Naperville bike trail project moves forward

The Naperville Park District is poised to join the effort to construct a trail connection between 79th Street and the Greene Valley Forest Preserve near Woodridge.

Six of the seven commissioners on Thursday unofficially indicated they support contributing $13,750 for the project despite it being just outside the city's border.

"I got to physically go out there and it absolutely make sense," Commissioner Suzanne Hart said.

Naperville's bike trail ends at the city limits at 79th Street and Yackley Avenue, leaving about a one-third-mile gap between the trail and the forest preserve. Proponents of a trail connection say 79th Street - a Lisle Township road - is hazardous to pedestrians and bikers as it has no shoulder and no sidewalks.

Forest preserve officials are proposing an off-street connection that would cost about $110,000. They believe they can secure a grant to pay for half the project and have asked Naperville, the park district and Lisle Township to join the forest preserve in splitting the remaining cost.

Last week, city councilmen agreed to pitch in $13,750 as long as the other entities do the same. Lisle Township has also indicated support for the project.

"It is ... a unique opportunity for some good intergovernmental cooperation I think will benefit our residents," park board President Mike Reilly said.

Marie Todd was the only commissioner indicating she does not support helping fund the trail, saying it is not within the park district jurisdiction and it is not part of its strategic plan or trail plan.

"We have a county forest preserve that should be dealing with issues that are across municipal jurisdictions," Todd said. "I think the forest preserve is in a great position and they should be able to deal with this without our assistance."

The issue will come back to the board for an official vote at an upcoming meeting.