Join community discussion on opening the Cow Tunnel

Should the Webster Street Cow Tunnel in downtown Naperville be opened? A community discussion is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 23, at 7 p.m. in the Municipal Center. Residents on both sides of the tracks have been exploring the idea and welcome others to weigh-in.

The cow tunnel or an expanded version of it underneath the BNSF railway tracks could provide an alternative safe bicycle and pedestrian passage away from the narrow sidewalks and heavy traffic of Washington and Mill Streets. Funding possibilities include grant applications and a presence in the city CIP budget. It would be open to all residents.

The cow tunnel exists where Webster Street ends on the north and south side of the BNSF tracks. Kendall Park used to be a cow pasture, downtown Naperville was largely farmland. The tunnel was built in 1864 by the Burlington & Quincy Railroad to allow John Stenger's cows to graze on the north side of the tracks and then walk back to their barns on the south side of the tracks. When houses were developed pedestrians and bicyclists used the cow tunnel. In fact, there are neighbors who used it regularly until it was fenced off in the 1970s as Mayor Rybicki wanted to discourage any "hanky-panky."

Opening and expanding the cow tunnel offers the benefits of safety, access, reduced vehicular traffic, promotion of health and fitness, and building community friendships. Residents would like to discuss reopening this tunnel, however, enlarge it to create a beautiful, safe and convenient passageway for students, commuters, bikers, runners, walkers, and strollers.

For further information contact Susan Ahlfeld at CowTunnelProject@gmail.com.