Picnic area part of plans for Kane County site

A boat launch, fishing pier, two picnic shelters, restrooms, and several restored prairie areas are envisioned for the Grunwald Farms Forest Preserve in Blackberry Township, part of which was once home to a gravel pit.

Kane County Forest Preserve District officials recently developed a master plan for the 237-acre site, located along the Reagan Tollway along north Lorang Road and south of Main Street. Blackberry Creek flows near the site's eastern boundary.

The forest preserve has budgeted $350,000 to engineer and construct the improvements, according to a plan presented to the forest preserve commission's utilization committee Thursday.

The forest preserve purchased the site last year for $9.3 million. It is comprised of two contiguous parcels, the larger of which was called the Grunwald property. A smaller 54-acre piece once housed Kaneland Sand & Gravel.

It is one of $14.4 million in capital improvement projects planned for the 2007-08 fiscal year. Other major projects include:

• $5.4 million to expand Elfstrom Stadium in Geneva, home of the Kane County Cougars, to add a second level of suites, additional general seating and concession areas, new administrative offices and ticket booths;

• $1.5 million to build new maintenance facilities with office spaces and a garage area at the Grunwald and Muirhead Springs Forest Preserves. Muirhead is located in Plato Township;

• $801,200 (half of cost covered by grant) to construct interpretive, hiking and equestrian trails, picnic shelters, and restrooms, restore 43 acres of prairie, and extend the bike path at the Fitchie Creek Forest Preserve in Plato Township;

• $800,00 (half of cost covered by grant) to build an entrance drive, parking area (including an equestrian trailer parking area), picnic shelters, multi-purpose trails and restore a prairie area;

• $688,300 (half of cost covered by grant) to build a bike trail segment, equestrian trail, new entrance, parking, shelter, info kiosk and interpretive signs, begin prairie restoration and re-build part of the existing trail at Dick Young Forest Preserve straddling Batavia and Blackberry townships.

The improvements come five months after 61 percent of voters in April approved a measure to sell $85 million in bonds for open-space acquisition. It was the third such tax increase approved since 1999.