Work continues on nature trail project in Grayslake across from Dog N Suds
A fire that damaged and temporarily closed the Dog N Suds drive-in restaurant in Grayslake has been in the headlines recently, but across the street a village project to protect open space, alleviate flooding and provide a recreational opportunity is making progress.
The first of three phases of the $2.62 million Center Street nature trail project, which began last fall, is expected to be complete by the end of May. The work includes wetland enhancements and a portion of a trail loop.
“Then, we'll immediately move into the next phase,” said Chase Muscato, assistant Grayslake village manager. That will involve continuing the path to the south of the property, some bridges and public parking on Center Street, he added.
A third phase, not yet funded, involves more boardwalks in the southern portion of the site and completing the trail loop so visitors can traverse the entire preservation area through paths and boardwalks.
“When all is said and done, it will be pretty significant,” Muscato said.
Village officials years ago identified a triangular area bounded by Center Street, Route 83 and the railroad tracks to the west as a target for preservation because of its varied landscape, including wetlands, woodlands, trees and a stretch of Mill Creek.
“The (village) board thought it was a worthy site to purchase to maintain the natural features and also due to a desire to add to the open space inventory in the Village Center,” Muscato said.
Much of the property is in a flood plain, and preserving it will make it easier to deal with severe storms, according to Muscato.
Village leaders became interested in preserving the land following heavy storms in 2017 that caused widespread flooding and elevated the importance of open space. The property was acquired and an abandoned building on the site demolished.
Trustee Elizabeth Davies said work was delayed because of the presence of the long-eared bat. In late 2022, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reclassified the bat from threatened to endangered, prompting new guidelines to protect its summer habitats.
“This 24-acre parcel is a major stormwater path, and with the village owning it we can make sure this land is doing its job,” Davies said.
Besides ecological benefits, the property supports the village's long-term open space goals and provides a natural amenity at the entry to downtown, she added. The area is part of the Village Center concept, which includes the historic downtown, parks, trails, civic institutions and more.