Naperville Park District Seeks Input on Parks (maybe KK related)

[denalifc]

I saw this in the Windy City Sports magazine newsletter. I already have plans on 13th but might be free on the 16th. No idea if they are having discussion about KK but I've seen the Naperville Bike map (free in the libraries, not sure if online, maybe) that shows a bike path through KK to link up other bike paths around the city and with Bolingbrook. Doubt it'll affect the singletrack but looks like they want to use the wider path, with the only hill, likely from the parking lot off Washington to the other parking lot by KK Rd. Will it be paved, limestone - no idea and no idea when it is planned for (economy being what it is)

Anyway here is the words from the WCS newsletter if any one wants to attend: 

  Naperville Park District Seeks Input on Parks

The Naperville Park District is beginning the process of developing a Trails Master Plan and is inviting the public to give its feedback. Take part in one of two community workshops: Sept. 13 at 9 a.m. at the South Maintenance Facility (3415 Book Rd.) and Sept. 16 at 6:30 p.m. at the Barn Recreation Center (421 Martin Ave.). Participants will provide insights regarding existing and planned trails and trail amenities to help guide the development of the Master Plan document. For more information, contact John Lomas at jlomas@napervilleparks.org.

[I pick bad lines]

I can try to be at both meetings.

[Seanbikes]

Hopefully at least to Romeoville

[yousmellfunnytoo]

they need to allow bikes into the skatepark on the riverwalk is what they need to do 

[I pick bad lines]

they need to allow bikes into the skatepark on the riverwalk is what they need to do 

I'd be happy to mention it when I go tomorrow.

[denalifc]

http://www.napervilleparks.org/webpages/index.aspx?webpageid=1000519

Trails Master Plan Update

The Trails Master Plan is a living document that will assist the Park District in enhancing connectivity for walking and biking throughout the City of Naperville and adjacent communities. Earlier in the summer, we engaged residents and asked for their input regarding the Naperville trails systems and their wants and needs relating to it. Now, we are looking for comments on the draft plan that incorporates several of the suggestions made in those earlier engagement sessions.

The next step of the process is an Open House allowing residents to

[alex jb]

I'll be going to see what's on show there.

I don't think we (CAMBr West) have hoge plans for adding trail to KK, nor do we want to build anything unatural there, I think a few minor re-routes of waterlogged and eroded areas is what's needed for the next year out there.

That's what I'll be expressing to anyone there who will listen.

Provided the masterplan is progress and adding trail links, I can't think there will be anything but positive comments from poeple.
Natural trail is best, but any more trail is good.

Here's the link to the plan.
http://www.houseallavigne.com/dnn/Default.aspx?alias=www.houseallavigne.com/dnn/npd

[I pick bad lines]

CAMBr is mentioned on pg.45 of the Draft Master Plan PDF, plus the plan specifically mentions dirt and singletrack as viable trail surfaces and options for possible future trails. This is great news.

Kudos to all the folks who've been in contact with the Naperville park district! Please make an effort to go out to the open house on 11/17 from 5-8PM and keep up the good work.

[alex jb]

I went and represented CAMBr west at the meeting.
There were other guys (not CAMBr) with very similar interests who were riders and walkers asking similar questions about KK and surrounding areas, whis was very encouraging. 

I had a good discussion with John Lomas and I promised to send him a follow up mail with a few ideas of what CAMBr can maintain and would like to do in KK (and the other park to the east) in the future.
Also they would like to know what type of work CAMBr can do and what would need input from the park district (felling of a few small trees ect?) and what events we would like to hold.

I think we definately need to help them understand why we like natural surface best and that we do understand needs of hikers and families alike who also enjoy natural surface.
Their plans for KK right now don't involve any changes to the singletrack but do involve a new bridge for cycle, wheel chair/stroller access from KK road car park right by the canoe launch area, and some acompanying asphalt trail running south after the new bridge towards the baseball feilds then turning east to go to the car park by the tennis courts.  Should only be following the path of existing multi track though.

As flat as KK is, single track will work for many users like bikes and families out for a stroll in the woods, dog walkers etc, he seemed fine with this level of accessability for trail for these types of users and would not need singletrack to be stroller friendly, only the existing multi track should be that wide and stroller easy to use.  The multi tracks are already maintained by the parks guys and would stay that way, this means they decide where to leave as mown grass multi track and where to lay bark / lime down.  I said that we'd appreciate them doing this larger scale work but to know and have input in that decission if possible.

I said CAMBr (west) would send him some kind of more structured proposal with possibly a map of proposed re-routes and increase in trail, after our next board meeting and he seemed very open to all ideas aslong as it's multi user friendly.


      I'll post up a draft of the e-mail here for youe guys to have input before we send it.

[Principal (Snake) Skinner]

Thanks for representing us, Alex! Good to hear that the city has improved their view of the trails so much compared to a few years ago. One thing that we should inquire about is their policy of using wood chips on the widetrack. I imagine it's free to them thru the community brush collection and wood chipping program but limestone ought to be a much more permanent solution. Or we look at projects to mitigate the water issues on the sections of trail where the wood chips are needed.

[alex jb]

I rean the original letter throught he West board members and then sent it.

John,

Thank you for inviting myself and others to this informative session, it is great to see pro-active events from any local authorities and CAMBr will always endeavor to attend. I was very encouraged by our conversation and I think that during the coming months and years we can work together to make the south Naperville area a better recreation location for all.

As we discussed, CAMBr West will be putting together it's events and work day calendar over the next month and I hope to be able to give you a copy of this as it nears completion. For the Knoch Knoll park area (KK), we are planning no more activity until spring. End of March and mid April are tentative weekends when workdays are planned. The purpose of these workdays would be to assess and repair winter damage from trees as well as water logging and erosion issues.  None of the work would be large scale, merely post-winter clean-up and drainage maintenance. This would be aimed at the natural surface single track. If there turns out to be any work planned by yourselves that could be supported by CAMBr, please let me know and I can check the schedule.

I do not foresee our group taking on the additional burden of single handedly maintaining the multi-track trails, since the parks department is better equipped to handle this. But we would still welcome an opportunity to hear when such larger-scale projects will be done, and offer our knowledge when decisions are needed that affect them.

Longer term, KK's overall flatness is the reason it attracts beginner and intermediate riders and this single track system will work for many users like cyclists, families out for a stroll in the woods, dog walkers etc. But by nature of the unpolished terrain, such trails cannot be made accessible to ALL users without destroying the natural characteristics that make them special and desirable. Of course, KK has a good amount of multi-track trail that compensates for this. If the parks department is fine with this level of single track trail accessibility, we would like to propose some small extensions to the existing single track that adheres to the existing standard of user accessibility. I am very interested in discussing our proposal with you in more detail.
 
Regards,

[alex jb]

I just sent a folow up note to check he got the original and to see if the plans are progressing after their open house night.

[denalifc]

This was posted on NaperSun newspaper web today. I have not yet had time to read

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/1327743,6_1_NA12_PARK_S1.article

By KATHY CICHON Staff Writer
After reviewing the document in a workshop earlier in the evening, the park board unanimously approved the district's Trails Master Plan on Thursday night.

"It's a good start," board President Suzanne Hart said. "I think it's definitely a very strong need in our community."

The plan will serve as a living document the district will use for enhancing connectivity of trails in the city and neighboring communities.

"One of the main objectives of the plan was to look at all the studies that were out there and compile them all into one document," said Trevor Dick, senior associate with consultant Houseal Lavigne.

Along with recommendations for future improvements, the plan includes an inventory of all existing trails in the city, and identifies trail types. The plan also includes summary of amenities to be included along the trail system where possible. Those include restrooms, vehicle and bike parking, drinking fountains and pet amenities.

"We heard from a lot of people that ride regional trails that they want mileage markers," Dick said.

Work on the plan began about six months ago, and the process included several public meetings, online survey and resident feedback.

Trail users want a connection north to the DuPage River Trail and McDowell Grove Forest Preserve that travels beneath the Burlington Northern Santa Fe rail crossing, along with an underpass or trail running parallel to Ogden Avenue, he said. The plan recommends the district continue working with the city and forest preserve district on the improvements.

Among the other recommendations of the plan:

[rusty]

Rode East of Knoch Knolls @ Royce Road / Naperville Road yesterday PM
in 60f weather - they finished paving the trail to Whalon Lake from
the East side of Knoch Knolls

http://www.fpdwc.org/whalon.cfm

Knoch Knolls is all silt fenced off right now
must be the  trail 'extension' work that's going on

very nice indeed - GPS track

http://www.wrycza.org/wheelfast/DupageRiverTrail_WhalonLake.html

photo of trail extension overlay

[I pick bad lines]

is the dupage river trail mostly limestone/pavement? anyone know how many miles the whole thing is?

I would be interested in completing a loop

I've only ridden a small portion of it, and it was paved, as will be the portion that runs through KK.