the illinois prairie path...
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September 2018 / Stay Connected: www.ipp.org, [email protected], Facebook, or 630-752-0120
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You'reInvited!
IllinoisPrairiePathPhotobyChuckHunnicutt
TOPIC:TrailConnectChicagolandCampaign
SPEAKER:MattGomez,TrailAdvocacyDirector,ActiveTransportationAlliance
ArecentheadlineintheDailyHerald:"100Milesoftrailsinsuburbs;
but200milesofgaps"
CometotheIllinoisPrairiePath'sAnnualMeetingandmeetMattGomezwhoisbringingtogetherelectedofficials,localandfederalgovernmententities,regionalplanningbodies,andengagedcommunitymemberstoidentifyandfillgapsintheregionaltrailnetwork.
Mattbelievesthat,whilethisprocesswilltaketimetoaccomplish,itisessentialtoestablishanengagedcoalitiontodrive-forwardthislong-termobjective.AttendtheAnnualMeetinganddiscoverhowyoucanhelpsecure200milesofnewtrails.
Click:http://activetrans.org/our-work/bicycling/trail-connect-chicagoland
RememberingBettyNemec,PathHistorian
BettyNemec,oneofthePathFounders,passedawayonMonday,April2,2018inMadison,Wisconsin.HerhusbandBillNemecpassedawayin2001.BothwereextraordinaryPathvolunteers!
Herfamilywrote"Shefoundtheoutdoorswouldbringpeacebytakinglongwalks,andcanoeinglakesandrivers."
BettywasactiveinaprogramtoreintroducenaturalprairiegrassintheregionandshetaughtNatureClassesattheMortonArboretum.TheNemecsattendedthePath'sNationalRecreationTrailinductioninWashington,D.C.withtheirfriend,PathFounderMayWatts.BillproudlypostedtheveryfirstIllinoisPrairiePathsign.
Intheearlyyears,whenthePathwasstillan“idea,”Bettyrealizedthatitwasimportanttodocumenteverything.AsthePathHistorian,Bettycollectedandpreservedalloftheoriginaldocuments(newsletters,maps,flyers,boardminutes,correspondence,newspaperandmagazineclippings,legaldocuments,awardsandfilesfromspecialprojects).Theseearlydocumentscapturethehistoricstruggles,conflicts,andtheFounders'achievementsastheyattemptedtosecuremilesofabandonedrailroadlandforapublicpath.ThedocumentsarepreservedinthePath'sArchivesatNorthCentralCollege.
ReadBetty'snotetothePathonits50thAnniversary:http://ipp.org/pdf/newsletter/SeptemberOctober2013.pdf
The Illinois Prairie Path Newsletter September / Fall 2018
MichiganLily
IllinoisPrairiePathAnnualMeetingSunday,November4
2p.m.to4p.m.GlenEllynLibrary-MeetingRoomsA/B
400DuaneStreet/60137
September 2018 / Stay Connected: www.ipp.org, [email protected], Facebook, or 630-752-0120
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WinfieldMoundsRegionalTrailOpeningTheWestBranchDuPageRiverRegionalTrailConnectswiththeIllinoisPrairiePath'sGenevaSpur
OnJuly11,ErikSpande,WinfieldVillagePresidentandIPPcPresident,and
DuPageCountyofficials,presidedovertheopeningofthe3-mileWinfieldMoundstrail,whichisoneofthelastcriticalconnectionsinthe25-plusmileWestDuPageRiverRegionalTrailsystem.Duringhisremarks,Mr.Spandestatedthat"Thisregionaltrailisatestamenttocitizenactivism,partnerships,andperseverance."
CitizenActivismIn2007,ninevolunteerswereappointedtoaWinfieldRIverwalkCommittee.Originally,thetrailwasplannedonthewestsideoftheriver.ThislocalgrouppushedtohavethetrailontheeastsideoftheriverandthroughdowntownWinfield.Forestpreserveplannersagreed,sowhatbeganasacitizenaspirationresultedinasegmentofaregionaltrailinWinfield.Anearlyhistoryisathttp://www.winfieldriverwalk.com/.
PartnershipsThereweremanypartnersthatworkedtocompletethenewtrail.Spandecontinued,"TheForestPreserveDistrictofDuPageCountyhasbeentheleadonthisprojectandtheirdedication,expertiseandresourceshaveshownushowtheytrulyareguidedbytheirmissionforbeneficialuseoftheforestpreserve."NorthwesternMedicineCentralDuPageHospitalgrantedthevillagealong-termeasementonthelandwherethetrailwasplannedbytheRonaldMcDonaldHouseandTownCenter.OtherpartnersincludedtheWinfieldParkDistrictandourIllinoisPrairiePath(c).
PerseveranceThenewtrailwasa10-yeareffort.Spandeexplained,"Findingfundingfora$3milliondollartrailfromtheCongestionMitigationandAirQualityImprovementProgram(CMAQ)wasnosmalltask.Welearnedbydoing.Partnerssubmittedthefirstgrant.Wemadeagreatcase.Wemetallthemetrics,butwewereturneddown.Wesubmittedasecondgrant,andlostagain.Sowedidsomemorework,somepreliminaryengineering,andsubmittedagrantforthethirdtime.Andwewona$2Mgrantforthe$3Mproject!"
TheWinfieldRiverwalk:• Improvesconnectivitythroughouttheregion• Hasimprovedourcommunityspiritthroughsuccessfulpartnershipsandgrassrootsvolunteersupport• Is10feetwide,mademostlyofcrushedlimestone• Featuresan80-by-14-footprefabricatedbridgeanda640-footboardwalk• Enhancesecologicalrevitalizationofexistingbutdegradedwoodlands• Improveshealthandwellnessopportunitiesinanaturalenvironmentforcitizensandschools
ThetrailwillbethebackboneforafutureRiverwalkParkindowntownWinfield.TheWinfieldRIverwalknon-profitisanadvocateandtheparkisintheplanningstages.Spandeconcludedbysaying,"Astheoldclichégoes,manyhandsmakeforlightwork,andthereweretrulymanyhandsthathelpedmakethePathareality."
AnONLINEMAPofWinfieldRiverwalkisavailableat:http://www.dupageforest.org/news/upcoming-projects/west-dupage-river-trail-winfield-mounds-west-dupage-woodsClick:ProjectDocuments:WinfieldMoundstoWestDuPageWoods
(LtoR)CuttingtheOpeningDayribbonare:ErikSpande,President,WinfieldVillage;JoeCantore,President,ForestPreserveDistrictofDuPageCounty,andAlMurphy,District6Representative.
September 2018 / Stay Connected: www.ipp.org, [email protected], Facebook, or 630-752-0120
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DuPageCountyBiketoWorkEvent
RepairingPathAmenities
WheatonBikeFestival
OnJune26,throughrainyweather,DuPageCountyChairmanDanielCronin,CountyBoardmembersandotherenthusiastsbikedtoworkontheIPPfromElmhursttotheCountycampusinWheaton.
ThePath'skioskatMilemarker0/VolunteerPark,originallybuiltbyLegacyVolunteerPaulMooring,isinneedofrepair.IPPcVolunteerBoardmembersKenMcClurg(pictured),ErikAndersen,ErikSpandeandDennisTerdyareupgradingtheparkareaandstructureswithPathfunds.
OnSaturday,August2,IPPcVolunteerBoardmembersJeffFriedmanandRobSperlhostedtheIllinoisPrairiePathdisplayforallparticipants.
ThanksforinvestinginthePath!MEMBERS
BoyScoutTroop4107BradBalkeDaveBrittonScottBuck
Richard&KellyByrnesJimDresselDaveDuve
DavidEspositoDennisFeibrandt
Debbie&EdForemanGregHippSteveHyett
SteveLangfordWilliamMcViskZacharyNauthLorenH.OuryCathyPetersenFrankSimonoJohnStaerk
DONATIONS/GIFTS/GRANTSRobertBahrey
HamillFamilyFoundationGraingerMatchingGiftsProgram
KenKraussDeborahOrman
J.A.PooleWheatonGardenClub
September 2018 / Stay Connected: www.ipp.org, [email protected], Facebook, or 630-752-0120
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EarliestDaysoftheTinleyCreekTrail(SouthCookCounty)TrailAdvocacy:AFamilyTraditionbyFlorenceTerdyFlorenceTerdy,95,whovolunteersregularlyatvariouslocalagencies,residesinCarmel,CA.Inthespringof2011,theCookCountyBoardpassedaResolutionrecognizingherearlybiketrailefforts.SheisthemotherofDennisTerdy,IllinoisPrairiePathboardmember.
Backinthelate1960’sand1970’smyhusbandandIownedasmallbakeryinOakForest,Illinois,calledLittleBill’sBakeryandCoffeeBar.Theownerofalargefarmparcel,Mrs.Levowitz,wasaregularcustomeratthebakeryandafriendofmine.Atthetime,shewasnegotiatingwithCookCountytosellherland,whichranfrom159thStreetonthenorthbetweenCentralAvenueontheeastandOakParkAvenueonthewest.TheLevowitzfarmlandandhorsefarmwasfrequentedbythencurrentradioandtelevisionpersonality,ArthurGodfrey,whostabledhishorsesatthefarm.
ThroughMrs.Levowitz,IlearnedabouttheproposedsaleofherlandtoCookCountyandtheirplanstobuildagolfcourse.(NowCookCounty’sGeorgeW.DunneGolfCourse).Knowingaboutthispendingsale,Ithoughtitwouldbeniceifsomeofthislandcouldbesetasideforabikepath.Afterthesale,Mrs.LevowitzmovedtoPontiac,ILandtheCounty’splansforanewgolfcoursesoonbegan.
Inthe1960’sand1970s,theCookCountyForestPreserveshadseveralbridletrailsconnectedwestintothePalosarea.Horsebackridingpopularitywasdecliningatthetime,andIwasstruckwiththeideaofhownaturalitwouldbetoconvertsomeofthesebridletrailsintobikepaths.First,IbeganbytakingPolaroidphotosofopengaragesinOakForesttodemonstratetheprevalenceofbikesandtheneedforfamiliestoenjoybikingbeyondlocalsidewalks.
Next,sinceourbakerywaslocatedonhighlytraffickedfour-laneCiceroAvenue,Idecidedtouseourlargeroadsidesigntoinitiateapetitiondrivetofurtherdocumentlocalcommunity’sinterestinabikepath.Iinvitedcustomers,others,andanyonewhostoppedtoshowtheirinterestinabikepathbysigningthesepetitions.Atthistime,alocalIllinoisHouseMembertookaninterestinthisbikepathproject.Heaskedmetocontinuethepetitiondriveoverthenextseveralmonthsandtodelivereachbatchofnewsignaturestohisoffice.
Finally,withstronglocalsupportfromOakForest’sMayorKelly,ourlocalIllinoisHouseMember,andlocalbusinessandcommunitymembers,Iaskedforameetingwiththemedia,ofcourse,andrepresentativesofCookCounty.Themeetingwasheld,andbecauseofthismeetingandthestrongdisplayofinterestandlocalsupportforthebikepathidea,CookCountybegantheprocessofintegratingabikepathintotheirlong-termplans.Althoughittookseveralmoreyears,theideaofabikepatharoundtheGeorgeDunnGolfCoursewasrealizedinthelate1970s.Soonafter,itwasjoinedtoaseriesofnewlyconvertedbridlepathsinPalostobecomewhatisnowthenorthernsectionoftheTinleyCreekTrail.
ANONLINEMAPofTinleyCreekTrailisavailableat:http://fpdcc.com/preserves-and-trails/trail-descriptions/-tinley-creek
ThisPalePurpleCornflower,canbefoundatFounder'sParkinWheaton.(PhotobyLarrySheaffer)MayTheilgaardWatts,PathFounder,hadavisionthatapublicpath,alonganoldrailroadline,wouldhelpmanygenerationsdiscovertheimportanceandbeautyofnativeplants.BecomeacitizenscientistthroughtheBudburstprogramsponsoredbytheChicagoBotanicGarden(https://www.budburst.org/aboutus).IfyoujoinBudburstandcollectdataonnativeplantsalongtheIllinoisPrairiePath,pleaseshareyourdatawithus.Thanks!