Group has money for trail in Carpentersville preserve

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Raceway Woods in Carpentersville may become the home of a new natural trail constructed by a mountain biking club nationally recognized for creating such paths.   Brian Hill | Staff Photographer

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Once a destination for race car drivers, Raceway Woods may soon become a haven for mountain biking enthusiasts.

The north chapter of Chicago Area Mountain Bikers will pitch a plan to create a trail tailored to their needs at a public meeting next week. Chapter President Mike Angus said the vision entails construction of a natural surface trail in the Carpentersville preserve that will have minimal impact to the environment.

In an email interview, Angus said he sees the trail having many uses beyond mountain biking. The nonprofit group already has a partnership with the Forest Preserve District of Cook County that created the Palos Trail System. That system was recently recognized by Runner's World magazine as one of the top running trails systems in the United States.

Angus said the beauty of the deal is its cost-free nature to local taxpayers. All the labor used to build the trails will be volunteer, and Chicago Area Mountain Bikers will fund the entire project. The group has already collected $10,000 to get the project going, Angus said. Once built, the club also plans on maintaining the trail itself.

The group will pitch the project to Kane County Forest Preserve District trustees and the public from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Randall Oaks Golf Club & Banquets at 4101 Binnie Road in West Dundee. Forest preserve district staff are encouraging residents to attend the meeting so they can see visuals of the plan, ask questions and express any concerns they may have. More information can be obtained by calling the forest preserve's administrative office at (630) 232-5980, or by visiting the Chicago Area Mountain Bikers' website.