preserve. This project will be a critical extension of the 17.5-mile Thorn Creek Bicycle Trail network, a component of the Northeastern Regional Greenways Plan and the Grand Illinois Trail. (Local contact: Dave H. Kircher, 708/771-1172).

City of Eldorado, Saline Co., $34,500, to develop four miles of former CSX railroad right-of-way from Ill. Rt. 142 to Borland Road In Eldorado. The path will serve as a safe bicycle route for children to get to school on Eldorado's north side. (Local contact: Kimberly Watson, 618/252-7463).

Elmhurst Park District, DuPage Co., $200,000, to develop 2.3 miles of the Salt Creek Greenway Trail. This segment of trail will be constructed south from North Avenue in Elmhurst to Roosevelt Road in Oak Brook. (Local contact: Steven S. Plumb, 630/993-8910).

Flagg-Rochelle Community Park District, Ogle Co., $54,600, to acquire 5.8 miles of bike path on the west side of Rochelle. The new path will provide connections to a number of subdivisions which do not have safe path access. (Local contact: Gregory M. Query, 815/562-4152).

Village of Frankfort, Will Co., $27,800, to acquire 0.83 acres for the Pfeiffer Road South Bicycle Path. This path will connect the Old Plank Road Trail to a proposed path on 80th Avenue in Frankfort. (Local contact: Paula J. Wallrich, 815/469-2177).

Freeport Park District, Stephenson Co., $87,600, for development work on the Jane Addams Trail in Freeport. The trail extends 14.5 miles along a former ICG railroad right-of-way. The project will include 19 bridge structures, 10 agricultural equipment crossings, two at-grade livestock crossings, up to four access points at adjacent villages and two trail head facilities. This trail will also be open for snowmobile use in the winter. (Local contact: Steve Ehlbeck, 815/235-6114).

Kane County Forest Preservation District, $93,000 to redevelop the Blackhawk section of the Fox River Trail near South Elgin. The project will recycle the existing asphalt base over the 1.5-mile section, while it is widened to10 feet. The project also provides adding improved drainage and easier grade transitions. (Local contact: Jon Dueer, 630/232-1242).

Lan Oak Park District, Cook Co., $197,000, to acquire approximately three miles of abandoned railroad right-of-way from Norfolk Southern Corporation near Lansing. This is the most southern portion of the Burnham Greenway, which is linked to the Grand Illinois Trail and also connects to trails in Munster, Indiana. (Local contact: John W. Wilson, 708/474-5020).

Village of Lombard, DuPage Co., $200,000, to install ornamental lighting on approximately 14,000 feet of the Illinois Prairie Path in Lombard. (Local contact: Lorraine Gerhardt, 630/620-5700).

Madison County Transit District, $200,000, to develop a 1.3-mile extension to the Madison County Nature/Bike Trail between Edwardsville and Pontoon Beach. It also includes development of a 0.6-mile trail connector at Horseshoe Lake State Park between the extended nature/bike trail and the Schoolhouse Trail on a separate abandoned railroad right-of-way. (Local contact: Jerry J. Kane, 618/874-7433).

Madison County Transit District, $200,000, to develop 6.9 miles of trail on an abandoned railroad right-of-way connecting the Schoolhouse Trail near Troy to the Watershed Nature Trail in Edwardsville. The completed trail will link several Metro East communities in a 30-mile trail loop. (Local contact, Jerry J. Kane, 618/874-7433).

McHenry County Conservation District, $65,000, to acquire 3.34 miles of trail alignment in northern McHenry County. The trail, when developed, will connect the Boone County Conservation District's Long Prairie Trail to an area near the city of Harvard. The proposed trail is part of the Grand Illinois Trail. (Local contact: John Kremer, 815/338-6223).

Village of Oak Brook, DuPage Co., $200,000, to develop 0.61 miles of trail in Oak Brook along the proposed 23.5-mile Salt Creek Greenway Trail. An existing 2.6 miles of trail in the area will connect to the Elmhurst Park District segment of the Salt Creek Greenway Trail at Roosevelt Road and proceed south to the Cook County Forest Preserve's segment of the trail at I-294. (Local contact: Dale Durfey, P.E., 630/990-3010).

Village of Roscoe, Winnebago Co., $150,500, to develop 7,600 feet of bike path on 2.8 acres of public right-of-way in Roscoe. The project will connect the Hononegah Trail and the Stone Bridge Trail, located near Kinnikinnick School and Leland Park. (Local contact: Jeffery J. Larson, 815/965-6400).

Village of Roselle, DuPage Co., $200,000, to construct a 10-ft. wide bicycle bridge over Lake Street at the border of Roselle and Bloomingdale, as well as approximately 1,100 linear feet of connecting trail. The bridge project is a part of the 18-mile Northern DuPage Trail system. (Local contact: Robert Burns, 630/980-2020).

Sangamon County Highway Department, $130,200, to develop one mile of bike path along East Lake Drive at Lake Springfield. The proposed path will connect to three miles of bike lanes to be constructed along Rochester Road between Springfield and Rochester, connecting the Rochester Community Park Trail, the Lost Bridge Trail and the Bunn Park trail. (Local contact: Phil Koeberlein, 217/535-3070).