CAMBr North - New opportunity at Andres Park in Carpentersville

[Redbaron]

This morning we met with Ed Ritter, President of the Village of Carpentersville in Andres Park with about 5 other folks.

They have asked us whether we would be interested in developing a trail system at Andres Park in Carpentersville for recreational use. The park is currently in a neglected state and the city is looking for a way to get better usage of the park and clean it up to create an asset for Carpentersville. For those of you who do not know Carpenterville it has the potential to become to become a major attraction for the bicycling community as the Fox River Trail runs through it that could act as a feeder to other attractions. Raceway Woods is also in that area.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=42.1291919+-88.2645252

The area has a tremendous amount of potential. There are steep slopes on either side on the ravine where you can envisage great smiles and a fair amount of singletrack that will be worth the drive. It will greatly enhance the area and be of economic value to the city. I will be going to their Board meeting on Wednesday where the opportunity will be briefly discussed.

Regards
Mike

[DropCeilingInMyKitchen]

very exciting, nice work!  Just curious, does the area that could be developed extend all the way to the fox river?  Did they give you boundaries yet?

[Redbaron]

No, I asked that same question. They did not know who owned the land between Andres Park and the Fox River Trail. They are looking to connect to it via a bike trail though that connects to it. I think that is something that warrants further investigation as that would be ideal.

Mike

[skadamo]

Yeah, that area is very promising. I did some riding back there when I lived in the area. I remember big trees, a small creek, some ridges and a token bullet hole riddled car. Nice work!

[Redbaron]

The Parks Commission of the Village of Carpentersville unanimously supported trail development at Andres Park in Carpentersville. We are on the agenda for their next meeting where the main board will be invited to view a proposal for consideration. We have our work cut out for us over the next 4 weeks to prepare.

Watch the web site for details if you would like to participate in the trail design phase. We will definitely be out there on either the 24th or 25th March. I will probably be out there this Saturday to go over some ideas.

Regards
Mike

[IllinoisRider]

Awesome job Mike!  Thanks!

[DropCeilingInMyKitchen]

excellent, nice!

[redfuel]

Awesome

[mwoodbury]

Great news!

[Dasponyboy]

Nice job again! Very excited about having both this and Raceway in the area!

[Redbaron]

I will be presenting to the Carpentersville Board of Directors next Wednesday.

Tell me what you think of the following design. Any idea on what you would  like to see in the skills area?

Trail is just short of 4 miles on side slopes in a ravine.

Thanks
Mike

[redfuel]

Is there any way to stack the trail a little more to get more distance and turns?

[Redbaron]

We will try, I will post when we set a time to meet there today. It will be mid afternoon. Anyone is welcome to join, we are trying to coordinate schedules as we speak.

[Redbaron]

We are meeting today at 3pm at Andres Park near the children's playground on Austin Ave to discuss the trail design.

Anyone is welcome to join us.

Mike

[Redbaron]

This evening CAMBr presented to the Carpentersville Parks Commission. We received unanimous approval to move forward with singletrack and bike skills area at Andres Park.

The proposal will be presented to the Carpenters Village Board on Tuesday who will decide on the approval route. Legal documents are already being exchanged. They have asked us to expand the trail design to get maximum use of the land available for the trail and the bike skills area. CAMBr will probably engage the IMBA Trails Solutions to design the progressive bike skills park.

Attached is the conceptual design and abbreviated presentation.

Regards
Mike