Photo by WMGoBuffs

Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Batavia is opening up its campus for additional pedestrian and bicycle access.

The sprawling 6,800-acre Fermilab campus, known one of Kane County’s best places to walk, run or ride your bike, this year has opened parts of its campus that have been previously off limits to bikers and walkers.

The main bike and pedestrian path, which stretches from the Pine Street gate off Kirk Road to the Batavia Road gate near Route 59, will remain open. But as you can see on the map accompanying this article, parts of Wilson Street, North Eola Road and A1 Road have now been added to the list of public access routes. These roads will allow bikers, walkers and runners to loop through the Fermilab site, instead of simply going from one end to the other. Bicyclists now also can use the Wilson Street entrance off of Kirk Road to enter the site.

New signs are in place marking out the public routes, and those restricted to Fermilab employees. For safety and security reasons, Fermilab asks that you please respect those signs and refrain from riding or walking along non-public roads (including South Eola Road and the main ring road). Also, please obey the rules of the road – walk your pets in the dog park, fish in the ponds (just bring your valid state fishing license, and check the map for which ponds are publicly accessible) and see the famous herd of bison at their pasture, all of which are open to the public.

The Fermilab site is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. during daylight saving time (mid-March to early November), and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. the rest of the year. You only need a photo ID to get in. For more information, visit the Fermilab website.