Algonquin Receives $148,000 Bike Path Grant

From the Village of Algonquin:

The Village of Algonquin has received $148,314 in grant funding to establish a 0.142-mile trail connecting Armstrong Street to the existing Prairie Trail. The “Scorched Earth Bicycle Path” is designed to fill in the gap between the bike trail system and the highly frequented Algonquin Makers Park and the Old Town Algonquin historic district.

"We are thrilled to hear the news that the Village secured the grant and support local businesses. It's great that cyclists will be able to safely find their way to the brewery and other retail businesses in the industrial complex” said Mike Dallas, Co-Founder of Scorched Earth Brewing. “Ultimately, connecting bike trails to businesses like ours encourages more use of the trails, as many bikers like to create long extended trips along the paths, take breaks along their journey for an ice cream, bite to eat, or in our case stop and have a locally crafted beer.”

The McHenry County Conservation District Prairie Trail is a 26.6-mile trail which travels from Algonquin to the Wisconsin state line. To the south, this trail connects to the Fox River Trail, which connects users from Algonquin south to Aurora.

“This will be a great connection off of the Prairie Trail that improves accessibility to regional destinations in Algonquin” said Village President John Schmitt. “The recent pedestrian and bicycling improvements in our Old Town district, coupled with progress towards a regional bike-share program, will be a very effective tool for economic development in the area.”

In addition to the Prairie Trail, the McHenry County Conservation District manages over 25,598 acres of open land diverse with woodlands, prairies, wetlands, ponds, creeks, and rivers, including 35 active recreation sites that Algonquin residents and visitors enjoy year-round.

Recent developments in regional bike-sharing programs, including McHenry County’s newly launched program and Kane County’s program which the Village of Algonquin recently agreed to participate, will help provide a fun, healthy, low-cost transportation option for residents and visitors alike.

Funds for the Bicycle Path Grant Program, which is administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, are for the acquisition of land or development of facilities for bicycle paths. Funding comes from a percentage of motor vehicle title fees.

A construction schedule will be set at a future date.

This press release was produced by the Village of Algonquin. The views expressed here are the author’s own.