The Illinois Prairie Path Newsletter
Summer 2000

Highway Construction Impacts IPP

By Paul Mooring, IPP Treasurer

Four highway projects, three of which are underway, will impact the Illinois Prairie Path. These include the following:

1. the Taylor Avenue bridge and storm sewer project in Glen Ellyn;
2. the widening of North Avenue from Gary Avenue to Illinois Route 59;
3. an interchange between the East-West Toll Road (I-88), and Eola Road; and
4. a north-south, four-lane road from Ogden Avenue (Illinois Route 34) to North Avenue (Illinois Route 64) to be built somewhere in the corridor between Kirk/Farnsworth Road and Illinois Route 59.

Furthermore, a public hearing was held July 6 at the DuPage County Complex to present land use projections that will be used to develop a "comprehensive road improvement plan" for all of DuPage County. At the time this newsletter went to press, details were not yet available to be included in this article.

Schedule for Highway Projects

Taylor Avenue Bridge -- late 2000, early 2001 Widening of North Aurora -- Summer/Fall 2000 Eola Road interchange -- still under discussion 4-Lane Road between Kirk/Farnsworth and Route 59 -- still under discussion

Taylor Avenue Bridge

I attended a meeting in March between staff personnel of the Village of Glen Ellyn and the DuPage County Division of Transportation. Glen Ellyn intends to upgrade its storm sewer system in the Taylor Avenue Basin to alleviate the flooding of basements in the area. The purpose of the meeting was to coordinate the installation of a new storm sewer line along Taylor Avenue. The village and the county agreed to install the sewer line before beginning construction of the bridge started.

Both the village and the county were contacted at the end of May to determine where the two projects stand. Glen Ellyn hired the same design-underpass engineering firm that is working on the construction of the new Illinois Prairie Path bridge over Taylor Avenue so that the two projects can be more easily coordinated. The village reported that its bidding process should be finished and a contractor hired by the end of July for the drainage project. The Taylor Avenue underpass will be closed for three or four days while the storm sewer is being installed. It is estimated that the entire storm sewer job will take three weeks.

The design drawings for the Taylor Avenue bridge have not yet been approved. At the last review the engineering staff of the Division of Transportation asked that the design-engineering firm make several more changes in the plans. It is currently anticipated that the engineering drawings will be completed and approved and the project sent out for bids in early July. The bidding process will then take three weeks. The DuPage County Transportation Committee will then meet and approve the low bidder and send its recommendation to the county board at its next regular meeting. Finally, after the county board accepts the low bidder, a contract will be negotiated with a construction firm.

It is estimated that after construction starts, hopefully by late August or early September, it will take five months to complete the job. Trail users will have to detour around Taylor Avenue during construction. People going west on the IPP will have to exit south from the trail a few hundred yards east of Taylor Avenue onto Walnut Street at Longfellow Avenue, go south on Longfellow to Duane Street, west on Duane to Montclair Avenue, and then north on Montclair back to the Path. The county will have the responsibility for marking the temporary route with detour signs for the benefit of trail users.

North Avenue

Work on upgrading North Avenue between Gary Avenue and Route 59 has already started. The right-of-way has been cleared, pipelines have been installed, utility lines are being relocated, and soon work on the paved road itself will start. When finished the new road will be a six-lane, divided highway.

The Elgin Branch of the Prairie Path passes under North Avenue in the construction area through a box culvert. We have been assured by engineers at the Illinois Department of Transportation that the existing IPP box culvert is long enough for the widened highway to pass over and will not have to be lengthened. However the wing walls at each end of the culvert, which keep the highway berm from spilling onto the Path, will have to be extended. Currently there are no plans to detour traffic on the Path around the construction site; however, there may be times during construction that Path use may be temporarily interrupted. Path users should be careful when passing through the construction area.

Eola Road Interchange

An interchange between I-88 (East-West Toll Road) and Eola Road will be built sometime in the next few years. An architectural-engineering firm has been hired by the county to do a design study of the project and to recommend to the county board the best design that meets land use restrictions. A current concept for the interchange would allow drivers going west on I-88 to exit on a ramp just west of Eola Road that loops back to a stoplight at Eola Road approximately 300 feet north of the bridge. Drivers on Eola Road wishing to go west on I-88 will turn west at the stop light onto a second ramp that angles down to the toll road. A similar pair of ramps south of the toll road for eastbound toll road traffic is being considered.

When Eola Road was widened to four lanes a few years ago, the bridge over I-88 was made long enough for the Batavia Spur of the Illinois Prairie Path to pass under Eola Road. The current convenient and safe IPP underpass will have to be abandoned when the new interchange is constructed. Instead, the trail will be looped north to cross Eola Road at grade at the stoplight for the interchange north of I-88.

A driver continuing north on Eola Road beyond I-88 would pass in quick succession: first, the westbound exit ramp from I-88; then, the westbound entrance ramp to I-88; and then, immediately cross the Batavia Spur of the Illinois Prairie Path. This seems to be dangerous to us, even though a push button will be provided at the light for Path users. Path users crossing Eola Road on a green light will have to avoid drivers leaving I-88 and heading north on Eola Road as well as southbound drivers on Eola Road making a right turn on red to go west on I-88. Furthermore, it is hard to see how Path continuity can be maintained during construction of the interchange unless traffic on the Path is routed north along Eola Road to the existing stoplight at Bilter Road.

North-South Corridor

Recently many news stories have appeared in local newspapers about a proposal by DuPage County to reroute Eola Road along the east side of Fermilab to Roosevelt Road to alleviate existing as well as projected traffic congestion. Apparently that attempt has been abandoned. Instead the Federal Highway Administration, the Illinois Department of Transportation, and the DuPage County Division of Transportation have joined forces under the National Environmental Policy Act to study the need for an improved transportation route and prepare an environmental impact study of any proposed construction. This transportation route will either be an upgraded existing highway or a new one, in the corridor between and including Kirk/Farnsworth Road on the west, Illinois Route 59 on the east, Ogden Avenue on the south, and North Avenue on the north.

Whatever traffic improvement is made in the corridor will impact the Illinois Prairie Path. The Aurora Branch, the Batavia Spur, and the Geneva Spur all cross the corridor. And I feel that, if a new north-south route is built south of North Avenue, there will be a clamor by highway engineers to extend it north into Cook County through Pratt's Wayne Woods Forest Preserve. If that happens, it will also cross the IPP Elgin Branch. This is a proposal that we will have to watch closely in the future.

Future Roads

Planners in the DuPage County Department of Development and Environmental Concerns have been projecting land use in the county through year 2020 which they are using to predict future transportation needs. It will be interesting to see how the Illinois Prairie Path fits into their forecasts.

Reed-Keppler Park Superfund Cleanup Completed

By Charlie Johnson, IPP Board Member

The Reed-Keppler Park Superfund Cleanup has been completed and restoration activities are underway.

Reed-Keppler Park is located in West Chicago. A 100-acre natural wetland lies west of the park and the West Chicago Prairie Forest Preserve lies to the southwest of the park. The Superfund site, which contained possibly hazardous radioactive thorium, covered approximately 11 acres in the southeastern part of the park.

In 1996, when the Illinois Prairie Path Geneva Spur was completed and dedicated, planning for removal of the hazardous material was still underway. Consequently, the Path's route through the park had to be improvised pending the cleanup.

Among other things, the Path had to share a roadway with automobile traffic and it passed near the fenced-off hazardous area. The cleanup began in 1997 and continued through 1999. The thorium removal is now complete and only restoration activities remain. These restoration activities include the following:

• backfilling the excavation to final elevations;
• final grading for proper stormwater drainage;
• relocating some utilities;
• constructing the final roadway;
• landscaping to replace removed or damaged vegetation; and
• removing the chain-link fence and site trailers from the site.

Once these activities are complete, surface use of the site for recreational purposes will be permitted.

Users of the Path through the park will see a considerable improvement due to the cleanup. In addition, the right-of-way is no longer shared with motor vehicles. Two grassed stormwater-detention basins adjoin the Path on the north.

Birdwatchers Enjoy Annual Outing

By Dick Wilson, IPP Board Member

The Bobolink, a pair of Sandhill Cranes, a Great Egret and a flock of five Turkey Vultures were some of the many birds that birdwatchers saw on The IPP's Annual Birdwalk at Pratt's Wayne Woods on Saturday, May 20.

Seven people, led by Dick and Nancy Wilson with the help of expert birders Bob and Christi Kimmel, had a fun and interesting outing. Along with common species, other birds observed included: Rosebreasted Grosbeak, Red-tailed Hawk, Great Blue Heron, Eastern Kingbird, Eastern Meadowlark, Eastern Wood Pewee, Eastern Phoebe, Redstart, Field Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Barn Swallow, Tree Swallow, Chimney Swift, Brown Thrasher, Swainson's Thrush, Red-eyed Vireo, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Yellow Warbler and Yellowthroat.

After the walk, the group enjoyed a picnic lunch and feasted on Christi's homemade brownies. The only down side of the outing was that the originator of this annual IPP birdwalk, Paul Mooring, has retired. We missed his expertise!

Trail Encroachments Require Action

By Paul & Jean Mooring and David Tate

In accordance with the Consultation and Service Agreement which The Illinois Prairie Path not-for-profit corporation signed with the DuPage County Board in 1986, our board members sent a letter to the county board transportation committee on April 14, 2000. Here is a reprint of the letter's text:

To: The DuPage County Board From: The Illinois Prairie Path Board of Directors On behalf of the Board of Directors of The Illinois Prairie Path not-for-profit corporation, we would like to suggest that the DuPage County Board enact an ordinance to control, regulate, or prevent encroachments on the county-owned rights-of-way that contain the DuPage County trail system, which consists of the Illinois Prairie Path and the Great Western Trail. We understand that staff has identified many encroachments, perhaps hundreds; and we know that you are concerned about these intrusions because you, as county board members, have the duty to protect the public health, welfare and property. We suggest that a good approach to the problem would be to identify all the different types of encroachments and to classify them as either unacceptable and subject to removal by the responsible party or acceptable (perhaps with a permit to relieve the county of liability). Unacceptable encroachments on the public right-of way: Parking (except in designated parking areas or with a temporary permit); Fencing or otherwise enclosing sections of public property for private use by adjoining landowners; Storing materials for business or private use; Building sheds or tree houses; Dumping refuse of any sort; Allowing unconfined litter to blow from adjoining businesses or private property onto the public right-of-way; Installing unpermitted business-advertising signs. Acceptable encroachments on the public right-of-way: Permitted trail amenities, such as mile markers, observation platforms, park district steps, and rest stops including portable toilets, drinking fountains, benches, display cases, signs, and planters installed by local municipalities, The Illinois Prairie Path, and other agencies for the benefit of trail users; Narrow footpaths for access from adjoining private property to the trail; Bridges across drainage ditches from adjoining property for access to the trail (permit needed); Steps on side access trails (permit needed); Mowing of grass or planting of flowers, shrubs, or low-growing trees by adjoining landowners (permit needed). It is essential that the public and especially the neighboring landowners understand the need for this ordinance because public good will is vital to the continuing success of our great trail system.

Annual Cleanup Report:

Thanks to Volunteers for Great Cleanup

Thanks to the hundreds of Illinois Prairie Path supporters who volunteered to help with our annual cleanup on April 29. Across the 61-mile Illinois Prairie Path, volunteers picked up litter, tree branches and other garbage to spruce up the trail for the busiest season of the year.

IPP Dues Support Cleanup

By David Tate, IPP President

The Illinois Prairie Path, a not-for-profit corporation, financed the registration and refreshment tables for the following three Earth Day cleanup commissions: Wheaton Environmental Improvement Commission, Glen Ellyn Environmental Commission, and the Villa Park Community Pride Commission. The Illinois Prairie Path also donated its multi-colored IPP trail maps to each of the Earth Day volunteers at these locations.

Villa Park Report

The Villa Park Community Pride Commission reported that the number of Earth Day volunteers increased from 12 last year to 60 this year. The five members of the commission are Nadia Gawron, Bev Johnston, Irene Shaffer, Hossana Korynecky and Richard Kumnick. The commission's registration table was set up on the trail at Villa Avenue next to the Villa Park Historical Museum.

The increased participation was attributed to the commission's increased advertising campaign including an Earth Day flyer which was distributed at the Villa Park Jewel store the Saturday before the cleanup, included in a church bulletin, attached to doors, and also placed on a community bulletin board.

Wheaton Report

Again this year, the Wheaton Environmental Improvement Commission coordinated a very thorough Earth Day cleanup of the Illinois Prairie Path. The registration table was conveniently located in Stevens Park at the intersection of Lincoln Avenue and the Illinois Prairie Path's Elgin Branch. The Prairie Path committee included Helen Bartlett, Tracy Vought, Ted Witte and Cathy Coleman. Kay McKeen is the chair of the Wheaton City Council appointed commission.

As a result of the commission's extensive promotion of the trail cleanup and several years of perfect spring weather, the number of volunteers that participate in the annual cleanup continues to increase. A record 270 people signed up at the commission's registration tent this year which was an increase from 244 in 1999.

Due to the number of cleanup volunteers this year, Helen Bartlett, the commission's coordinator, not only assigned groups to nine miles of trail in Wheaton, but also sent groups into neighboring Warrenville, Aurora, Winfield and West Chicago.

Winfield Report

The entire 3-mile section of the IPP's Elgin branch in Winfield and the Timber Ridge Forest Preserve was again cleaned this year. Bob Amsden and his son Zach cleaned the section immediately west of County Farm Road. David Tate cleaned west of Pleasant Hill Road.

West Chicago Report

The Key Club of West Chicago High School cleaned two miles of the IPP's Elgin Branch between Prince Crossing Road and Highway 59. Lars Hingdon, president of Key Club, coordinated the trail cleanup. The Key Club advanced the date of the project to Saturday, April 22, to avoid any time conflicts during prom weekend.

Kim Zaccone of West Chicago coordinated a cleanup of the Great Western Trail east of the IPP's Elgin Branch.

Wayne Report

Gladys Johnston again coordinated the Earth Day cleanup in Wayne along almost four miles of the Illinois Prairie Path's Elgin Branch between Smith Road and Dunham Road. This section has a reputation of being in immaculate condition throughout the year.

Geneva Spur Report

The IPP's Geneva Spur between Winfield Road and Prince Crossing Road was cleaned by members of the Naperville Bicycle Club including Omar and Laurel Salvador, Susan Munsterman and Christopher Zahrubsky.

Warrenville
By Bob Rawls, IPP Board Member

Fourteen volunteers gathered at the Warrenville Gazebo at 10 a.m. for instructions and assignments. Volunteers included Sara Odle, Alana McGinty, Margaret B., Sue Behrens, Sara and Connie Schmidt, Jeff and David Smith, Eric Vinsel, Tom Hessler, Andy Ehrlicher, and Maureen and Bob Rawls. The group gathered over 20 sacks of litter and assorted "stuff."

The award for the "Traveling the Longest Distance to Clean the Path" goes to Andy Ehrlicher, lifetime Path member. Andy traveled 250 miles from downstate Flora, Illinois. Andy lived for many years in Warrenville. He shared many memories of growing up in Warrenville. The "White Castle" structure near the Path and Warrenville City Hall once sold bakery goods.

Chicago/Elgin Branch Report
By Dick Wilson, Board Member

Birt Hurlbert, Dick and Nancy Wilson, along with the help of four additional volunteers cleaned from Route 59 to Smith Road. Four bags of trash, discarded fencing and other odds and ends were picked up along the way. On the bright side, the group saw four spring wildflowers in bloom including Sessile Trillium (Toadshade), Jacob's Ladder, Yellow Violets and White Trout Lily.

Elmhurst
By Eric Keeley, IPP Board Member

This year, the Elmhurst section of the Prairie Path received a good cleaning and grooming as well. On March 26, the volunteers of the Elmhurst Park District performed one of the most successful prairie burns in the 23-year history of the careful management of the section between Spring Road and Salt Creek. Previous to the burn, volunteers cleaned up litter in the area. On April 29, as a followup to this prairie burn, 20 members of the Sigma Kappa Sorority from Elmhurst College volunteered their services to clear brush from the area of Sunnyside Avenue to Salt Creek. Accompanying them were four additional volunteers, led by Keith Olson, working together to bring this area into the best condition it has seen in more than 20 years.

At the same time that the prairie restoration work was being performed on the west side of Elmhurst on April 29, another large group of volunteers was cleaning the section from Spring Road east to Poplar Avenue. The Elmhurst Bicycle Club was out in force, with 17 members putting in three hours of hard labor before heading off for a group bike ride. Mary Mueller of Berkeley (an Illinois Prairie Path Member) brought her three grandchildren who helped remove a pile of debris left from some other children's tree fort from several years ago. The cleanup volunteers collected about 50 bags of litter plus a large pile of old lumber (with lots of rusty nails) and other junk.

During the course of the cleanup, a previously undiscovered patch of shooting star (Dodecatheon Meadia) was located and efforts are underway to protect this important area.

Naperville Report
By Mike Cross, Board Member

On April 29, Mike Cross, Matt Cross and Earl Miller were joined by Annette and Martin Smith to collect 13 bags of trash. We worked around the Diehl Road crossing covering from the I-88 bridge on the north to the EJ&E railroad tracks on the south. We were glad to see the area under I-88 has been fully repaired from all the construction three to four years ago and it was surprisingly clean.

Glen Ellyn Report
By Jean Mooring, Board Member

Chairman Tom Barriball of the Glen Ellyn Environmental Commission coordinated the Prairie Path spring cleanup. The volunteers met at Prairie Path Park across from the Union Pacific train station to sign in, pick up plastic bags provided by the Village and get their assignments. The IPP not-for-profit corporation donated juices and other refreshments for the volunteers.

During the morning, 104 volunteers registered for the cleanup including scout troops, school, church and family groups and three IPP board members. At least 20 others who did not sign in at the registration table also helped out. Village employee Bill Lederman, who drove the front-end loader, reported that one and a half truckloads of debris, including many logs, were picked up.

At the end of the morning, Tom Barriball drew names to select the winners of a raffle. Local businesses donated most of the prizes. The IPP contributed several full color maps. Prizes were mailed to winners who were not present. The best prize of all was a clean and beautiful Path.

Ovaltine Courts Project in Villa Park Sparks Renewal

By Jean Mooring

The long awaited conversion of the abandoned Ovaltine Plant in Villa Park to apartments and some commercial units has begun. The developer, Lincoln Properties of Oak Brook, plans to build 344 one or two bedroom rental units in the renovated Ovaltine building and in several new smaller buildings clustered to the north and east.

The project, named Ovaltine Courts, will cost an estimated $44 million. The boundaries of the property are Villa Avenue (west), Wildwood Avenue (north), Monterey (east) and the Illinois Prairie Path (south).

The redevelopment of this rundown block in the Villa Avenue Business District has inspired the formation of a group of concerned citizens to study the strengths and weaknesses of the Villa Avenue and Ardmore Avenue Business Districts (the historic district of Villa Park) and to make recommendations for revitalization. Members include the village board and staff, residents, businessmen in the two districts and property owners.

Since the Illinois Prairie Path is an important element in both areas, The Path has been invited to send representatives to the community workshops. One important concern is how to provide a clearly defined and attractive connection between the Prairie Path and the Great Western Trail. A major goal of the study is to encourage people to stroll in the area and enjoy the shopping, dining and recreational opportunities available as well as the historic ambiance.

The Illinois Prairie Path Board of Directors supports this effort wholeheartedly and will try to help in every way possible.

FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions About the Illinois Prairie Path

Office Manager's Note: Thanks to all who write, call or e-mail The Illinois Prairie Path with your many questions. This column features some of the most frequently asked questions so that all members can benefit from the information.

Q. I would like to reserve the IPP for a group bike ride and picnic in the Wheaton area? What facilities are available?

A. If you want to schedule a group outing on the path in the Wheaton area, please contact Ruth Myers, Trails Liaison with the DuPage County Division of Transportation, at 630-682-7318. The Illinois Prairie Path does not provide picnic facilities or a reservation system for large groups. However there are many park district parks that run parallel to the IPP in a number of communities which may be able to provide group picnic tables and facilities. For further information, please contact the village or the park district where you wish to get together with your group. The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County also has picnic facilities near the IPP. Call 630-933-7200 for more information.

Q. There are many people in West Chicago who use the Geneva Spur to walk, ride bicycles and ride horses. Most of them are very good, friendly residents. There are some of those, who for one reason or the other think that they don't have to be courteous. For instance, one person may be walking their dog, using a leash and picking up with plastic bags their dog's dropping and the OTHER person may think that they are the exception to having their dog on a leash and don't think it is necessary to pick up their dog's droppings. Naturally, this is a very BIG problem and when one suggests to the violator that there are rules, they get a "that doesn't apply to me" or "so what!" Have I made my point.? Would signs printed in red at each of the entrances to the Geneva Spur help?

• All Dogs Must Be On a Leash
• Owners Must Pick Up Droppings.
• Please Be Considerate of Others
• Violators Will Be Subject to a Fine

The Prairie Path is really a very nice place to get away from the congestion and if people that use it could be reminded what a gift we have and maybe they will be more willing to take good care of it.

Avid User of Geneva Spur

A. Thanks for your comments. Unfortunately, this is the type of problem that is very hard to solve. We ask everyone's voluntary cooperation so that the Illinois Prairie Path can be a pleasant place for all users!

New Trail Amenities in Lombard

By David Tate, IPP President

The Village of Lombard will be installing new trail amenities this year to both the Illinois Prairie Path (IPP) and the Great Western Trail.

Lombard will install three sets of new trail amenities on the IPP (Main Street, Grace Avenue and Westmore Avenue) and two sets on the Great Western Trail (Main Street and Westmore Avenue). At each of these five locations the following amenities will be installed: four planters, two lamp posts, two benches, two trash containers and a drinking fountain.

In total, Lombard will install 20 planters, 10 lamp posts, 10 benches, 10 trash containers, and 5 drinking fountains. In addition, four "Welcome to Lombard" signs and 30 street identification signs will be installed.

Lisa Warren of the Village of Lombard's Planning Services Division reported on June 15 that she is currently coordinating with DuPage County in obtaining the necessary permits. The goal is to finalize the project, complete with a ribbon cutting, either this summer or early fall.

The Illinois Prairie Path not-for-profit corporation is extremely pleased to see the Village of Lombard adding these trail amenities. As the popularity of the trail system continues to grow so does the need of adjoining municipalities to make trail improvements. The municipalities along the 61-mile IPP and the 12-mile Great Western Trail are naturally being encouraged by their trail-using citizens to keep up with their neighboring communities. This has resulted in a positive spiral between recreational trail usage and trail improvements. Increases in the trail usage produce trail improvements which in turn create even more trail use.

Examples of trail improvements that have previously been made along the Illinois Prairie Path include: Volunteer Park in Wheaton; Prairie Path Park in Glen Ellyn; Wild Meadows Trace Park in Elmhurst; The Great Western Prairie in Elmhurst; the gazebo in Warrenville; and the new demonstration prairie at First Avenue in Maywood.

Thank you, Brooks McCormick

By Jean Mooring

For more than 35 years thousands of Prairie Path users have hiked, biked, jogged or ridden horses on the beautiful trail segment of the Illinois Prairie Path that loops around St. James Farm. It is located adjacent to the IPP's Aurora Branch immediately north of Butterfield Road. We all owe a debt of gratitude to the owner of the farm, Brooks McCormick, for allowing our multi-purpose trail to be established on a 20-foot-wide strip of his land, thus preventing a potentially disastrous cut in continuity of the Aurora Branch at that location. Since the Path's earliest days our board has also enjoyed a friendly and cooperative relationship with Mr. McCormick and his staff.

Now Brooks McCormick has done something even more generous and visionary. He has made St. James Farm itself available for purchase at a fair price by the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County so that the farm will always be protected for the benefit of the people of DuPage County and northeastern Illinois. As one of the founders of The Conservation Foundation, Mr. McCormick has long been a believer in the vital importance of open space, fields, forests, wetlands and prairies to the American quality of life; today we are all beneficiaries of his wise stewardship.

Note: letters of thanks and appreciation may be sent to:

The Illinois Prairie Path Newsletter

This newsletter is published by the Illinois Prairie Path Board of Directors.
Address coorespondance to:

      The Illinois Prairie Path
      PO Box 1086
      Wheaton, IL 60189
      Phone: 630-752-0120
      Web Site: www.ipp.org
      

Meetings: The Illinois Prairie Path Board of Directors meetings are held at 7:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month in Rathje Park, 616 Delles Avenue, Wheaton. Members are always welcome to attend!