The Illinois Prairie Path
NEWSLETTER

Summer 2002

IPP Board Approves New Membership Rates
The Illinois Prairie Path Board approved new membership rates effective September 1, 2002. The modest increase was suggested to provide more funding for increased costs of special improvement projects along the Illinois Prairie Path, as well as to pay for increased printing and postage costs for the newsletters and other mailings and the development and printing of a new Illinois Prairie Path multi-color map which will be mailed to all members in early 2003.

Don Kirchenberg, IPP President, noted that the previous rates had been in effect for over 20 years.

Under the new rate system, Individual ($10) and Family memberships ($15) rates will be a combined category for $20; Supporting members and Organizations ($20) will be increased to $30; and the Contributing ($25) membership has been dropped. Other membership rates will stay the same including: Sustaining-$50; Patron-$100; Donor-$250; Lifetime-$500; and Society -$1,000.

Corporate Matching Gifts
Members who work for companies with matching contribution programs can double or even triple the amount of their donation. Members should check with their employer's human resources or community relations departments for a matching gift form. Then send it to us along with your membership form. Thanks to our members who work for companies with matching contribution programs such as Illinois Tool Works, Household, and McMaster-Carr Supply, The Illinois Prairie Path has an additional source of funding for path improvements.

Commonwealth Edison Withdraws
Vegetation Management Plan
Along One Mile of Trails in Glen Ellyn
Following a number of county and community public hearings, Commonwealth Edison Co. withdrew its support and participation in a Vegetation Management Plan planned in conjunction with DuPage County. The plan called for the removal of 500 tall trees under power lines along one-half mile stretches of both the Illinois Prairie Path and Great Western Trail in Glen Ellyn and replacement of these trees with shorter varieties.

This plan was controversial with residents and environmental groups because of the proposed use of herbicides to remove trees and because the loss of the tall trees would mean the removal of the protective tree canopy along the trails.

DuPage County officials had originally approached the utility company with the idea for the pilot program as a way to replace ComEd's controversial practice of cutting off the tops of trees that become too tall and interfere with power lines. Environmental groups also noted that that this type of tree cutting makes trees more prone to disease.

DuPage County officials explained that many of the tall trees were undesirable, invasive species. They also noted that the tree removal would have been staggered over several years and herbicides would have been used sparingly.

According to the proposal for the four-year program, approximately 500 tall trees that grow 35 feet or taller (such as box elders, maples and elms) or are under power lines would have been removed along one-half mile sections of the Illinois Prairie Path and the Great Western Trail in Glen Ellyn. The trees would either be cut down or eliminated using herbicides over the four-year period instead of taking down all the trees at once. Shorter species of trees, such as birches and dogwoods, would be planted as replacements.

The Illinois Prairie Path Board expressed concern about the proposal, according to Don Kirchenberg, IPP President who attended a number of community meetings with several other IPP board members.

Kirchenberg said the tree canopy along the path is an important buffer for residences and businesses. He also noted that neither the county nor ComEd ever provided answers to questions such as what kind of herbicide would be used. "Our position was that it was an extreme measure. Maybe ComEd can do a better job of trimming, so we'd have less of an eyesore," he said.

New Vehicle Barriers Installed
Earlier this year, the DuPage County Board's Environmental and Transportation Committees (chaired respectively by Tom Bennington and Pamela Rion) awarded bids for manufacture and installation of new vehicle bollards along several streets crossing the DuPage County Trail System. The bollards prohibit motor vehicles from entering the Illinois Prairie Path and Great Western Trail but can be folded down to allow access for maintenance crews from the County and the utilities, and also for emergency vehicles.

The new bollards, produced by PARS Direct, were installed at 66 locations to replace older existing bollards. Northern Contracting also installed new units at 10 locations (principally along the Great Western Trail) which did not have bollards in the past. This project is part of the County Trail System Improvement Plan. The final total cost for the materials and installation was approximately $96,000.

Thanks to our Volunteers For a Great Earth Day Cleanup
The annual Earth Day cleanup along the Illinois Prairie Path and Great Western Trail was a great success, thanks to the help of hundreds of volunteers. To recap the day's events, here are individual reports on the Earth Day activities from members of The IPP Board and volunteers.

Wheaton
On behalf of the Wheaton Environmental Improvement Commission, many thanks go to all the 250 volunteers who helped clean the Prairie Path on April 27. It was a cool, windy and cloudy day — but no rain fell until afternoon.

Various groups participating included Longfellow 5th Grade, Boy Scout Troop 373, Cub Packs 134, 73, 163, 23 and 374; Wheaton Christian Academy, Wheaton Christian Reformed Church Cadets; Wheaton North and Wheaton Warrenville South Key Club; Wheaton-Warrenville Environmental Studies Class; Aurora Christian High School Girls' Softball Team; Wheaton Juniors; Jefferson Street Association; President Street Missionary Furlough Homes.

Additional recognition goes to all the families, singles, couples, bike riders and hikers — thanks for all your participation and enthusiasm. We look forward to your help next year and bring your friends!

Continue to be good stewards of the Earth and enjoy the Prairie Path.
-Helen M. Bartlett, Coordinator, Prairie Path Clean-up Committee & Wheaton Environmental Improvement Commission

Glen Ellyn
In spite of the threatening weather more than 70 volunteers registered by 9 a.m. for the Glen Ellyn Prairie Path cleanup on April 27. By 11 a.m. when the rain began to fall, Glen Ellyn's section of the Path was as clean as the proverbial whistle. Scout, church, school and family groups, and a couple of Prairie Path board members did the job.

The Glen Ellyn Environmental Commission coordinated the event. The volunteers picked up almost a truckload of logs, lumber, cans, bottles, plastic, bricks, broken concrete and other debris. Village employees working on overtime used a municipal dump truck and a front-end loader to haul the trash away.
-Jean Mooring , IPP Board Member

Great Western Trail
The fourth Annual Elmhurst Bicycle Club Celebration of Earth Day and IPP cleanup was a rousing success. Twenty-seven members volunteered to help clean up a one-mile section of the Great Western Trail between Gary Avenue on the west, and Schmale Road on the east. The volunteers formed two groups and with work gloves, trash bags, ski poles, walking sticks and various other tools to help pick up trash started off on their assignment. One group started at Gary Avenue and worked east, while the second group started at Schmale Road and worked west. Two hours later the two groups met in the center of the one-mile section. So much trash was picked up it had to be hauled by vehicle to either Gary Avenue or Schmale Road where it could be picked up by the county. Everyone worked very hard, and felt good when they were finished.
-Ed Curtin, Elmhurst Bike Club

West Chicago
Birt Hurlbert, Dick and Nancy Wilson and three other volunteers cleaned from Rt. 59 to North Ave. The group picked up four bags of litter and a few odds and ends. Their original plan was to clean from Rt. 59 to Smith Road, but a pre-cleanup inspection by Birt and Nancy Hurlbert showed that another group had cleaned this section. Most of the cleaning took place behind the Oliver Square shopping center. Over the years, this has been the most litter plagued section of the 61-mile Illinois Prairie Path. We found this section to be in a much improved condition. Credit for this should go to former IPP President David Tate. In March 2001, he sent a letter to all parties involved with this shopping center explaining the problem. The results are evident.
-Dick Wilson, IPP Vice President

West Chicago Industrial Area
Erik Spande worked cleaning up the West Chicago industrial area. While I made a lot of progress, I really didn't make a dent in the trash. I pulled out 17 32-gallon garbage bags plus a truckload of construction debris (wood, pipes). It took me 4 hours to clean a one block area. Luckily I had help from other volunteers including Dave Watts and members of the Naperville Bike Club to move the commercial stove cooktop.
-Erik Spande, IPP Board Member

Volunteers Conduct Prairie Burns Along IPP
By Jean Mooring,IPP Board Member

On Saturday, April 6, ten volunteers burned four prairies along the Illinois Prairie Path in DuPage County: Volunteer Park, President Street and Hoffman Park on the Main Stem in Wheaton; and near Nagel Court on the Elgin Branch in rural West Chicago.

The weather was dry with a light breeze, perfect for a successful burn. Participants included IPP President Don Kirchenberg, three members of the Keeley family -- Eric and his son and his wife Jennifer, Paul and Jean Mooring, prairie expert Larry Sheaffer, Erik Spande, Rob Sperl and Dave Watts.

In addition to the burns in DuPage County, there were two prairies burned in Cook County.

Wheaton's Downtown Park Plans Move Ahead
By Rob Sperl IPP Board Member

On May 14, the DuPage County Board approved a lease to the Wheaton Park District for approximately 1.7 acres of land along the Illinois Prairie Path in downtown Wheaton.

It has been three years since this project was described in the summer 1999 newsletter, but good things come to those who wait. This area, between Reber Street and Washington Street, is one of the few sections along the Illinois Prairie Path where the path is not currently on public property.

The Wheaton Park District is planning to relocate the path onto the DuPage County right of way. The path will be 10 feet wide and have five feet of native plantings to buffer each side. In addition to the trail relocation, the Park District is planning several other improvements. The current plan shows the remainder of the county right of way being divided among: an 18-hole miniature golf area, a skate park area, and landscaped areas. The center of the park will contain a plaza with restrooms, drinking fountains, vending machines, and various other trail related amenities.

The Wheaton Park District is currently working with Commonwealth Edison on the initial step to relocate some of the power lines through the area. They are also contacting various consultants to assist with the engineering and design of the various elements. Construction should begin in 2003.

IPP MAILBAG
Mail from New Members
My wife Janet grew up in Villa Park a block away from the IPP. Her grandfather W. C. Ritter was a CA&E Traffic Manager (approx. 1915-35) and after our 3 kids (Elizabeth, Catherine and David) were born in the 1980s we had many a pleasant walk with Grandma on the IPP! With such a history together, it is only fitting that we join with you now.
Steve and Janet Olson
Canton, Michigan

We ride the Prairie Path every weekend. It's a very nice trail. We appreciate all the hard work you do to keep it clean and safe. I got my membership application at the Trails Day Bike Ride sponsored by the Elmhurst Bike Club!
Pam Nelson
Downers Grove

Members Suggest a Ride
On IPP in Cook County!
This letter is long overdue but I want to try to express the thrill it was the year the path was paved in Cook County. My husband and I pedaled it occasionally when the path was hardly visible because of its overgrown condition. It is such a pleasure to pedal it now.

When we lived in Oak Park, we would get on the Path at 1st Avenue and ride. We usually pedaled to Elmhurst (York Road), got ice cream, chicken or would go to the movies, then head back. I'd like to encourage any IPP user that hasn't been east of Elmhurst that it's a great ride. For an urban, people-packed area outside of Chicago, it's really nice to have the path.

My husband and I moved to Pennsylvania in May 2002. However, we would like to remain members and receive the newsletter. We will get back to the Midwest because we have family here. Thanks for all the hours and dedication to provide such an awesome trail.
Al and Carol Kohn
Formerly of Oak Park –
now of Tamaqua, PA

Old Plank Road Trail Has New Website
A web site for the Old Plank Road Trail (OPRT) has recently gone "live" on the internet. This new site — http://oprt.org —should be of interest to cyclists. Check it out  for maps, history, contact info, and event schedules for the Old Plank Road Trail.

The Old Plank Road Trail (OPRT) is a 5-year-old, 20-mile-long (soon to be 21-mile) smooth, paved, straight, shaded, rail-trail conversion that runs east-west through northern Will County and southern Cook County in Illinois. From the western end of the OPRT in Joliet you can connect with the Illinois & Michigan Canal Trail and the Joliet Heritage Trail to Lockport. It's also part of the 525-mile Grand Illinois Trail loop. There are also easy connections from the OPRT to five Will County and Cook County Forest Preserve District bike paths for those who prefer more hills.

On a somewhat related note: you might also be interested in the new Forest Preserve District of Cook County web site at http://www.fpdcc.com. It looks like another good resource for area cyclists.
Thanks for your time,
Jim Nugent for the OPRT

Open Letter to Villa Park
Re: Dog Waste on IPP
I am a long-time resident of Villa Park, actually since the mid-1970's, and a frequent user of the Illinois Prairie Path. It is not hard for me to remember the Path years back when it was much less aesthetically pleasing and no where near the shape it is presently. Therefore I commend you and your staff on your efforts in coordinating with the various local and county agencies which have aided in creating, maintaining and patrolling this central park environment for the enjoyment of our community's residents, and on behalf of all Prairie Path users.

However, I would like to take the opportunity to share with you my concerns, with respect to the numerous trail users who choose to walk their dogs, unleashed, and do not pick up their pet's (fecal) waste. Pursuant to my last inquiry to the Villa Park Police Department, it is a village ordinance that all pets are to be leashed, and their walkers are required to have on their person items to be used to collect and properly dispose of their animal's waste, in the event it is needed, or otherwise punishable by fines. Although this ordinance is basically unknown to the general public, grossly ignored by many and never in my life have I observed it to be enforced - I can not blame the walkers for their ignorance, only their lack of civility.

In order to reduce the Path's collection of these "suburban land-mines", I would like to challenge you to lobby the village government for municipal signs to be conspicuously placed, notifying the Path users that, should they choose to walk their dogs on the Path, they must do so responsibly. Furthermore, should they disregard the Village's leash and animal waste reclamation ordinance, they will be fined. Additionally I would like to challenge you to lobby the police department to actually enforce this ordinance. Thank you for your continued attention.
Clifton E. Sperry III
Managing Director, Structured Finance

Free Grand Illinois Trail Guides Available
Call (217) 782-3715 to order a free copy of the 32-page, comprehensive biking guide to the trail. It is also available on the web at bikelib.org or e-mail greenway@dnrmail.state.il.us The guide was produced by the League of Illinois Bicyclists and the Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources.