Go for a spin on Des Plaines River Trail Bike ride

Des Plaines Mayor Martin J. Moylan, in conjunction with the Des Plaines Police Department, invites everyone to save the date, Saturday, June 2, for the second annual Des Plaines River Trail Bike Ride, which will get under way at the Public Works Garage Facility, 1111 Joseph J. Schwab (Campground) Road, one block east of River Road, off Algonquin Road.

Registration for the ride, which will be appropriate for all levels of bicyclists, will begin at 8 a.m. at the facility. Registration forms are available at the city’s website www.desplaines.org/rivertrailbikeride. These must be returned to the police department or brought to the ride.

The ride, which begins at 9 a.m., is free. All bicyclists are required to wear a helmet and sign a waiver. Plans are under way to have representatives of Advocate Lutheran General Hospital sell bike helmets for $10. The route will be family friendly.

Des Plaines Police personnel will escort bicyclists along the trail ride which will be about 9 miles and will conclude with a free cookout lunch at the public works facility where the ride began.

According to Moylan, last year’s bike ride, held to commemorate the opening of the improved Des Plaines River Trail, met with such success that he and the Des Plaines Police Department opted to do it again.

“We invite families, individuals and kids of all ages to come out and spend the morning experiencing bicycling along the scenic Des Plaines River Trail. This is a wonderful opportunity for us to experience nature, have fun and celebrate the community of Des Plaines,” Moylan said.

Last year’s ride marked the culmination of a three-year effort by Des Plaines to improve the Des Plaines River Trail. The project consisted of improving 2.8 miles of the existing Des Plaines River Trail with stone surface, construction of new trail along the north side of Ballard Road, safety features and new signage. The project was funded in part through a Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement program grant awarded to the city in 2008. The trail improvements were conducted in coordination with the Forest Preserve District of Cook County which owns the trail and surrounding forest preserves.

Sponsors for the Des Plaines River Trail Bike Ride are still being sought. Highlights of the ride will include a contest to win an adult bike and a children’s bike.

For information on sponsorships or participation in the ride, contact Officer Colin Johnson at (847) 391-5410.

Ÿ Send Your news to nbrcalendar@dailyherald.com.