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| Prairie Path in Hall of Fame | |
| Aug 5, 2008 | |
| Elisabeth Mistretta emistretta@dailyherald.com | |
| Daily Herald | |
| Pertains to Illinois Prairie Path | |
| It might seem like de-evolution. What was once a railway line about four decades ago is now a 62-mile limestone trail. But the transformation is actually an award-winning achievement for the Illinois Prairie Path and the scores of volunteers who conserve it. The Illinois Prairie Path this month became the sixth trail inducted into the Rail-Trail Hall of Fame, which is run by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and honors outstanding rail-to-trail conversions around the country. There are 1,500 rail-trails in the United States and 750 more in development. Because the Prairie Path is one of only a handful in the hall of fame, and one of the oldest rail-trails in the country, local officials say the honor is huge. "It's wonderful to be recognized on a national level, for all that it means in the community and for the people in DuPage who use it," said Deborah Fagan, DuPage County trail system coordinator. Rails-to-Trails Conservancy representatives judged the Prairie Path for its features, including scenery, usage, amenities, historical significance, maintenance and community connections. The trail can be used for foot traffic, biking and horse riding, making Prairie Path is one of the most popular trails in the Midwest. Approximately 800,000 people use the trail each year. And every spring, about 1,000 volunteers participate in a cleanup of the path. Right now, the trail is growing even more popular as gas prices rise, officials say. "It's an important asset for both recreation, the environment and now for commuting," said Don Kirchenberg, a former president and board member of the Illinois Prairie Path. Commuters find the path appealing because it runs near the downtown areas of several local suburbs, giving access to shopping, businesses and trains. Kirchenberg said the next goal for Prairie Path officials should be improving safe access to the trails from local roads. For details about the Prairie Path and a copy of the map, visit www.dupageco.org/bikeways. For information about the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, visit www.railstotrails.org. |
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