SPRINGFIELD -- Governor George H. Ryan today announced the Village of Forsyth will receive a $100,100 grant to construct a 1.2-mile extension to an existing bicycle path.

"This extension is an important part of the village’s long-range recreation plan that links village facilities with residential neighborhoods and provides a safe place for residents to ride, especially in traffic-heavy areas," Ryan said.

The grant will fund two, 0.6-mile extensions to the village’s existing 4.1-mile trail. One leg will connect the Woodland Hills and Montezuma residential neighborhoods to the existing bike trail network, while the other leg will extend the Elwood Street bike trail on the east side of the village to the abandoned railroad bridge over Interstate 72.

Funding for the Bicycle Path Grant Program comes from a percentage of motor vehicle title transfer fees. More than 640 miles of trails have been funded since the grant program was established in 1989.

Grants for bicycle paths fund up to 50 percent of a development project’s cost, up to a maximum of $200,000.