Naperville to help fund trail connection

Naperville plans to pitch in to fund a trail connection along 79th Street to the Greene Valley Forest Preserve near Woodridge.

Proponents of the connection say the project is a matter of safety for hikers and bikers in the area, although it falls just outside the city's border.

Naperville's bike trail currently ends at the city limits at 79th Street and Yackley Avenue, leaving bikers and pedestrians about one-third of a mile short of the Greene Valley preserve. From that point heading east, 79th is a Lisle Township road that is 22 feet wide with no sidewalks or shoulder to help bikers and pedestrians get from the trail to the forest preserve.

Gerry Cassioppi of Naperville has been among the residents leading the push for a trail connection and said he has seen some "near misses" between cars and bikes. Even as someone who is an experienced runner and biker, he said, he avoids the area if he has his children or his dog with him.

"I only run there during the day and do what I'm supposed to do and I feel unsafe when cars are coming at you and you have nowhere to go," he said.

Forest preserve officials studied options for the trail and determined they could create an off-street connection for about $110,000, according to Carl Schultz, a forest preserve commissioner who presented the proposal to the city council Tuesday.

The district believes it can secure grant funding for half the project and is asking the forest preserve, city, Lisle Township and Naperville Park District to equally share the rest of the cost.

City councilmen unanimously agreed to contribute $13,750 toward the project as long as the other entities do so as well.

"Anytime we can get more connectivity to our trails it's a great thing," Councilman Grant Wehrli said.

Councilmen indicated they do not plan to contribute additional money if grants fall through or costs rise.

Park board President Mike Reilly agrees there is a safety issue at play, calling it an "accident waiting to happen." Park commissioners have agreed it merits discussion but have not yet decided if they will commit money to the trail.

"On one hand it's outside of our jurisdiction per se. That is a stumbling block," Reilly said. "On the other side of it, if done, it would directly benefit residents that are in our jurisdiction."

Park officials plan to meet with forest preserve leaders later this month to continue talks.