DuPage County, forest preserve and Glen Ellyn working to develop new trail

Three local governments are hoping to receive a $120,000 grant to develop part of the East Branch DuPage River Greenway Trail, a planned 31-mile path that eventually will connect Bloomingdale to Woodridge.

DuPage County, Glen Ellyn and the Forest Preserve District of DuPage are applying for the grant from the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning.

If the request is approved, the $120,000 would help fund an evaluation and review of a proposed trail segment between the Great Western Trail and Butterfield Road.

Officials said the review would better define a preferred alignment of the trail segment, identify environmental resources and features to minimize impact, and help estimate construction costs.

The county and forest preserve each have allocated $75,000 and Glen Ellyn has pledged $10,000 to provide the matching funds needed to get the grant, if the application is approved.

Forest preserve President Joe Cantore this week voiced support for making "the long-anticipated" East Branch DuPage River Greenway Trail a reality.

"Hopefully, with the district's support and the partnership of the county and others, we can move closer to the day when residents can enjoy the East Branch DuPage River Greenway Trail as an addition to the amazing trail system here in DuPage," Cantore said in a statement.

While the proposed trail segment covers just a few miles, county board Chairman Dan Cronin said it's "a wonderful example" of DuPage's Accountability, Consolidation and Transparency Initiative.

He said the three governments are working together to benefit trail users from Glen Ellyn, DuPage and the entire region.

"Our goal is always to leverage tax dollars in the most effective manner, creating the biggest impact possible for our residents," he said.