Cook Co. benefits from Illinois grants for bike path projects

Chronicle Media

Funds for the Bicycle Path Grant Program, administered by Illinois Department of Natural Resources, are for the acquisition of land or development of facilities for bicycle paths.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker last week announced $2.6 million in grants for 16 local projects that will help communities acquire, develop and improve bike path facilities throughout Illinois.

“Bike path projects are excellent investments in safe transportation, creating jobs, boosting local economic development efforts, and improving local and regional recreation opportunities,” said Pritzker. “Trails are great places for bike riders, hikers, joggers and families to enjoy spending time outdoors in our beautiful state.”

Funds for the Bicycle Path Grant Program, administered by Illinois Department of Natural Resources, are for the acquisition of land or development of facilities for bicycle paths. The Bicycle Path Grant Program was approved by the Illinois General Assembly in 1989 and funding comes from a percentage of motor vehicle title fees. The program provides a maximum grant award of $200,000 per application for development projects, with no maximum grant award for acquisition projects.

For this round of grants, a total of 17 applications were received, representing a combined request of $2.7 million. Combined with previous years’ funding, IDNR has awarded grants that have helped develop nearly 1,000 miles of local government bicycle trails in Illinois since 1990.

Receiving funding in Cook Counth are:

  • Des Plaines Park District: Cumberland Terrace Park Bike Path — $152,700, to construct a .15-mile bridge and path that will connect Cumberland Terrace Park and Des Plaines Manor Park.
  • Glencoe Park District: — Connect Glencoe — $200,000, to construct a .53-mile trail will connect five separate parks to the 9-mile Green Bay trail in four villages.
  • Glenview: Techny Basin Path Rehabilitation — $200,000, to renovate a .5-mile of an existing 10-foot wide asphalt bike path by replacing it with a concrete path of the same dimensions.
  • Palatine Park District: Palatine Bridge Renovation — $200,000, to renovate two bridges over the Salt Creek along the existing Palatine Trail, west of Hick’s Road underpass and on the north side of North Court.