New bridge, new playground at Geneva’s Island Park

Fox River Trail users have one less detour jogging or bicycling through Geneva.

The Geneva Park District reopened Island Park earlier week after finishing construction on a new north bridge over a river channel. The park had been closed since mid-June.

Since June, workers also have replaced playground equipment and steps at a pavilion and cut down trees damaged by the emerald ash borer.

The new north bridge replaced one that was built in 1931. A $619,091 construction contract was awarded in February. That figure did not include engineering costs.

The new bridge is wider than the old one.

Farther south on the trail in Geneva, users should expect to continue to see a detour in the Fabyan Forest Preserve.

A bridge between an island and the west side of the preserve will be closed “for some time,” said Laurie Metanchuk, community affairs director for the Kane County Forest Preserve District. The concrete bridge, which is at least 73 years old, has been deteriorating. In September, the western end cracked and dropped 4 inches where it meets the bridge approach.

The district is still obtaining estimates for repairing the bridge, replacing the bridge or removing the bridge, Metanchuk said.

“I think it will take some time (to decide),” she said.

Users of the trail have to use a causeway about a tenth of a mile north of the bridge to cross the river to continue using the trail.