South Elgin riverfront to be spiffed up thanks to grant

South Elgin's portion of the banks along the Fox River by the State Street Bridge has definitely seen better days.

But now that the village has received a grant from Kane County, plans to restore the river banks are closer to being realized.

The $85,173 from the county will help beautify that section of the river with plants, trees, boulders and other landscaping to help stabilize it and ward off future erosion. The total cost of the project will be $139,000.

"It will set the standard for what future shorelines of the parks on the river will look like in South Elgin," said Jim Reuter, director of the parks and recreation department.

The other part of the plan includes moving the riverfront trail and bike path off Water Street.

The trail now runs along the street west of the municipal annex's parking lot, then picks up again east of the building along the river.

Officials said they ultimately hope to move the trail south of the municipal annex near the riverfront. It would then travel north to the parking lot and connect to the State Street Bridge.

Now that the parks and recreation department has moved to the municipal annex, officials are concerned about the dangers that more traffic could pose to people on the existing trail.

"We want to now take them beyond the building so car traffic and bike traffic don't intersect there," Reuter said.

The riverfront and bike trail improvements are part of the Village Center Master Plan.

Together, they will cost $481,000 and be completed in 2009. Meanwhile, the search for other money continues.

Reuter is awaiting word on whether the projects will receive a $15,000 Small Cities grant from Kane County.

And before he approaches the village for funds, he intends to apply for other grants.

"We've always got our eyes open," Reuter said.