More than $3.7 million has been awarded for recreational trail development projects in 19 Illinois communities to help them meet the growing demand for improved trails and outdoor recreation facilities, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources announced today.
The Governor said “Trail development projects contribute to safer transportation and improved recreation opportunities across Illinois.”
The program provides up to 80% reimbursement to local grant recipients for the cost of trail projects, with local sponsors providing the balance of the funding. Grants may be awarded for land acquisition, trail construction and rehabilitation, purchase of equipment for trail development and maintenance, and more.
The 19 projects were recommended for funding by the Illinois Greenways and Trails Council.
This year’s central Illinois recommended Recreational Trails Program grants and projects are:
- Champaign County Forest Preserve – Lake of the Woods bike trail renovation, $200,000
- Decatur Park District – Scovill Park West trails improvement project, $200,000
- City of East Peoria – Camp Street Trail, final phase, $200,000
- Trail Recreation Effingham County – Phase VI-C, $200,000
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign – Allerton Park bike trail, $130,110