Forest preserve doles out last of trust fund

The Fox River Trust Fund is no more.

The Kane County Forest Preserve Commission doled out the last of the fund's cash earlier this month.

Established as part of a land deal between the forest preserve, the city of Elgin and the Grand Victoria Casino, the trust fund was a source of grants for river bank stabilization, river enhancement and other community projects centered on the Fox River. The riverboat casino contributed $500,000 annually to the fund for 12 years; the last payment was made in 2006.

The fund totaled more than $6.5 million, which includes $527,000 in interest.

The last of the grants, approved Dec. 11, will benefit Geneva, North Aurora and Carpentersville.

"We've really done a pretty good job of allocating the funds up and down the (Fox River) valley," forest preserve commission President John Hoscheit said.

In Geneva, the forest preserve was awarded $185,000 to repair the river banks in the Fabyan Forest Preserve.

North Aurora was awarded $110,000 in funds toward the village's riverfront development project. The multimillion-dollar plan includes a boardwalk, enhanced bike pathways and a children's garden near the village hall.

In Carpentersville, $50,000 from the trust fund is earmarked for stabilizing Four Winds Way Creek, also known as Shaw Creek, at Lincoln Park. The park is maintained by the forest preserve and the Kane County Environmental Management Department is leading the stabilization project.

The creek is a shallow stream that runs from Sleepy Hollow Road, through Raceway Woods and to the Fox River.