CONCERNS ABOUT FUNDS FOR TRAILS

  • ITC LETTERS URGING REAUTHORIZATION OF FEDERAL ENHANCEMENTS went out to U.S. Representative Don Manzullo and U. S. Congressman Aaron Schock on May 20.

  • ITC LETTERS URGING STATE LEGISLATORS TO CONTINUE IDNR FUNDING went out to Representatives Ron Wait, Dave Winters, Bob Pritchard, Elaine Nekritz & Jim Sacia and to Senators Brad Burzynski, Dave Syverson & Pam Althoff on May 28.

  • ITC LETTERS THANKING U.S. Congressman Daniel Lipinski for his support of Federal Enhancements in the Transportation Bill were sent to Congressman Lipinski with copies to Senator Dick Durbin & Representatives Don Manzullo and Aaron Schock on May 28.

ITC ACTIONS IN ADDITION TO LETTERS MAILED IN MAY INCLUDE:

  1. May 1 – Created, copied & distributed MAY TRAIL NEWS to 221 ITC Members & Groups

  2. May 2 – Received an e-mail regarding Pecatonica Prairie Path. Sender expressed disappointment in NOTHING HAPPENING and asked Bev if she knew anything. Sender indicated that they have been waiting 19 YEARS. Bev shared that she had been a member of the Friends of the Pecatonica Prairie Path back in the mid 70’s TRAILS TAKE FOREVER.

  3. May 4 – Received e-mail from Rails to Trails in Washington thanking ITC for our continued support for Active Transportation.

  4. May 7 – Received e-mail from Marla Gursh regarding the Route 66 Meeting in Pontiac on May 14.

  5. May 7 – Received e-mail from George Bellovics regarding the GIT Conference Call on May 11.

  6. May 7 – Received letter of thanks for our support of Center for Neighborhood Technology.

  7. May 7 – Received e-mail from Diane Banta at National Park Service with invitation to attend Calumet-Sag Trail dedication on National Trails Day. Diane is also challenging ITC to look beyond our current activities and seek out new and additional opportunities to connect, encourage and promote TRAILS IN ILLINOIS. Let Bev know if you have suggestions.

  8. May 8 – Received a request from Tom Baer to supply mechanic for Udder Century Bike Ride. Bev has no one available.

  9. May 11 – Participated in a Conference Call with GIT Executive Committee. George Bellovics shared that a 3 mile trail in Galena has been negotiated with a land owner. The gap in the Great River Trail should be complete by Fall 2009. GIT will be 10 years in the making in 2010 and George would like to plan a celebration. George shared that some concerns exist regarding the Pecatonica Prairie Path levels of funding. Willow Creek path is being surveyed. Kaskaskia Alliance Public Draft is moving along. Funding has been appropriated by Weller & LaHood. Ed Barsotti from LIB shared that the GITAP Ride was sold out in Mid-March. Bev asked about washed out areas on I & M Canal & Hennepin. Funds are needed.

  10. May 12 – Plans were made with Diane Banta, Fred Bates, Erma at Friends of the Parks for a meeting with Bev in Chicago.

  11. May 13 – Bev clipped articles from the Rockford Newspaper “Bikes Not Just for Recreation” & “Bikes offer police a whole new tool”. We all need to remind others that bikes are truly ALTERNATIVE MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION.

  12. May 13 – Bev shared information about the Pecatonica Prairie Path with person in Winnebago.

  13. May 13 – Bev received a notice that the Entire length of Tunnel Hill State Trail is open again.

  14. May 13 – Bev received a near-final draft of the Updated “Trails Element” for the Northeastern Illinois Greenways & Trails Plan from Tom Murtha at Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning.

  15. May 14 – Bev drove down to Pontiac for Route 66 Committee Meeting. Ed Barsotti has planned out a Media Ride to begin on August 29 at Old Chain of Rocks Bridge north of St. Louis to arrive in Chicago on September 3. Registration for the ride can be found on the LIB web site. ITC Board Member Dr. Bruce Perry and ITC Staff Member Diana Cooper have registered.

  16. May 14 – Bev shared more information with Al from Winnebago regarding the Pecatonica Prairie Path.

  17. May 15 – Bev received e-mail regarding the Pecatonica Prairie Path taking too much thinking/studying & not enough doing.

  18. May 15 – Bev received the draft summary of the April 15 Greenways & Trails Council she attended in Springfield.

  19. May 16 – Bev mailed a new IDNR Illinois Bicycle Trails Map to Al Hanson in Winnebago.

  20. May 18 – Bev shared an e-mail from Fred Bates that he and his wife had gone down to the I & M Canal for a bike ride and found it closed due to wash-outs. Bev made this information available back last spring when flooding did the damage.

  21. May 19 – Received a request from Amy Madigan at IDNR to promote the Mid- America Trails & Greenways Conference that will take place in Kalamazoo, Michigan on October 25-28. Bev will be mailing out information.

  22. May 19 – E-mail was exchanged regarding the Rails to Trails Active Transportation Initiative. Ed Barsotti had concerns and Bev asked Kartik Sribarra about them. Reply was that funds are Not Earmarked at All and may be competitive. 50+ communities support the plan. It is also supported by America Bikes, LAB, and T4 America.

  23. May 19 – ITC services were offered to assist with Media Events along the Route 66 Ride.

  24. May 20 – Letters were mailed to ITC Members in Carlinville, Bloomington, Granite City, Lincoln, Springfield & Edwardsville asking for ITC Members to assist with Planning MEDIA EVENTS FOR ROUTE 66 RIDE.

  25. May 20 – Received a request from Ted Villaire to write a forward for a new Rail Trails Illinois Book.



  1. May 26 – Received information regarding funding cuts for IDNR. Bev sent out 9 letters to State Legislators.

  2. May 27 – Mailed several Illinois Bicycle Trails Maps to Mary Cravens in Champaign after she had called and asked for information about Illinois Trails.

  3. May 28 – Received a phone call from Office of Representative Ron Wait expressing support for IDNR funding.

  4. May 31 – Received e-mail from our web manager Jim Gehrke that he has been busy and still plans to help with web site.


ITC MEMBERS ARE ACTIVE AND TOTALLY SUPPORTIVE:

  • ITC received $100.00 Trailblazer membership renewals from Joann Fraser from Washington, Kim Caughran fromVillage of Godfrey & Duward Inch from Geneseo Also received $150.00 from Illinois Assocation of Snowmobile Clubs. THANKS.

  • Peter Botzek from Chicago sent Bev more wonderful short stories. ITC MEMBERS ARE TALENTED.

  • Jean Collins from Western Springs is looking forward to a visit on the Long Prairie Trail & Bev in June.

  • Bob Dittrich from Schaumburg asked if his membership was current. ITC MEMBERS CARE.

  • Deborah Fagan at DuPage County assured Bev that check from DuPage was on the way. Deborah e-mailed Bev regarding ARRA announcements and Bev forwarded her question to RTC in Washington. DU PAGE COUNTY conducted a Trail Maintenance Policy Task Force Meeting on May 19. Mike Incopero shared his funny and frustrating comments about Com Ed and their tree-trimming techniques that were discussed at the Maintenance Policy Task Force Meeting. Check out the DuPage County website at www.dupageco.org/bikeways

  • Sylvia Kellogg from BRATS in Wheaton sent Bev minutes of the May 12 Meeting. Jessica Thompson from LIB spoke at the meeting abut several LIB maps, brochures & programs. BRATS ARE THE BEST

  • John Kremer from McHenry County Conservation Dist. Began riding his new bike to work. Traffic was heavy on Deer Pass Road. Bev suggested an alternative. That route has bad dogs. OOPS.

  • Tom & Francie King from Springfield let Bev know that TRAIL NEWS can be e-mailed to them..

  • Bonnie Pink from McHenry has a new grandson & enjoyed a ride on the Great Western Trail from St. Charles to Sycamore.

  • Gabby Greg Valent from Chicago e-mailed photos of the Skokie Valley Trail Tunnel. Bev plans to have on web site.

  • Eberhard Veit from Crystal Lake continues to do GREAT THINGS for his community. He sent a flyer about the FIRST ANNUAL BIKE WITH THE MAYOR on May 16 in the City of Crystal Lake ITC MEMBERS ARE ACTIVE.

ITC BOARD MEMBERS ARE BUSY WORKING FOR YOU

  • Tim Bartlett from Urbana Park District asked Bev to send invoice to Park District for Membership dues.

  • George Burrier from Peoria shared minutes from the Recreation Trail Advocates Meeting in Peoria on May 4. He shared information about a Public Meeting of the Surface Transportation Board that will occur on July 8. Bev forwarded info to RTC in Washtington. George sent a letter to Ray LaHood in Washington to continue rail banking.

  • Bob Hargis has moved to Ohio but still shares his advice and wisdom with Bev. He contacted the Ohio Legislators re Transportation Enhancement funds.

  • Greg Luttrell from Edwardsville asked about submitting a paper for Mid-America Greenways & Trails Conference.

  • Bruce Perry from Port Byron will be riding in the Route 66 Media Ride in August & September.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU IN 2009

  • June 6 - NATIONAL TRAILS DAY - celebrated by DuPage County Forest Preserve Dist. at Waterfall Glen from 9:00 a.m. - Noon. Remove litter and cut brush along sections of this trail

  • June 6 – NATIONAL TRAILS DAY – Dedication of the Calumet-Sag Trail. Go to www.calsagtrail.org for information.

  • June 7 – UDDER CENTURY BIKE RIDE put on by McHenry County Bike Club starting in Union at Wild Wild West.

  • June 9 – BRATS meeting at Wheaton Park District. Community Center 7:30-9:00 p.m.

  • June 14-20 - GITAP Grand Illinois Trail & Parks Ride - Contact Chuck Oestreich at 309-788-1845 or oestreich@qconline.com

  • July 11 – Tour de Donut in Staunton, Illinois – E-mail stauntonchamber@hotmail.com for info.

  • July 15 – Greenways & Trails Council at IDNR in Springfield

  • July 16 – GIT Executive Council in Lincoln @ 9:00 a.m.

  • July 18 – McHenry County Farm Bureau 7th Annual Tractor Trek from Harvard to Candlewick.

  • July 25-26 - Chase the Moon Bike Ride sponsored by Conservation Foundation. www.theconservationfoundation.org

  • August 8 - POKER RUN ON THE LONG PRAIRIE TRAIL

  • August 10 – GIT COMMITTEE MEETING IN ROCKFORD at 10:30 a.m.

  • August 11-16 - Boone County Fair in Belvidere

  • August 29 – ROUTE 66 MEDIA RIDE FROM ST. LOUIS TO CHICAGO.

  • October 25-28 – MID AMERICA TRAILS & GREENWAYS CONFERENCE IN KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN.


ITC HAS NEWSLETTERS TO SHARE FROM: Natural Land Institute in Rockford, Riffles & Eddies from Boone County Cons. Illinois Trail Riders, Friends of the Parks, Trail Net in St. Louis & OUTDOOR ILLINOIS. Subscribe at 1-800-726-3249.

CONTACT ILLINOIS TRAILS CONSERVANCY at www.ILLTrails.com Contact Bev about anything mentioned in TRAIL NEWS. E-Mail her at ITC bebomoore@aol.com for info. Illinois Trails Conservancy is P.O. Box 10, Capron, IL. 61012. Cell phone is 815-289-1024.