Naperville Park District Receives Partnership Award from the Forest Preserve District of Will County

On May 11, 2017, the Forest Preserve District of Will County presented the "Appreciation of Partners" award to Naperville Park District for its support of the construction of Segment 5 of the DuPage River Trail through Knoch Knolls Park.

Naperville Park District Board Vice President Mike Reilly and Executive Director Ray McGury attended the 9:30 a.m. meeting of the Forest Preserve's Board of Commissioners in Joliet to receive the award.

"From the Naperville Park District's perspective, this partnership is an example of good government, of combining resources to provide one of the most desired recreational amenities-trails-for the community," said McGury.

The $2.1 million project extended the asphalt path southwest from Knoch Knolls Park to the 95th Street bridge over the DuPage River. The new trail connects several forest preserves, parks and greenways across Naperville, Bolingbrook and Plainfield.

"Our past cooperation with the Naperville Park District dates back decades and has been one of the most successful partnerships the Forest Preserve has maintained," said Forest Preserve Chief Operating Officer Ralph Schultz. "Over the years we've worked together to protect land along the DuPage River and build segments of the DuPage River Greenway Trail and Tallgrass Greenway Trail linking our open spaces and facilities and connecting people with recreation in a fun and healthy way."

The trail extension is part of a planned 40-mile DuPage River Trail system that is supported by 12 agencies in two counties, Will and DuPage.

Eighty percent of the project's funding came from a federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality grant administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation. The Forest Preserve District and the Park District contributed 20 percent to the cost as well as land for the project.

The project was completed in late fall 2016 and is now open for pedestrians, bicyclists and runners to enjoy. A map of the DuPage River Trail and other area trails can be found at http://www.napervilleparks.org/aboutknochknolls/knochknollspark#hikingandbiking.