[BCNnet] Friday article: Riverwalk Another Step Closer - with 22 foot wide path through the FP???

[casresearch at comcast.net]

Below see the latest articles on the Des Plaines Riverwalk.
The one from today (3/14) mentions a 12 foot wide path for the hiking/biking trail (a bit wider than the current 'unimproved' paths) but also a 5 foot wide path on EACH side of this trail, for horses.

That would mean a 22 foot-wide path through the middle of Campground Road Woods, Iroquois Woods, the east side of Chippewa Woods, and Dam #4 Woods Forest Preserves.   To me that is too many trees that would have to come down, and too much 'open space' in the woods, that would certainly be less 'attractive' for migrating birds and other wildlife that use/inhabit these important preserves along the Des Plaines River.  The Des Plaines River corridor is certainly an "Important Bird Area" for migrating birds.   

I'll be leaving for vacation tomorrow, but wanted to send this information out ASAP, in case anyone else is concerned about how wide the path would be through the forest preserves.   It appears that something will be occurring at next Monday's meeting ... see below.

A 12 foot wide path is wider than the current one, but not by too much, but having vegetation (including many old trees - not buckthorn!) removed to make a 22 foot wide path is too much, in my opinion.

Alan 
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Alan B. Anderson 
casresearch at comcast.net 
Des Plaines, Cook Co.
Chicago Audubon Society www.chicagoaudubon.org 
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http://www.journal-topics.com/dp/08/dp080314.6.html

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 areas 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 construction and is expected to be complete 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. 
[NOTE WELL:]  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 bicyclists, 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 forest land will not be included in a five-year capital plan already established. As a result, the city recently requested and received a federal grant for $1,048,000 to help pay for the trail improvements. The funds will also be used for other Riverwalk items like wayfinding signs, point of interest signs, traffic control improvements 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.
{NOTE:  a map of the trail (another version available on Des Plaines website) is also shown in the paper;  a partial description:  north section near Big Bend Lake - existing gravel/soil path, would be improved to 12 foot width, stone base and limestone screening surface;  north of Miner St. - 12 foot side concrete multi-use path, constructed as part of Levee 50 flood control project, Des Plaines Riverwalk effort.  south of Minor along Campground Road - add lighting and wider lanes as part of Campground Road rebuilding project;  FP land between Oakton and Touhy - existing gravel/soil path would be improved to 12 foot width, stone base and limestone surface.}
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March 12 edition of The Des Plaines Journal - opinion piece
http://www.journal-topics.com/columns/offtherecord080312.html
Arredia Should Still Lead Riverwalk Vision
Des Plaines Mayor Tony Arredia figures all he needs is another two years. In that amount of time, Arredia believes he could finish his work on the planned Des Plaines Riverwalk, then retire to his back yard.
And yet, Arredia doesn't have two years left as Mayor. Term limits will force him out of office next spring. He'll no longer be able to spearhead the Riverwalk project-at least as Mayor. It's our suggestion that whoever is elected Arredia's replacement and the new City Council ask him to continue to serve as the visionary and leader of this vital and wholesome project. Otherwise, the interest sparked by Arredia could gradually fizzle.
Meanwhile, enthusiasm for the Riverwalk and related civic improvements continues to grind forward. As reported in last Friday's Journal & Topics Newspapers, City Engineer Tim Oakley believes work on the bicycle/pedestrian walkway and floodwall along the Des Plaines River near Miner Street will be completed in June. We suggested to Mayor Arredia yesterday (Tuesday) that when that time approaches, a huge community party be planned to mark the occasion. Everyone in Des Plaines should be invited to stroll along the concrete pathway, take in the serenity of the Des Plaines River, munch on refreshments, marvel at the project that not only will serve as protection against flooding, but utilize our town's greatest natural resource. 
Arredia, of course, already had the brain engaged, saying he would love to tie in the walkway's opening with the downtown Taste of Des Plaines celebration that will be held the first weekend in June. 
"We could have 20,000 people walk to the river and over the Miner Street bridge," said Tony. "I've been trying to get Gov. Blagojevich here and I'd like to get the people from the Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources and Army Corps of Engineers and have a big party. This is a giant step in fixing up the image of Des Plaines especially the Dempster Street gateway. It will look unbelievable. Before, it looked like another planet. This is something I'm proud of." Arredia credited former Prospect Hts. mayors Ed Rotchford and Rodney Pace along with ex-Mt. Prospect Mayor Skip Farley for their support and work on the project and other flood relief efforts. As for the overall Riverwalk, Arredia last week attended a meeting of the Cook County Board where unanimous approval was given for an intergovernmental agreement between the county and Des Plaines. That agreement grants the city permission to move ahead with improvements on Cook County Forest Preserve property in Des Plaine s. Those impr
ovements will be to existing horse and hiking trails along the river from Touhy Avenue on the south north to Golf Road. Approximately $1 million in grant money has been secured by Arredia and the city to pay for the widening of the trails and laying of crushed stone so people can walk, ride and enjoy the river and greenery. This is also tied in to the Big Bend Lake flood prevention project, made possible by Arredia, that will increase the water holding capacity of the lake during heavy rainfalls and utilize the services of a large pump to keep water out of people's homes. 
And one other project associated with all of this is the planned development of the community's Historical Campus near River and Rand roads where the Historical Society museum may operate out of. That proposal calls for the partnering with the McDonald's Corp. to utilize the hamburger giant's original site on Lee Street as a larger public museum, and to develop green space-a lost commodity in suburbia's sprawl. One idea, said Arredia, is to construct a wooden bridge that would link the campus area with the Des Plaines River possibly east of Rand Road near Elk Boulevard. The campus idea could require the securing of another $5 million in state and federal grants along with some kind of financial commitment by the city to provide planning. 
"We want to enhance that area so it becomes an attraction and enhances pedestrian traffic for Metropolitan Square as well as improve the city's gateway in that area," added Arredia. 
We couldn't agree more.

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