Bartlett 6th grader recognized for 'blazing a trail'

Gino Santini may only be in 6th grade, but the Bartlett resident already is winning acclaim from his hometown's village board for his civic leadership.

A class project at Sycamore Trails Elementary School inspired Gino to lobby the villages of Bartlett and South Elgin for a 1.5-mile bicycle trail connecting his Westridge subdivision near Route 25 and Bartlett Road, to the Fox River Trail in South Elgin. Since the end of 2015, he has collected more than 600 online signatures in support of the trail.

Gino enjoys riding his bicycle around his neighborhood, but getting to the Fox River bike trail, about one mile away, is difficult and unsafe without a path.

"By drawing attention to the need, this 12-year-old has made a real different in the village of Bartlett," Bartlett Village President Kevin Wallace said at Tuesday night's board meeting.

Gino hopes that with a bike trail, adults and children in his neighborhood and on Bartlett's west side will gain easier access to the Fox River for fishing, hiking and picnicking, as well as to the Gail Borden Public Library in Elgin.

Wallace congratulated Gino for "blazing a trail toward a better local bike connection, for participation and leadership," and wished him a "summer of happy pedaling."