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- Jean C. Mooring, Editor -
Plants To Watch Out For: Giant and Common Ragweed
It's hayfever time again and sufferers have to endure sniffles and sneezes
brought on by pollen in the air. Although some people mistakenly believe
that the many species of goldenrod with their showy yellow flowers are the
principal source of hayfever allergens, this has been shown to be a bum
rap. The major villains in our area are two species of ragweed, giant and
common, whose inconspicuous greenish flowers bloom at the same time as the
beautiful goldenrod. The goldenrods, therefore, often take the blame for
the harm done by their nefarious comrades.
The giant variety of ragweed, an alien European weed, can reach a height
of eight to ten feet or more and has large, slightly hairy leaves with
usually three lobes or occasionally five. Male flowers are in spikelike
clusters on the tips of branches and stems while the female flowers are
borne in the axils of the upper leaves.
The common variety is a native weed widespread throughout North America,
seldom growing more than three feet tall, with leaves deeply cut into
many lobes. It also bears separate male and female flowers.
Regrettably, ragweed is found all along the Illinois Prairie Path because
it is an opportunistic plant which rapidly colonizes disturbed soil. Although
there is a rumor that marijuana also grows everywhere along the Path,
plant experts have not reported any at all. This is probably just a case
of ragweed being mistaken for cannabis -- a problem of pollen not pot.
Thank You, DuPage County!
The DuPage County Division of Transportation has made 1996 a banner year
for major improvements to the regional trail system. Trail fans can all
agree with former DuPage County Board Chairman Jack Knuepfer, who said at
our Grand Celebration of Trails on June 1 that we owe a debt of gratitude
to the members of the county board for their outstanding support of our
famous trail system over the years.
The Illinois Prairie Path has benefited from four important improvements
this year:
- The nine-mile IPP Geneva Spur was connected at last to the rest of
the Prairie Path via an attractive 60-foot-long Cor-Ten steel bridge
over the West Branch of the DuPage River and a one-half mile extension
of the trail through the Winfield Mounds Forest Preserve, and along
Geneva Road to County Farm Road. Total cost of the project; including
the bridge, was $244,000 and the contractor was Sebastian Contracting
Corporation of Burr Ridge. Tim Dawson was the project engineer on behalf
of the DPCDOT.
- The IPP Elgin Branch now crosses the Great Western Trail at grade
west of Prince Crossing Road, and the steep climb over the railroad
embankment has been eliminated. The project, completed in August, included
removing the old bridge abutments, drainage modifications, grading,
resurfacing the Path, and seeding the embankments with grass. Total
cost was $165,000, and the contractor was Dominic's Trucking of Streamwood.
Paul Krueger was the engineer for the DPCDOT.
- The IPP Aurora Branch now has a beautiful 430-foot bridge to carry
the trail over busy Eola Road, which has been widened to four lanes.
The bridge cost $736,000 and opened on National Trails Day, June 1.
The contractor was Herlihy Mid-Continent Company, Romeoville. Engineer
for the county was Paul Krueger.
- The IPP Batavia Spur has been shortened some 500 feet by the construction
of an underpass under the new bridge that carries widened Eola Road
over the East-West Tollway, I-88. Although this underpass cost only
$5,000, it is extremely important to the safety of Path users because
it eliminates a hazardous at-grade crossing of Eola Road. The contractor
was K-Five Construction, Lemont; and Paul Krueger supervised the project
for the DPCDOT.
DuPage County's other long-distance trail, the Great Western, is being improved
by the county's most ambitious trail project to date, the long-awaited bridge
over the North-South Tollway, I-355. The length of the double span bridge
will be 243 feet and the cost of this vital trail link is $1.4 million.
The contractor is Herlihy Mid-Continent Co., Romeoville, and the engineer
for the DPCDOT is Paul Krueger. Completion is expected by the end of October.
Pictures of these projects are on pages 6 and
7.
Our Volunteers Have Been Keeping Busy
Besides working on the year's two major projects, the National Trails Day
events and the annual spring cleanup, our volunteers have been doing many
other tasks to benefit the Prairie Path, including restoring prairies, replacing
signs, repairing benches, leading bike rides and bird walks, bringing in
new members, and monitoring the trail. The year's activities have included:
- Prairie work days.
February 17, 1996. Elmhurst Great Western Prairie restoration,
mainly brush clearing, led by Keith Olson.
March 16, 1996. IPP North Avenue Prairie, brush clearing. Approximately
thirty participants for this very productive day included several IPP
members as well as members of the Nature Conservancy Stewardship Group.
A mailing to members in the general area of the prairie was sent out
by Steve and Linda Plumb and boosted attendance. A few days later Larry
Sheaffer burned the prairie, which then looked good all summer.
March 30, 1996. West Chicago Prairie, removal of monster bushes,
mainly treelike honeysuckle, from the south side of the Geneva Spur
right-of-way just west of Jack Knuepfer Bridge. There were some aching
backs that night!
April 6, 1996. IPP Volunteer Prairie and President Street Prairie,
Wheaton. A very successful prairie burn with no wind and plenty of dry
material to generate a good flame. Three Wheaton firemen supervised
the burn.
August 17, 1996. IPP Volunteer Prairie, cutting of ragweed. Volunteer
workers on one or more of the prairie work days included Eric Keeley
and his son Sam, Bill Gunderson, Dick and Nancy Wilson, David and Benna
Tate, Paul and Jean Mooring, Paul Aeschleman and Steve Plumb.
- The spring bird walk at Pratt's Wayne Woods Forest Preserve on May
18, 1996, was led by Nancy and Dick Wilson and Paul Mooring. The trees
were full of warblers and it was a perfect day for viewing. Some fifteen
persons attended.
- On July 20, 1996, several IPP members moved the display case stand
from Industrial Drive on the Geneva Spur in West Chicago, where it had
been repeatedly vandalized, to the west end of the Geneva Spur near
its junction with the Fox River Trail just north of Bennett Park, Geneva.
We plan to have IPP logo signs with arrows pointing to Wheaton installed
here in the near future.
- Two bike rides.
July 14, 1996. Originally scheduled for the IPP Main Stem and
Brookfield Zoo via the Salt Creek Trail, the itinerary was changed to
the Virgil L. Gilman Trail in Kane County by those participants who
showed up. "The Gilman Trail is excellent" reports Leader
Paul Aeschleman.
August 11, 1996. David Tate (substituting for Paul Aeschleman)
led an enjoyable round trip on the IPP Aurora Branch, Fox River Trail,
and IPP Geneva Spur. They visited an eclectic art fair in Aurora along
the Fox River Trail on the west side of the river.
- One-man miniproject. On July 22, 1996, Paul Mooring rescued the salvageable
parts of the often-vandalized bench at Lake Arrowhead on the Aurora
Branch in Wheaton. In their latest attack the vandals had burned and
cut the wood boards on the seat and back, had bent the heavy steel frame,
and pulled out of the ground the entire structure with a hundred pounds
of concrete footings attached. The IPP board has decided to repair the
bench and install it somewhere else along the Path. Path users who want
to sit on something and rest at Lake Arrowhead will have to be content
with the nearby large concrete block, left by the old CA&E Railroad.
The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County has started work on the long-awaited
connector trail along County Farm Road, which will link the Illinois Prairie
Path, Kline Creek Farm in the Timber Ridge Forest Preserve, and the Great
Western Trail. The new trail, designed to meet state bikeway standards,
will be ten feet wide and surfaced with limestone screenings. The total
length of the new trail segment is 4,382 feet and it will run north from
the Prairie Path to an existing gravel service road, which in turn connects
to the Great Western Trail. The project also includes a 70-foot pedestrian
bridge over a small tributary of Klein Creek plus trail signage. Total cost
is $221,000, of which 80% is an IDOT-administered ISTEA grant of $155,760
and 20% is a matching fund from the Forest Preserve District in the amount
of $65,240. The matching fund actually comes from the DuPage County Division
of Transportation as partial reimbursement for impacts on forest preserves
by county road improvement projects. The contractor is Maneval Construction
Co., Inc., Grayslake Completion is expected by the end of October.
Kudos For National Trails Day Volunteers
The Illinois Prairie Path board of directors would like to thank the following
members and friends, volunteers and staunch trail supporters all, for their
contributions to the success of the final trek along the Illinois Prairie
Path and the Grand Celebration of National Trails Day at Reed-Keppler Park
in West Chicago on June 1, 1996:
- Paul Aeschleman -- coordinated final day's events including police
protection at major intersections, photography, donations from area
merchants, rest stops, appearances of public officials, trail marking,
advertisement and publicity, media coverage, interface with Grand Illinois
Adventure Team and interface with the organizers of the Grand Celebration
in West Chicago. These efforts helped produce a safe, publicized, and
well-attended event.
- Nancy Becker -- assisted with the setup of the rest stops in Maywood,
Elmhurst, Glen Ellyn, and Wheaton. The rest stops provided refreshments
and drinks for the Adventurers and also gave the public an opportunity
to learn more about the Grand Illinois Trail and to purchase IPP maps,
literature and merchandise.
- Patricia Feeley -- assisted with the setup of the rest stops in Maywood,
Elmhurst, Glen Ellyn, and Wheaton. In addition, Tricia helped manage
the IPP booth at the Grand Celebration.
- Steve Plumb of the Elmhurst Park District -- helped coordinate the
Spring Road activities and supplied the portable band shell for the
musicians and speakers at Reed-Keppler Park.
- Dick and Nancy Wilson -- organized and led a National Trails Day hike
from the intersection of the IPP and County Farm Road along the just-completed
Geneva Spur to West Chicago. They arrived in time to join in the festivities.
- Susan Wisniewski -- coordinated trail cleanup efforts in Bellwood,
and produced a new set of IPP T-shirts. Prior to the Grand Adventure
several sections of the IPP were impassable; but thanks to the efforts
of Susan and the Bellwood Department of Public Works, all of these obstacles
were removed by June 1.
The following IPP board members rode the entire 22-mile length of the final
day's adventure: Paul Aeschleman, Eric Keeley, and David Tate. John Kacich
rode from Maywood to Elmhurst.
Our thanks to all!
Letter From The President
On behalf of the IPP board of directors I wish to extend my sincere thanks
to you, our members, for your support of the Illinois Prairie Path. With
your help we have been able to develop, fund, and implement numerous projects
and events along the entire trail system over the years. Many of our current
projects are listed elsewhere in this Newsletter. In order to continue to
expand these efforts WE NEED YOUR HELP.
Illinois Prairie Path -- Help Wanted Section
- IPP Board Members. The board of directors has openings for
two new board members. As a board member you will participate in the
planning and implementation of all IPP events and campaigns. This is
a great way to help direct the future efforts of your organization.
The board of directors meets in the evening on the first Tuesday of
every month in the Members' Room at Rathje Park, Wheaton.
- IPP Volunteers. We are currently in the process of updating
our list of active members who are available to volunteer time to support
IPP activities. These may include maintenance and prairie restoration,
bicycle rides and nature hikes, and publicity events.
Note: We recognize that your free time is extremely valuable,
but with a few hours per year from each member we could make huge improvements
to the trail.
- Auditor. The IPP board of directors is seeking a volunteer
to conduct an audit of our finances. If you have non-profit experience
and would like to support the IPP, please contact Paul Aeschleman at
(708) 848-6023.
If you are interested in any of these positions, please contact Linda Plumb
at (630) 279-8690.
Once again, thank you for your past support of the IPP, and please take
a few moments to register as an active volunteer.
Very truly yours,
Paul Aeschleman, President
The Illinois Prairie Path
West Chicago Prairie Events
Saturday, October 5, 1996
Seed Collection. Collection of savanna grasses and forbs. Good opportunity
to visit a well-restored savanna.
9:00 a.m. - Noon.
Saturday, October 19, 1996
Field Trip. "What Flower Was This?" We will be looking
at seed heads instead of flowers (just as striking and interesting) and
enjoying the fall colors of the prairie.
9:00 a.m. - Noon.
Saturday, October 19, 1996
Seed Collection. General seed collection, mostly tall grasses.
1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 2, 1996
Sunday, November 17, 1996
Saturday, December 7, 1996
Restoration Work Days. Clearing invading brush and/or raking in
seed.
9:00 a.m. - Noon.
Saturday, December 14, 1996
Birding Trip. Winter residents. Annual DuPage County winter count.
Meet at the MacQueen Avenue entrance.
8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
All events except the winter bird count start from 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.
DuPage County Regional Trail Projects, 1996
[Webmaster's note: the newsletter has pictures of these milestones. -- msc]
- IPP Aurora Branch cyclists ride over Eola Bridge.
- Handsome new bridge arches over Eola Road. Road in foreground leads
to ComEd peaking station.
- Center pier for Great Western Trail bridge over I-355 was built in
spring of 1996.
- New bridge carries IPP Geneva Spur over West Branch of DuPage River
in Winfield Mounds Forest Preserve.
- New Batavia Spur underpass at Eola Road is blacktopped.
- IPP cyclists headed toward Elgin (upper right) cross Great Western
Trail, which has been surfaced only to top of hill (center).
- Retaining wall at east end of great Western Trail bridge over I-355
is 26 feet high.
Fall Activities, rain or shine
(Call ahead as plans may change.)
Saturday, September 21, 1996
Great Western Prairie Work Day and Festival. Begins at 9:00 a.m.
at Berkley Ave. and IPP, Elmhurst. Leader: Keith Olson, (630) 834-7357.
Sunday, October 13, 1996
Bike Ride from County Farm Road to East Dundee via Illinois Prairie
Path and Fox River Trail; approx. 40-mile round trip. Meet at 9:00 a.m.
at County Farm Road and IPP. Leader: Paul Aeschleman, (708) 848-6023.
Saturdays, October 19, 1996/November16, 1996
Regular Work Days at Great Western Prairie, Elmhurst. Meet at 9:00
a.m. at Berkley Ave. and IPP. Leader: Keith Olson (630) 834-7357.
Saturday, October 19, 1996
Illinois Environmental Council Annual Conference, looking forward
to the November election. Senatorial candidates Durbin and Salvi are invited.
9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., University of Illinois, Springfield. Information:
Ellen Schmidt, Ex. Ass't. (217) 554-5954.
Saturday, October 19, 1996
Great Western Trail Cleanup (DuPage County Section), sponsored
by The Conservation Foundation of DuPage County Trails Project. Coordinator:
Sue Ferguson, (630) 653-6696.
Sunday, November 3, 1996
IPP Annual Meeting. Come and meet Mike Ulm and Kandee Haertel,
who will describe and illustrate with slides their exciting Grand Illinois
Trail Adventure. 2:00 p.m., The Abbey, 407 West St. Charles Road, Elmhurst.
Good food and good company to climax a triumphant year.
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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