THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2008
Riverwalk Another Step Closer
Des Plaines City Council Monday night is expected to take another step toward the community's planned Riverwalk project when aldermen expect to approve an Intergovernmental Agreement between the city and the Cook County Forest Preserve District.
The agreement, approved by the Cook County Board last week, will allow Des Plaines to work on trail improvement in ar eas owned by the forest preserve.
The forest preserve district has jurisdiction over part of the north section of the Riverwalk project, that locally stretches from Touhy Avenue to Algonquin Road and Ballard Road to Golf Road.
The remaining part of the Des Plaines River Trail (Ballard to Algonquin), known as Levee 50, is currently under construc tion and is expected to be com plete this summer.
While a trail already exists in this area, improvements to the existing Des Plaines River Trail are part of the Riverwalk's five-year project to develop a new Riverwalk along the Des Plaines River.
According to a memorandum from City Engineer Tim Oakley, the agreement will now allow construction of multiuse trails on forest preserve property. The trail will be re-done to include a 12-ft. wide crushed limestone surface for pedestrians and bicy clists, as well as a 5-ft. earthen buffer on each side for horseback riding.
The county has agreed to maintain the trail.
Due to limited resources, costs of the trail improvements on for est land will not be included in a five-year capital plan already es tablished. As a result, the city recently requested and received a federal grant for $1,048,000 to help pay for the trail improve ments. The funds will also be used for other Riverwalk items like wayfinding signs, point of interest signs, traffic control im provements and street lighting along Joseph Schwab Road.
The city has also applied for an Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources Regional Trail Program grant for $190,000, but has not heard back on approval.