The Illinois Prairie Path Newsletter
Spring 1995

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- Jean C. Mooring, Editor -

What to look for: Sandhill Cranes!

Sandhill Cranes, an endangered species in Illinois, have been sighted flying over the wetlands in Pratt's Wayne Woods Forest Preserve every spring during the past three years. This year they are back again, as three Illinois Prairie Path members can attest. The three were part of a group of birders who were helping with the Illinois Department of Conservation spring bird count in the Wayne area on May 6. They heard cranes bugling and then saw three of these magnificent birds flying high above the marsh with two more closer to the ground. (The call sounds like gar-oo-oo and can be heard for more than a mile.)

Slightly smaller than the Great Blue Heron, which is frequently seen at the Pratt's Wayne Woods marsh, the sandhill crane adult is gray overall with a dull red skin patch on the crown of the head and a "bustle" of feathers for a tail, lacking in the great blue heron. By contrast, the great blue heron is slate blue with a white head and black stripe extending above the eye and a distinctive yellowish beak. In flight the crane's neck is stretched out while the heron's is crooked.

Since the marsh/prairie habitat is ideal for crane nesting, the forest preserve district by Executive Order in mid-April closed a portion of the preserve in the hope the birds will decide to settle down and raise a family free of human interference. Signs are posted along the northeast side of the Illinois Prairie Path and the west side of Powis Road and south of the recreational lakes in the forest preserve, forming a rough triangle. The message reads: "STOP. Please do not go beyond this sign. This area is critical nesting habitat for the Sandhill Crane, a rare and endangered bird in Illinois. Human activity may force the cranes to leave this habitat. Please help the cranes by avoiding this area until September 1, 1995. Thank you!"

To this we reply, Thank YOU, Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, for maintaining a home for the cranes in the marshes and grasslands at Pratt's Wayne Woods. Even if we don't see one, it is good to know that they are here.

Attention, Path users

The DuPage County Division of Transportation has just started widening Eola Road to four lanes from North Aurora Road to Butterfield Road. Eola Road crosses the IPP Aurora Branch, where a bridge will be built for the Path over the road, and also the IPP Batavia Spur, where an underpass will be built for the Path under the Eola Road bridge at I-88. It is expected that construction of the underpass will be completed by September, 1995, and of the bridge, by early winter, 1995. Until these major improvements are finished, Path users will encounter a poor surface and heavy equipment in these areas and should exercise caution.

A scenic new Trail in Geneva

The Illinois Prairie Path Geneva Spur now connects via an off-road trail with the Fox River Trail at the north end of Bennett Park in Geneva! Many will call this new section of the Geneva Spur, which bypasses a long-disputed stretch of the old CA&E right-of-way, the prettiest part of the Prairie Path. The trail leaves the old r/w and runs north on a wide concrete sidewalk beside a city park along the east side of East Side Drive to High Street; then it turns west and soon crosses a handsome steel bridge over a ravine and meanders up and down easy slopes between the peaceful woods of Good Templar Park and the lovely grounds of Oak Hill Cemetery, ending at a well-engineered wood switchback ramp which leads gently down to Rt. 25.

According to Jon Duerr, director of field services for the Kane County Forest Preserve District, this new trail represents a cooperative effort among many agencies: the City of Geneva, which built the trail; the forest preserve district, which built the ramp and the bridge and installed the chain link fence along the Good Templar Park easement; Good Templar Park, which granted an easement on a 12-to-15-foot strip along the north edge of its property; Geneva Township, which donated a strip of cemetery land near the bridge; the Geneva Park District, which contributed a sum of money because the trail along East Side Drive runs beside its park; and the Illinois Department of Conservation, which provided a $40,000 matching grant from its bicycle grant program.

The Illinois Prairie Path board of directors congratulates the City of Geneva, the Kane County Forest Preserve District, and all the participating agencies, public and private, for this excellent project. Similar cooperative efforts at trail-building in DuPage and Cook Counties could work wonders too!

Hiking & Biking in DuPage County, Illinois

As the title indicates, this new book is a comprehensive guide to the many trail opportunities available in DuPage County. The author, Jim Hochgesang, whose publishing company Roots & Wings is based in Lake Forest, has personally explored the county bike paths and also the trails in 24 forest preserves, which he describes in accurate detail. The book features the Illinois Prairie Path, the Fermilab bike path and nature trails, the Naperville Riverwalk, the Morton Arboretum paths and the Wheaton EcoBelt, and describes more than 240 miles of off-road trails and bike paths at 41 different sites. County and specific site maps are included, together with information about unique natural features and flora and fauna found at each site. There is also a listing of area attractions, nearby bike shops, a calendar of events, and related organizations.

This excellent guide is available for $11.95. Call Roots & Wings at (847) 234-7174.

Berkeley beautifies between bridges

The short section of the Illinois Prairie Path between the I-290 and I-294 overpasses in Cook County had for many years been an orphan neglected by all until last November when the Village of Berkeley adopted it, gave it a home in the park district, and planted trees and shrubs on it. Berkeley Building Commissioner Arthur Rubel designed three new berms for landscaping on both sides of the Prairie Path, and a group of volunteers did the planting on November 13, 1994. The volunteers included the village president, several trustees, the public works superintendent, and the chief of police. Money to help with the project and two pole lights for the Path were donated by the Harp Sign Company, which has a large advertising sign between the two overpasses. Rubel plans more refinements this year, including replacing some small junipers damaged by road salt, bringing in more black dirt and bark mulch, and planting a mix of colorful wildflowers.

The Illinois Prairie Path board of directors extends sincere thanks to the people of Berkeley for this ongoing improvement, which all Path users will appreciate. It won't be long before this section will be as beautiful as the older developed park east of the bridges.

An Eagle Scout Challenge

The Illinois Prairie Path has a good, hard project for an Eagle Scout candidate: painting with rust-proofing paint the steel bridge over the East Branch of the DuPage River between Glen Ellyn and Lombard. The bridge was last painted by IPP volunteers about ten years ago, and the surface is now rusting and peeling badly. (See picture.) This is one of our most important bridges because it is located on the Main Stem and carries on average more than two users every minute on pleasant summer weekends. We must not let it rust to the point where it becomes structurally unsound. The task will require wire-brushing or some other effective method of preparing all surfaces for painting. The Scouts will probably have to stand on platforms suspended over the river by ropes to scrape, smooth and paint the outsides and underside. The job can be done by Boy Scouts. A troop from Bellwood painted the bridge the first time in 1978 as an Eagle project. Scouts who want a REAL challenge should call our office at (630) 752-0120, or write to The Illinois Prairie Path, Box 1086, Wheaton, IL 60189.

Reports on Spring Cleanup

Maywood, Gladys Freelon, Chair of the Maywood Beautification Committee: "I took a group of five or six young people out on the Path on April 29 and we had a good time cleaning up between First Avenue and Fifth." Adds her husband, Mayor Joe Freelon, "Our Public Works Department cleans the Path regularly year-round on a monthly basis. We also benefit from the efforts of the "SWAP Team" (Sheriff's Work Alternative Program) which sends a crew of 14 to 20 persons every month to work on cleanups where needed in the village, including the Prairie Path on April 12 this year. We are all looking forward to the completion of the trail in Maywood by the Illinois Department of Conservation, promised for next year."

Bellwood, Susan Wisniewski: "We had a good turnout for the cleanup, including 14 boys from the Bellwood Boys and Girls Club and two directors, Pat Gartland and Ed Sheehan; the manager of the Prairie View Apartments, Jim Bilotta and two friends; two Kiwanians; Michael Hodges, also from the Boys and Girls Club; Larry Doyle from the Bellwood Department of Streets and Sanitation (a good, dependable friend of the IPP); and two public service workers and their supervisor, also with the village. Our cleanup was on Earth Day, April 22, and we covered the area between Mannheim and Eastern. Doughnuts and orange juice and pizza afterwards kept the B and G Club members' energy levels high. I hope some girls will turn out next year because this is a fun event and the participants enjoy helping the community."

Hillside. According to a staff member at the village hall, Hillside had no special IPP cleanup because the public works department mows the grass regularly during the growing season and picks up trash as needed throughout the year. Last year Hillside beautified the Prairie Path entrance at the east side of Taft Avenue with shrubs, flowers, an attractive rustic fence and drinking fountain. Its section always looks good.

Berkeley, John Kacich: "I did a mini-cleanup of the Path in Berkeley for Earth Day with the help of my two grandchildren, Rachel (8) and Raymond (10)." Since the Illinois Department of Conservation transferred control of the Berkeley section of the IPP to the village last year, major cleanup and mowing are handled on a regular weekly basis by the Berkeley Park District, according to Ken Schill, president. Last year the district spent $6000 to resurface the Path and build a connecting trail through the park past the nearby recreation building. (See also the beautification story, p. 3.)

Elmhurst, Steve Plumb, acting executive director of the Elmhurst Park District: "The district maintains the IPP in Elmhurst under a lease with DuPage County. We expect our usual great turnout of residents for the annual cleanup of all our city parks including the IPP, scheduled for mid-May."

Villa Park, Marlon Hummel, park district director: "We had our Prairie Path cleanup on April 15 before the first grass cutting. About thirty persons participated, including Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts; 30-40 garbage bags were filled with brush and trash. Villa Park's section looks very good."

Lombard, Joelyn M. Kott, Department of Community Development: "On April 22 approximately 300 people braved the cool but dry weather and cleaned up around Lombard in the annual Lombard Pride Cleanup Day in preparation for Lilac Time. This year several groups concentrated on the Prairie Path, including Brownies, Scouts, families and the Lombard Y Indian Maidens and Braves -- about 75 persons in all. Sections cleaned up included Grace to Lewis, Main to Elizabeth, and Grace to North Broadway. The Prairie Path is always a popular place which people want to clean. They seem to like to clean up an area which they're familiar with and use frequently."

Glen Ellyn, Jean Mooring: "About 27 people participated in Glen Ellyn's cleanup on, before, and after April 29, including four village employees; eleven members, adults and one sister from Cub Scout Pack 381; two students from the Glenbard West Ecology Club; Joe Wark, former village trustee; Jim Tuinenga, chairman of the G.E. Environmental Commission; and two hardworking visitors from Madison, Wisconsin. We also had on hand a photographer from Channel 17 WCTV Wheaton. Results: 1-1/2 truckloads picked up. A preliminary cleanup by two village employees and me the previous Thursday collected major junk, including six 55-gallon drums of dirt dumped on the IPP right-of-way when the village garage and the Mayflower building were razed in preparation for the new library; also a 30-foot utility pole, broken concrete, a heavy railroad tie, and a large metal pallet. On Saturday morning many bags of cans, bottles, paper, and plastic were collected. I also went out by myself the following week and filled up two more bags in the library-Mayflower area."

Wheaton, Bill MacDowell, Environmental Improvement Commission: "We set up a table at the Recycling Center on Liberty and gave out coffee, juice, doughnuts, garbage bags and free mugs to the cleanup participants who happened by. We had 45 volunteers working this year, divided into three groups. Twenty-five students of Mrs. Sue Soojas Nehrlich, a biology teacher at Wheaton-Warrenville South High School, cleaned the IPP Aurora Branch in the vicinity of the school; Brownie Troop 322 plus parents and leaders concentrated at Volunteer Park and north to Lincoln; and five or six individuals worked around President Street. This year recyclables were separated and collected in easily-identified clear bags; the city picked up the bags the following Monday.

"Next year we will have our table on the IPP at Volunteer Park and will be more aggressive in recruiting volunteers."

Winfield/West Chicago, David Tate: "I cleaned the five miles of the IPP Elgin Branch between Lincoln Marsh and North Avenue myself. The area on the Elgin Branch between North Avenue and Rt. 59 continues to be a litter problem due to wind-blown trash from the Oliver Square Shopping Center. However, the IPP board did receive a written commitment in March from Mid-America Asset Management Company, the manager of the shopping center, saying a spring cleanup would be done and the area would be more closely monitored for litter. Unfortunately, we have not seen the results of any cleanup at this location so far this year."

Wayne, Joan Hamill: "Corwith and I inspected the Path in Wayne and found virtually no trash. It's looking good!"

Warrenville, Maureen and Bob Rawls: "On April 29 sixteen Warrenville residents started the Prairie Path cleanup at the Albright Park gazebo and picked up 20 garbage bags of trash plus a variety of debris, which they disposed of properly. Greg Rawls found a reminder of the Prairie Path's origin - an old railroad spike. He has it proudly displayed in his room.

"Many thanks to the Walker Family - Todd, Cathy, Wendy, Gail, Kim Brooks, Brett and Noell; the Schmidt Family - Connie, Sarah and Danny; Greg, Laura, Meagan, and Michael Rawls. The youngest 'volunteer' was 4-month-old Noell Walker (we train them early).

"We hope everyone will enjoy the Prairie Path this coming season."

Recent IPP Projects

Work Day on February 18 at the Elmhurst Great Western Prairie along the IPP from Spring Road west. Along with twenty volunteers from other groups, five IPP members helped cut and stack brush. They were Dick and Nancy Wilson, Paul and Jean Mooring, and Steve Plumb. The project leader was Keith Olson from the GWP Stewardship Group--a former IPP board member.
Chicago Area Bicycle Dealers Association show at the Rosemont Convention Center, Feb. 25 and 26. IPP members who worked at the booth were: Paul Aeschleman, Nancy Becker, Dan Carey, Tom May, Jean Mooring, Paul Mooring, Ken Moss, Steve Plumb, Ashley Plumb (Steve's daughter), Benna Tate, David Tate, Dick Wilson, Nancy Wilson, and Tom Yule. David Tate handled the arrangements and reported that the event generated 24 new memberships, produced more than $400 from sales of maps and other merchandise, and informed a lot of interested people about the Illinois Prairie Path. We plan to do it again next year.
Work Day on March 18 at the West Chicago Prairie on the south side of the IPP west of MacQueen Drive. Six Prairie Path members spent an enjoyable morning helping Mel Hoff and some of his regular WCP Stewardship Group drag out and stack pre-cut brush (mostly grey dogwood) from a large area at Marker #103. We then raked prairie seed into the cleared area. Any regrowth from the cut stubs of dogwood will be herbicided later with Garlon, a method approved by the forest preserve district. This was a good learning experience for the IPP volunteers, who included Paul and Tricia Aeschleman, Paul and Jean Mooring, Tom May and Tom Yule.
Work Day in Lombard on April 15 to replace the damaged Lexan panel in the display case at Main Street and install a new display case in the stand at Westmore. Participants were David Tate, Paul Aeschleman, the Moorings and the Wilsons. Nancy and Dick also conducted a mini-cleanup of the two sites.
Later in the morning the group presented a check in the amount of $1,000 to Gail McGrew, president of the Villa Park Historical Society, which sells IPP maps and other merchandise in its trailside museum (the historic CA&E Villa Avenue Station).

National Audubon Society

Audubon Action Agenda 1995

Protect America's migratory birds. Support funding for research and habitat acquisition.
Protect wild regions like the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the Great Northern Forests of the Northeast.
Restore America's greatest wetlands ecosystem, the Everglades, and it's wildlife.
Reauthorize and strengthen the Endangered Species Act.
Strengthen the Clean Water Act to speed reductions in water pollution and increase wetlands protection.
Oppose "takings" legislation which requires taxpayers to pay for polluters' compliance with environmental laws.
Protect the national forests from irresponsible clearcutting and overlogging. Oppose so-called forest health bills.
Conserve the ocean's depleted fisheries, reducing present allowable catches.
Protect our national wildlife refuges and parks from inappropriate human uses and over-development.
Protect America's soil and farmland wetlands. Reform the Farm Bill to benefit wildlife.
Reform grazing and mining practices on our public lands.
Promote stabilization of population growth in the U.S. and globally.
Support the "Green Scissors" budget cuts for environmentally harmful subsidies in farming practices, water projects and energy projects.

Environmental Bill of Rights

Every American has the right to a safe and healthy environment. We urge all elected officials -- local, state and federal -- to protect that right. We oppose any measures that would roll back the environmental progress of the last 25 years. We commit ourselves to supporting the following simple principles, and will hold public officials who represent us accountable for their stewardship of the planet.

Prevent Pollution. Every American is entitled to air, water, food and communities free from toxic chemicals. Government policies and regulatory standards must prevent pollution before it happens, expand citizens' right to know about toxics, and guarantee protection for citizens, particularly for the most vulnerable among us - infants, children, pregnant women and the elderly.
Preserve America's National Heritage, wild and beautiful, for our children and future generations. Wildlife, forests, mountains, prairies, wetlands, rivers, lakes, coastlines, urban parks and open space are all part of our national heritage.
End the give-aways of public assets, such as mineral, timber and grazing resources. End the subsidies for oil and energy companies. Polluters should pay to clean up the mess they create. No one has the right to use property in a way that destroys or degrades the surrounding community. We reject the idea that good neighbors must pay bad ones not to pollute.
Conserve America's Natural Resources by controlling waste, increasing energy efficiency, and protecting against overuse and abuse. Encourage sustainable technologies that meet human needs without destroying the environment.
Get the Big Money out of politics. No more government for sale. Let's take our government back from the big campaign contributors and exploiters who control it today.

Name:
Signature:
Address:
City/State/Zip:
Phone (Day. w/Area Code):
Phone (Evening, w/Area Code):
Please send membership information (y/n)

To obtain additional copies of the Environmental Bill of Rights pledge sheet, call (800) 542-2748. Please return signed petitions to:
Environmental Bill of Rights
National Audubon Society
666 Pennsylvania Ave, SE, #200
Washington, DC 20003-4319
TEL: (201) 547-9009, FAX: (202) 547-9022

West Chicago Prairie Events

Sunday, June 18, 1995
Birding Trip. Summer residents should see Yellow-breasted Chat and Sedge Wren.
6:00 a.m. - 8:45 a.m.

Sunday, June 18, 1995
Field Trip. Good displays of Spiderwort, Spiked Lobelia, Black-eyed Susan, Wild White Indigo, Wild Rose, Marsh Phlox and Purple Coneflower.
9:00 a.m. - Noon.

Saturday. July 15, 1995
Seed Collection. Collection of Spiderwort seed over much of the Prairie. Many other species in bloom.
8:00 a.m. - Noon.

Saturday. July 22, 1995
Field Trip. Good displays of Wild Quinine, Flowering Spurge, Purple Prairie Clover, Compass Plant, Blazing Star, and many others.
9:00 a.m. - Noon.

Saturday, August 19, 1995
Field Trip. Good displays of Prairie Dock, False Dragonhead, Nodding Onion, Tall Coreopsis, Prairie Sunflower, Blazing Star and many others.
9:00 a.m. - Noon.

All event's start at the West Chicago Prairie parking lot located on the east side of Industrial Drive between Western and Downs. Information: Mel Hoff, (630) 393-4715, or JoAnn Monge, (630) 961-2041, day or evening.

Summer Activities, rain or shine

Saturday, June 17, 1995
Saturday, July 15, 1995
Saturday, August 19, 1995
Work Days. Information: Dick Wilson, (847) 299-7882.
8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

MEMBERSHlP RATES: Individual $20
                      Family $20
     Organization/Supporting $30
                  Sustaining $50
                      Patron $100
                    Lifetime $500

       Illinois Prairie Path
       P.O. Box 1086
       Wheaton, Illinois 60189

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Last Modified:
Sun Mar 19 14:20:30 CST 2000

The Illinois Prairie Path Newsletter Spring 1995