When will the bridge over Kirk Road on the IPP's Batavia Spur be
finished? July 1997.
The annual Midwest Bicycle Show is sponsored by the Chicago Area
Bicycle Dealers Association. The 1997 product lines from the major
bicycle and accessory manufacturers were displayed. Other booths also
featured numerous bicycle clubs, trail book authors, publishers, and
more.
- David Tate
In observance of Earth Day 1997, the Illinois Prairie Path has scheduled
cleanups the weekend of April 19-20. Our goal is to clean all 55 miles
of the IPP.
Litter on the PATH is picked up solely by volunteers. Your help
on Earth Day is both needed and appreciated. However, it is also important
to remember that volunteer help with litter pickup is needed throughout
the year as well.
To be a participant in the PATH's Earth Day 1997 cleanup, you can
simply take a trash bag to the PATH and join in at anytime or call
one of the following IPP Earth Day coordinators. It is recommended
that volunteer groups contact a coordinator to schedule a specific
section to clean. Our goal is to assign at least one cleanup group
to each section of the 55-mile trail. All volunteers will want to
wear work gloves and clothing appropriate for the weather.
| Location |
IPP Coordinator |
Phone Number
|
| Maywood |
Paul Aeschleman |
(708) 848-6023
|
| Bellwood |
Susan Wisniewski |
(708) 493-1316
|
| Hillside |
Nancy Becker |
(630) 654-1019
|
| Berkeley |
John Kacich |
(708) 544-7524
|
| Elmhurst |
Steve Plumb |
(630) 279-8690
|
| Villa Park |
Marlon Hummell |
(630) 834-3051 Ext. 30
|
| Lombard |
Joelyn Kott |
(630) 620-5718
|
| Glen Ellyn |
Harley Jordan |
(630) 858-3439
|
| Wheaton |
Kathy Williamson |
(630) 462-7846
|
| Winfield |
David Tate |
(630) 682-1449
|
| West Chicago |
Tom Yule |
(630) 293-1726
|
| Wayne |
Gladys Johnston |
(630) 584-2491
|
| Warrenville |
Bob Rawls |
(630) 393-6720
|
| Aurora |
Vivian Dunten |
(630) 896-6609
|
| Batavia Spur |
Ed Barsotti |
(630) 820-8759
|
| Unincorporated areas |
David Tate |
(630) 682-1449
|
| General information |
Dick Wilson |
(847) 299-7882
|
The Wheaton Environmental Improvement Commission will again this
year manage Wheaton's Earth Day cleanup from a table at the intersection
of Lincoln Avenue and the PATH in Stevens Park. The Commission will
coordinate trail cleanup sections and also provide free refreshments,
trash bags and an IPP map (a $3.00 value). Funding for the table will
be provided by the Illinois Prairie Path, an Illinois not-for-profit
corporation.
The entire right-of-way of the IPP, which varies in width from about
20 feet to 100 feet, should be cleaned. In addition, small paths and
walkways that feed into the main trail and also the PATH's parking
lots should be cleaned.
Please do not leave trash bags along the PATH, except in Glen Ellyn
and Elmhurst where special pickups are planned. All trash bags should
be disposed of by either placing them in or near one of the PATH's
trash receptacles, or by taking the bags home for disposal with your
own recyclables and trash. In Glen Ellyn and Elmhurst, trash bags
may be left next to the trail and they will be picked up by the Glen
Ellyn Public Works Department and the Elmhurst Park District, respectively.
- David Tate
Watch for the new Illinois Prairie Path Mile Markers
The Illinois Prairie Path (IPP), in conjunction with the DuPage
County Department of Transportation (DOT), has embarked on a project
to replace the mile markers along the Illinois Prairie Path. The IPP
decided to replace the existing mile markers, many of which have been
in place over 20 years, after our inspections revealed that some of
the existing markers were either missing, in a state of severe decay,
or obscured by brush or weeds. Our recent IPP user survey ranked trail
signage as an important issue.
These problems will be alleviated by the new mile markers which
will be over 4-inches wide and mounted on 6-inch by 6-inch Trex
Wood - Polymer (100% recycled content) posts. The final height
of the markers will be 3.5 feet. The Trex lumber posts were selected
because they are made from 100% recycled plastic grocery bags, and
our research showed them to be durable and weather resistant (see
Trex ad below). Each of the individual markers will be labeled with
a Lexan sign which identifies the appropriate mile number and the
branch or spur.
The location of the mile markers has been measured and marked by
members of the IPP Board. Installation of the mile markers will be
conducted by the DuPage County DOT.
The IPP hopes to have the new mile markers installed throughout
DuPage County by the end of May. Many of the new posts have already
been installed along the Aurora Branch and the Main Stem.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank the following organizations
for their support of this project:
- IPP Membership (financial support and volunteer hours)
- DuPage County DOT (installation)
- Zenon Corporation (discounts on materials)
Note: The $5,000 in funding for this project came from the dues and
donations that have been received from the IPP Membership.
Members may be contacted to help with the installation of the signs.
As you begin to see the markers appear along the IPP, we welcome your
comments, pro and con.
One final note: If you should see anyone attempting to vandalize,
remove or damage the newly installed mile markers, please tell them
to stop and notify local authorities.
Once again, thank you for your support. If you have any questions
or wish to volunteer, please contact Paul Aeschleman at (708) 848-6023.
- Paul Aeschleman
TREX
Wood-Polymer Lumber
Decking this durable doesn't grow on trees.
For more information about the Trex lumber products,
contact Bill Semple, Zenon Marketing (630-620-2658).
The IPP in Cyberspace
Mike Cross, an avid Path enthusiast,
has developed an excellent home page on the world wide web about the
Illinois Prairie Path.
On a volunteer basis, Mike posts information about current events
along the Path and legislation affecting Rail-Trails. He has even
scanned in the Newsletters since 1995. There are links to a virtual
museum, or history of the Path, which covers May Theilgaard Watts'
letter to the Chicago Tribune in 1963, the building of Volunteer Bridge,
and the Illinois Governor's Bike Ride in 1992. Also included is general
information about the Path, including maintenance, administration
and access points in several suburbs. The next time you're on the
Internet, it's worth a stop! To reach the site, run a search on "Illinois
Prairie Path" or enter the following address:
http://www.ipp.org/.
There is a wealth of current information about Rail-Trails on the
Internet. How to develop and maintain trails, legislation affecting
Rail-Trails, maps and histories of other trails are also available.
If you're planning a vacation and would like to know if there are
any Rail-Trails in the area, check the Rail Trail Resource Center,
a world wide site for sharing information at
http://www.infinitypress.com/fredwert/.
Bellwood Police on the Bike Beat
The heroic crimefighter cruises up and down the Illinois Prairie
Path in his new helmet and uniform, protecting the public on ... a
bicycle? Well, Batman has his Batmobile, but late last summer Chief
Greg Moore of Bellwood established the Bellwood Bike Police, a unique
way of community policing, which was originally started in Las Vegas,
Nevada. The 15 or so energetic Bellwood police officers on the bike
beat trained at a 40-hour school in Chicago, which already has an
extensive bike patrol along the lakefront.
Sgt. T. Palermo, the Supervisor of the Bellwood Bike Police, thinks
it is a friendlier way for the police to come into contact with the
community. It is also a more silent and subtle way to sneak up on
law breakers, who don't expect the police to be on bicycles. Several
arrests have been made by Bellwood police that probably wouldn't have
happened otherwise. And it's great exercise for the officers, helping
them stay in shape.
The police bike used is not your average bike. Bellwood has 5 of
the fully-equipped bikes with 21 speeds, and the special shock absorbers
alone cost over $300. These $1,300 bicycles have been donated by 30
generous business owners. Sgt. Palermo has also set up a special Police
Bicycle Fund at the Bank of Bellwood for individual and business contributions.
When the Cook County section of the Illinois Prairie Path is finally
enhanced in the summer of '97 (a project that already has begun on
paper), all the joggers, bicyclists, and all who use the Path can
feel a lot safer knowing that the Bellwood Bike Police will already
be out there, starting April 15, on day and evening beats, providing
security for the community and its visitors.
- Susan Wisniewski
The Trails Project of the Conservation Foundation
The Illinois Prairie Path Board showed its support for the Trail
Project of the Conservation Fund by making a $1,000 donation in January
1997.
In addition to the Illinois Prairie Path, there are other organizations
who are committed to the preservation and improvement of the Illinois
Prairie Path and the creation of trails linking to it. The Trails
Project of the Conservation Foundation of DuPage County is such an
organization.
The Conservation Foundation is the oldest (25 years old) and largest
(800 member) conservation organization in DuPage County. One of its
goals is public policy advocacy. The Trails Project is very active
as a liaison between local government and citizens interested in trails.
It focuses its efforts on two fronts:
- public education and discussion at various local events and projects
and
- working with local officials to advocate additions and improvements
to the county-wide trail system.
With respect to public events, the Project had informational booths
at such events as: the DuPage County Fair, Danada Earth Day, National
Trails Day in Warrenville, DuPage County Bikeway Plan Workshops in Oak
Brook and Wheaton, and the Wheaton EcoFair. With the Illinois Prairie
Path and TROD, the Trails Project was a cosponsor of the Grand Illinois
Adventure Finale Party and Geneva Spur dedication in June 1996. The
Project also organized and conducted the Great Western Trail Clean Up
in October 1996.
With respect to working with government, the Trails Project worked
with the DuPage County Planning Commission during the development
of the DuPage County Bikeway Plan and is now helping to establish
grassroots support to implement the plan. The Project makes specific
proposals for new trails, lobbies local government for grant money,
recommends safer routes, and transmits public opinion survey results
on trails to appropriate government agencies. An important role is
to support national advocacy efforts in such areas as rail-trail rail-banking
and trail funding.
Several members of the Prairie Path Board are also members of the
Trails Project. If you would like more information, call Ed Barsotti,
Chair of the Trails Project, at (630) 820-8759.
- Tom Yule
Illinois Prairie Path Events
Saturday, March 29, 1997
Prairie Restoration at West Chicago Prairie.
Meet at 9 a.m. at Mac Queen Drive and the Path.
Dick Wilson (847) 299-7882 (8am - 6pm)
April, 1997 (All Month)
Earth Day Cleanups in all communities along the Path. Call
for dates and locations.
Dick Wilson (847) 299-7882 (8am - 6pm)
Saturday & Sunday, April 19-20, 1997
Illinois Prairie Path cleanups in observance of Earth Day.
See page 3 of this Newsletter for more information
and contacts.
Saturday, May 17, 1997
Bird Walk in Pratts Wayne Woods to look for spring arrivals.
Meet at 9am in the far back parking lot. Bring binoculars. Directions
to Wayne: From Rt. 59 go west on Army Trail Road to Powis Road (about
2 miles), then go north to Forest Preserve entrance. We will have
for a picnic lunch after the walk.
Dick Wilson (847) 299-7882 (8am - 6pm)
Paul Mooring (630) 469-4289
Saturday, May 17, 1997
Bicycle Ride to check signs along the Path. Meet at 9am in
the parking lot on the southwest corner of Liberty St. and Carlton
Drive, Wheaton, across the street from Volunteer Park.
Paul Aeschleman (708) 848-6023 (evenings)
Dick Wilson (847) 299-7882 (8am - 6pm)
Saturday, June 21, 1997
Work Day
For information, call Dick Wilson (847) 299-7882 (8am - 6pm)
MEMBERSHIP 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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