Funds will Enhance Safety and Functionality of 13 Area Trails

Springfield, Ill. - October 8---Governor Rod Blagojevich announced $2.5 million in construction grants for 13 communities statewide through his innovative Opportunity Returns program - a pro-active, comprehensive plan to promote economic growth and create more jobs throughout the region. This grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources will support improvements of regional bike trails, which will benefit local residents and increase tourism opportunities.

"Bike trails contribute to community recreation and we continue to see the number of trails grow around the state," Gov. Blagojevich said. "These new construction projects are an outstanding investment because they maximizes the benefits of existing trails, and give communities the resources that will attract visitors and spur economic growth for years to come."

Governor Blagojevich's Opportunity Returns regional economic development plan is the most aggressive, comprehensive approach to creating jobs in Illinois' history. Since a one-size-fits-all approach to economic development just doesn't work, the Governor has divided the state into 10 regions - finding areas with common economic strengths and needs, and developing a plan with specific actions for each region. This grassroots effort for the East Central region is a product of significant outreach over several months with business, civic and labor leaders, and elected officials. This plan is tailored to deliver real results that local businesses will see, feel, and, hopefully, profit from.

The grant program reimburses local governments up to $200,000 for half the cost to develop a trail.

RECIPIENTS INCLUDE:
Urbana, City of (Champaign County) $151,600 to construct a 1.9-mile trail in the Stone Creek Boulevard from Castle Rock Drive to High Cross Road. The trail connects to an existing 6.3 miles of trail in the eastern portion of Urbana. (Local contact: William Gray, 217-384-2377).

Normal, Town of (McLean County) $200,000 to construct a 2.3-mile trail from downtown Normal to Illinois State University, Fairview Community Park and Heartland Community College. The trail will also connect to the existing 15-mile Constitution Trail which links Normal and Bloomington. (Local contact: Garry Little, 309-454-9540)

Chicago Park District (Cook County $200,000 to increase and improve access to the 18-mile Lakefront Trail by renovating a .61-mile segment between Lawrence and Foster. This highly used trail will be widened to 14 feet and new lighting will be installed. (Local contact: Elizabeth Forsythe, 312-742-4330)

Forest Preserve District of Will County $200,000 to construct Phase III of the Wauponsee Glacial Trail. This 7.1-mile segment connects the Village of Manhattan to the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie and to the Village of Symerton. (Local contact: Ralph Schultz, 815-727-8700)

Frankfort Square Park District (Will County) $200,000 to construct a 2.2-mile trail along a public greenbelt comprised of four parks. The trail will link the community recreation center on the north with the District's nine-hole golf course on the south - and with the local elementary school. (Local contact: Jim Randall, 815-469-3524)

Lake County (DOT) $200,000 to construct an .87-mile trail along Everett Road, which will connect to the northern terminus of the Lincolnshire Path. (Local contact: Bruce Christensen, 847-362-3950)

McHenry County Conservation District $200,000 to construct a two-mile trail which will connect the City of Crystal Lake with McHenry County College. The segment is a part of the Grand Illinois Trail. (Local contact: John Kremer, 815-338-6223)

Rockton Township (Winnebago County) $198,400 to construct a 1.4-mile extension of the Hononegah and Stone Bridge Trails. This Dorr Road Corridor will eventually allow access from the existing trail system in Winnebago County to planned trails in Beloit, Wisconsin. (Local contact: Matthew Cuyler, 815-624-7788)

Rock Island, City of (Rock Island County), $150,000, to install a pre-engineered bicycle/pedestrian truss bridge crossing Sylvan Slough, and touching down on Arsenal Island adjacent to the Rock Island viaduct. The project starts at the Rock Island levee at the intersection of Illinois Route 92 (Great River Road) and 24th Street. This project will provide a Mississippi River crossing for the American Discovery Trail. (Local contact: Jim Johnson, 309-732-2238)

Madison County Transit, $200,000 to construct a four-mile trail to extend the northeastern terminus of the Nature/Schoolhouse Trail southward to the western terminus of the Glen Carbon Trail. (Local contact: Jerry Kane, 618-874-7433)

Madison County Transit, $200,000 to construct a 2.7-mile segment of trail to extend the northeastern terminus of the Quercus Grove Trail northeasterly to the Village of Hamel. (Local contact: Jerry Kane 618-874-7433)

Glen Carbon, Village of (Madison County), $200,000 to develop a three-mile trail extension of the existing eight-mile Ronald J. Foster Heritage Bike Trail. The new trail will run east from the existing Silver Creek Trailhead along the old Illinois Central Railroad right-of-way to a point just west of Illinois Route 4. (Local contact: Mayor Ben Maliszewski, 618-288-1200)

City of Staunton (Macoupin County), $200,000 to construct a 5.5-mile trail from Staunton south to the Village of Worden in Madison County. (Local contact: Marilyn Herbeck, 618-635-2233)