Paved path coming to KK

[denalifc]

http://www.naperville.il.us/drt4.aspx click on link for map

Just got this from the City of Naperville via newsletter:

Latest News

The construction contract has been awarded to Ledcor Construction, Inc. and Merryman Excavation, Inc. Construction is expected to being during the week of August 17, 2009.

A groundbreaking ceremony will be held on August 19, 2009 at 10 a.m. at DuPage River Sports Complex, 2807 S. Washington Street.

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Project Background

The DuPage River Trail is a multi-use paved trail designed for non-motorized public use.  This nine-mile trail is being completed gradually in five segments.  Once completed, the trail will extend from Burr Oak Park to 115th Street.

The DuPage River Trail was first conceived in a 1992 intergovernmental agreement between the City of Naperville, the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County and the Naperville Park District.  In 1997, the Naperville City Council affirmed the City's commitment to the completion of the trail when it was officially adopted as part of the City's Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan.

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Project Description

Segment 4 of the DuPage River Trail will extend the DuPage River Trail system by 2.5 miles.  The segment will begin near 87th Street and the West Branch DuPage River, where the existing trail stops.  The path will follow the river south to Ring Road, where it will cross Washington Street then continue along Ring Road and Knoch Knolls Road until Knoch Knolls Commons.  The path with then cross Knoch Knolls Road to wind through Knoch Knolls Park, Glyman Woods and the DuPage River Sports Complex, ending at the intersection of Washington Street and Royce Road.  The path will include two pedestrian bridges: one over a creek south of 87th Street and one over the West Branch DuPage River in Knoch Knolls Park.

Please click here to view a map of the path.

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Estimated Schedule

DuPage River Trail Segment 4 is expected to be open to trail users during summer 2010.

[Seanbikes]

The West Chapter has been trying to be involved with the planning of the route with unfortunately little success.  We were hoping to encourage the Park District to route the path through the park in a manner that would have the least impact to the existing trails we currently enjoy at Knoch Knolls.

It looks like most of the route will use areas of the park that already have multi-track trail and would not impact the fun singletrack we all enjoy.   

Depending on where exactly they lay the new path it might avoid all of the single track or we might loose a bit.  It looks like what might potentailly be lost would be minor but when there is only about 5 miles of singletrack the loss of even a 1/2 mile would be a bummer.

[TheNormsk]

I welcome the extension of the DuPage river trail and I am looking forward to the day when it reaches 111th so I can cycle to KK on it.

However, I am concerned on where the trail is going through KK.  Yes it looks like the single track is safe, but the multitrack along the south side of the park looks like it will be torn up and replaced with asphalt.  That will be a shame.  I actually do not mind the multitrack here and it has some interesting "features".  Its still possible that the Multtrack will be saved with the river trail skirting the sides of the park instead but the proposed route map does not make this clear.

I guess we'll know for certain in a few weeks.

[TheNormsk]

I took Alex's new map and overlaid the proposed River Trail route.  It matches up very well with the multi-track to the south and through the center of the park.  So I guess we'll have to ride some of that on tonight's no-drop ride before it disappears beneath asphalt.

[denalifc]

That overlay looks close to what I think is planned from looking at their map too. No singletrack lost and the only multi track I use is the south part. I can understand them linking up parks and system for all to use but shame if they have to do this the section through park land (weither city or county) could not be say limestone. Guess the paved section can be used for speed workouts intervals !!!!

[AnandK]

I think a paved path would look better going through the woods than limestone.

[Broken Spoke]

Has anybody noticed the trees marked with flourescent orange tape in the inner loop.  The trees are off the trail maybe 20-30 feet.  And it looked like there had been some minor clearing in the same area.  I was out there yesterday morning and noticed them for the first time.  I hope this is not part of the trail plan.

[Seanbikes]

I did see those markers on the trees but also noticed what I thought was some preparation being done to the multi-track. I'm a bit confused on what is going on there.

I really hope they are routing this path on the existing multi-track to minimize the impact to the park.  There is really no need to take this paved trail into the woods where the single track is. 

[TheNormsk]

I rode KK on Friday and I was confused because to my mind the trails felt quite different from the Wednedsay earlier.  What I noticed that I hadn't before was a lot of trees down and parts of the trail feeling more open.  It may have been like this before and I just did not notice, but it looked like Parks Department were thinning trees out.

I also noticed that the south east side multitrack was VERY different from just two days before.  It had had about a foot of earth dumped on it and it had been compacted by heavy machinery.  

I don't know if it is all related to the path but something is definetely going on in these woods.  Can Alex find out from Will county?

[Slarti]

I noticed the same thing when I road on Monday.  There has been extensive work done on the multi track by the ball field (royce road side.)  I sure hope they are not going to mess with the single track.  That would REALLY suck.

[TheNormsk]

During my ride last night I noticed two sets of markings on the ground.  There is an orange set and a white set.  The orange set looks like the route for the path but I'm unsure what the white markings are, perhaps marked diversion during construction?

The yellow does not look too bad, but if for some reason the white markings indicate the route of the path then we stand to lose a large chunk of the really nice multi-track that takes you south west to the single tract along the river.  I REALLY hope that is not the case.

[alex jb]

Sorry for the delayed response here guys, but I have been asking questions for the last month or so of the parks people about both the Segment #4 and our maintance of the trails this year.

I've requested a meet with several of the Naperville parks people, but I've yet to get a date to meet with them at KK to look at the trail maintenace and the #4 layout, but I'm hoping that will happen soon.

[poundinhard]

Last Saturday (the 12th) there were stakes along the route with pink streamers on them. I think clearing and construction are coming soon. I rode the new pavement on the east side of Naper Blvd. for a while and I think it'll be a great path for a nice road cruise going through some wooded sections. I'm anxious to see how it finishes!

According to the map they're going to need another bridge across the river. Has anyone seen construction starting on that?

[Seanbikes]

There will be a new bridge just west of the current bridge, it will be where the crossing is.  I have not seen any evidence of the construction work on that part of the project starting.