Grants were unveiled today for development and improvements to bike path facilities throughout Illinois, and State Senator Craig Wilcox (R-McHenry) is pleased to announce that the McHenry County Conservation District will receive a $50,000 grant for renovations between Barnard Mill Road and the pedestrian bridge just off that road in Ringwood. The project involves reestablishing the storm sewer outlet, re-grading the existing ditch, repairing trail erosion, resurfacing of the asphalt trail, and restoring the turf shoulders to improve drainage. The McHenry County allocation is part of an $885,300 total allocation for bike path projects.
Funds for the Bicycle Path Grant Program, administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), 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 provided a maximum grant award of $200,000 per application for development projects, with no maximum grant award limit for acquisition projects.
The Bicycle Path Notice of Funding Opportunity received a total of 33 applications totaling $4.9 million in requested funds. Since 1990, IDNR has awarded grants that have helped develop nearly 1,000 miles of local government bicycle trails in Illinois.