State Bicycle Path Grants Announced

The following grants were announced in November by the Governor. The state's Bicycle Path Grant Program is a 50/50 cost share funding source, awarding up to a maximum of $200,000 for trail projects annually. Application deadlines are always around March 1. More info is at http://dnr.state.il.us/ocd/newbike2.htm

FY 2008 Bicycle Path Grant Program Grants

DUPAGE COUNTY FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT (DuPage Co.), $200,000 to construct 2.9 miles of trails within the Salt Creek Greenway corridor. The trail runs from Salt Creek Park Forest Preserve to North Avenue.

FRANKFORT, VILLAGE OF (Will Co.), $200,000 to construct a 2.9-mile trail in the southeast section of Frankfort. The trail runs west on Laraway Road from Sauk Creek Forest Preserve to Pfeiffer Road, then north on Pfeiffer to the Old Plank Road Trail.

KANE COUNTY FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT (Kane Co.), $128,300 to construct 2.9 miles of trail through the Lake Run Forest Preserve. This segment is a portion of the Mid-County Trail System. A trail head and parking will be developed on Tanner Road.

NAPERVILLE PARK DISTRICT (DuPage Co.), $200,000 to construct 1.2 miles of trail through DuPage River Park in Naperville. This segment will connect west to a section of the DuPage River Trail system currently under construction and to the east, a trail in Whalon Lake Preserve.

ROCKFORD PARK DISTRICT (Winnebago Co.), $200,000 to construct .6-mile of trail in Rockford along County Highway 5 north of Riverside Boulevard. The trail will run under the highway and loop back to the Sportscore Park.

ROCK ISLAND, CITY OF (Rock Island Co.), $200,000 to construct 1.2 miles of trail starting at Ben Williamson Park and ending at 31st Avenue in Rock Island.

ROUND LAKE AREA PARK DISTRICT (Lake Co.), $43,300 to rehabilitate .5 mile of the Gateway Bike Path just south of Rollins Road.

WILL COUNTY FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT (Will Co.), $200,000 to construct a 1-mile multi purpose trail through Hadley Valley East Preserve. The trail starts at Bruce Road and runs west to the I-355 corridor. A trail head with parking, water, a shelter, signage and a latrine will be developed near Bruce Road.

WILL COUNTY FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT (Will Co.), $144,900 to construct a 3-mile trail along the Des Plaines River between 135th Street and Keepataw Preserve.

ALHAMBRA, VILLAGE OF (Madison Co.), $200,000 to construct a 4.5-mile trail as an extension to the Nickel Plate Trail. The trail will begin at Hoxey Drive in rural Madison County to Main Street in Alhambra.

EAST PEORIA, CITY OF (Tazewell Co.), $200,000 to construct .9-mile trail on the levee in East Peoria. This segment connects to existing trails in East Peoria and Peoria.

GRANITE CITY, CITY OF (Madison Co.), $199,800 to construct 1.9 miles of trail as phase two of the Six Mile Prairie Trail System in Granite City. The trail runs along a sanitary canal between Pontoon Road and Maryville Road.

MADISON COUNTY TRANSIT DISTRICT (Madison Co.), $200,000 to construct 4 miles as an extension to the Confluence Bikeway. This section begins at 20th Street in Granite City and runs to the McKinley Bridge which crosses at the Mississippi River. The trail will be built on top of the Chain of Rocks Canal Levee.

MADISON COUNTY TRANSIT DISTRICT (Madison Co.), $200,000 to construct 2.8 miles of limestone screening trail as an extension to the 14-mile Nickel Plate Trail. This section starts at Fruit Road in rural Madison County and extends easterly to Hoxey Drive.

MADISON COUNTY TRANSIT DISTRICT (Madison Co.), $200,000 to construct a .4-mile addition to the Watershed Trail in Edwardsville. This segment starts at W. Union Street and ends at W. High Street.

METRO EAST PARK AND RECREATION DISTRICT (Madison and St. Clair Counties), $200,000 to construct a 6-mile trail on Chouteau Island along the levee. The trail will run from Chain of Rocks Road south to the southern most tip of Chouteau Island. This is phase one of the new Eagle Points Trail system.

WASHINGTON PARK DISTRICT (Tazewell Co.), $83,700 to construct .3 mile of trail along Wilmore Road in Washington. The trail runs along Wilmore Road and crosses over Route 24, resolving a safety issue for trail users. This trail connects to existing city trails on both ends.