HomeMy Public PortalAboutKendall County Trails and Greenways Plan KENDALL COUNTY TRAILS & GREENWAYS PLAN 2004
Table of Contents Section I – I n troduction ............................................................................1 The Need f o r Trails and Greenways Planning ...............................................1 Planning Li mits ...................................................................................2 Project Partners .................................................................................2 Kendall County Trails & Greenways Plan Objectives ......................................2 Section 2 – Multi-use T r ail Invent ory ...........................................................3 Region al Tr ails ...................................................................................3 Local Trail s .......................................................................................4 Section 3 – Trail Best Practices ..................................................................5 Section 4 – Trail S i gna g e & Way-F i ndi n g .......................................................8 Types of Tr ail Signage and Way -Fi nding .....................................................8 Signage and Way-Finding Best Practices and Design .......................................9 Section 5 – Trail Design Guide ..................................................................11 Spatial Requirements for Trail Users ........................................................11 Design Rec o mmendat i o ns .....................................................................12 Trail Maintenance ..............................................................................14 Bicycle Parking ..................................................................................14 Section 6 – Greenways ............................................................................15 Benefits of Greenways .........................................................................15 Means of P r eserving Greenways ..............................................................16 Greenways in Kendall County .................................................................16 Recommendations for Greenways ...........................................................17 Section 7 – Fox Riv e r Water Trail ...............................................................18 Benefits of the Fox Ri ver Water Trail:......................................................18 The Fox Ri ver Water Tr ail in Kendall County ..............................................18 Recommendations for the Fox Ri ver Water Trail ..........................................18 Section 8 – Trails & Greenways F u nding .......................................................19 Trails & Gr eenways Development Programs ...............................................19 Append ix Kendall County Trails & Greenways Map Northeast Kendall County Trails Enlargement Map Kendall Coun ty Trails & Greenways Plan i
Section I – Introduction Kendall County has been mainly rural since settlement began in th e early 1800s. In recent yea r s, suburba n growth in the co unty has accelerated at an ever-increasing rate. This has challenged local units of go v e rnment t o plan for a n d provi d e services to a growing and changing popul a tion. In January of 2003, the Kendall County Fore st Preserve District and the Kendall County Planning, Buil ding a n d Z o ning Depa rtment ini t iated the c r eation of the Kendal l County Trails & Greenways Plan. The centra l purpos e of the Trail s & Greenways Plan is to merge existing municipal, park district and c o unty trail plans, and to pl an for the establishm ent of greenway corridors in sui t able locati ons. The Fo x Riv e r Tr ail at Hu dson Cr o ssing Par k near do wnto wn Oswego The Need for Trails and Greenw a ys Planning Currently, trails and greenways exist in a sm all portion of the c o u n ty. Howe ver, many comprehen s ive plans develope d by munici palities, park districts and t h e co unty address trails and greenways. Ensuring th at these plans complim e nt and enhance one another is critical in providing trails and gr eenways that effectiv ely serve residents . Trails and greenways offer many advantages for local units of government and their residents. Trails provi d e safe rec r eational ac tivities that are enjoyed by people of all ages. Trails also offer an alternate means of transportation for s h ort, l o cal trips. The creati o n of greenways helps to preser ve riparian areas, floodplains , w oodlands or other signif icant features of the l a ndscape. Greenways also serve as an im portant link betwe e n parks, natural area s, co mmunity centers and residential areas. Preserving greenways as open space is one of the tool s, along wi th proper s t ormwater and erosion control ordinances, that ca n be used to preserve the excellent quality of Kendall County streams and riv e rs. Greenways are usually ideal locations f o r trails as they are li near and often scenic . Kendall Coun ty Trails & Greenways Plan 1
Introducti on Planning Limits The planni ng area for the Trails & Greenways Plan includes all of Kendall County. The planning ar ea contains 324 squar e miles. There are 13 municipalities and 5 park districts pr esent in the planni ng area. Proje c t Partners The followi ng uni ts of government have pa rticipated in the cr eation of the Kendall County Tra i ls & Greenways Plan by attendi n g meeti n gs and/or submitting information: • Kendall County Forest Preserve District • Kendall County Planni ng, Buildi ng and Zoni ng Department • City of Joli e t • Village of Minooka • Village of Montgom e ry • Village of Oswego • Village of Plainfield • City of Plano • United City of Yorkvill e • Joliet Park District • Oswegoland Park District • Plainfield Township P a rk District • Fox Valley Park Distri ct Kendall County Trails & Greenw a ys Plan Objectives The pur p os e of this pl anning effort is to provide a br oad vision f o r the creati o n of trails and greenways in Kendall County. Th i s will be ac hieved through the f o llowing actions: • Create a Countywide Trails & Greenways Plan Map – This map i d entifies existing tra i l plans, es tablishes tr ail links between thes e plans, and establishes the loc a ti ons of greenway corridors. • Identify Fu nding Sources – The plan identifi es and des c ribes various fundin g sources that exist for tr ail co nstru c tion a n d g r eenway developmen t. • Coordinate Local Planning – The plan serv es to im prove and c o ordinate local planning efforts by incorpor ating trails and greenways into transportation, la nd-u se and dev e lo pment planning and implementation. Enjoying the Fox Ri ver Trail i n Montgomer y Kendall Coun ty Trails & Greenways Plan 2
Section 2 – Multi-use Trail I n ventory While a number of communities have constr ucted mul t i-use trails in Kendal l County, the vast m a jority of the trail sys t em exists only on plans. The Kendall County Trails & Greenways Plan identifies approximately 200 miles of multi-use trails, of w h ich approximately 20 miles already are construc te d, m o stl y in the northeast sec t ion of the county . Regional Trails A regional trail typically crosses multip le jurisdictions and can be used for recreational and c o m m uting needs. Beca us e of thes e multiple jurisdictions, maintenance responsi bilities and consiste nt signage m u st be cons idered when planning, f unding and constructi ng regional trails. Regional tr ails link to local trails and ot her r e gional trails to create a trail network that is easily accessible to all residents. Regional trails also link multiple town centers and other sign ificant destinations. The Kendal l County Tr ails and Greenways Plan identifi es several regional tr ails: • Fox Riv e r Trail – The F o x River Tr ail is a 35-mile regional trail that begins at Crystal Lake in McHenry County and currently ends in Osw e go. The proposed southern trailhead of the Fox Riv e r Trail is near Silver Springs State Park. The Fox River Trail connects w i th many r e gional trails such as the Illinois Prairie Path and the Vir g il L. Gilman Trail. Many l o cal trails also f eed into the Fox Riv e r Trail. Heading north from Oswego o n the Fo x River Trail • V i r g i l L. Gilman Tr ail – The Virgil L. Gilm an Trail’s western trailhead is Waubonsie Community College in Sugar Grove. The Gilman extends east to a trailhead on Route 30 in Kendall County . The Gilm an may be extended east, possi bly to the Mi dewin National Tallgrass Prairie. • Aux Sa ble Trails – Regional multi -use trails are propos ed for the Aux Sable Creek Greenway corridors. • WIKADUKE Trail – A regional m u lti-use trail i s propose d for the WIKADUKE Trail corridor near the eastern edge of Kenda ll C o unty. This trail will extend south into Grundy County to Route 6 a n d the I&M Canal. • Prairie Parkway Trail – A regional multi-use trail is proposed f o r the Prairie Parkway ro ad corridor that extends from ea st of Plano to Intersta te 80 in Minooka. • Rob Roy Cr eek Tra i l – A regional multi-use trail is proposed along the Rob Roy Creek from Kane County to the F o x River Tr ail. • Fox & DuPage Trail – A regional m u lti-use tra i l is propos ed to con n e ct the Fox River corridor with the DuPage River corridor in Will County. • Grove Roa d Trail – A regional m u lti-use tra i l is propos ed to con n e ct Oswego with the A u x Sable Creek trail system. Kendall Coun ty Trails & Greenways Plan 3
Multi-us e Trail Inventory Local Trails A local trail is typically a shorter trail th a t s e rves a single community, nei g hborhood or park/forest preserv e . Local tr ails can be stand-alone trails, or they can be linked to a trail network. M a intenance and si gnage of local trails are typically controlled by a single e n tity. Oswego currently has the mos t s i gnificant a m ount of l o cal trails i n the c o un ty, although m a ny munici palities are pla nni ng a n d constructing such trails. A trail along Pi lcher Road in Plainfield Kendall Coun ty Trails & Greenways Plan 4
Section 3 – Trail Best Practices Developing a comprehensive network of regi onal and local trails in Kendall County requires bo th pla nnin g and im ple m entatio n . Several best practic e s shoul d be utilized during the trail devel o pment pr ocess tha t wi ll ensure that the r e sulting tr ail system will adequately meet the needs of the c o m m unity. 1. Commit to Design Trail Friendly Communities – Loca l units of government are typically responsible f o r planni ng , co ns tructing and maintaining m u lti-use trails. In order to suc c eed in deve loping a trail network, these units of government must be committed to pr ovidi n g the required leaders h ip and resources. Many communities in Kendall County an d the county i t self are showing this commitme n t through various trai l planni ng, constructi on and maintenance efforts. This trail connects residents to Settler’s Park and the Pla i nfield Village Hall 2. Plan for Trail Facil i ti es – Developing a plan accomplis h es several important items. A plan shows current conditio ns , lists future goals, and identifies projects and polici es to meet these goal s. A regional trail plan ensures that local plans connect in a logical m a nner and fosters intergovernm ental cooperati o n that benefits all. Planning is also important in guiding li mite d resources to priority projects an d in securing grant funds for trail c o nstructi on. Several communities in Kendall County hav e existing trail plans. Trail plans, both on a local and regional level, shoul d e n courage c o nnectivi t y to public spaces, town centers , and other significant destinations. Kendall Coun ty Trails & Greenways Plan 5
Trail Best Practices 3. Utilize Rec o gnized Standards for Trail Construction – As more and more communiti es construc t trails in K e nda ll County, potential problems could occur due to diff erent trail standards . The use of consistent design standards is encouraged to prevent this problem an d to create a safe and enjoyable trail n e t w o r k . Several des i gn guides are typicall y reco gnized as the authoritative guides f o r trail standards: • The A A SHT O Guide f o r the Devel o pment of Bicycle Fac i lities American Association of State High way and Transportation Officials • Bicycle Fac i lity Planning American Planning Association, by Suzan Anderson and Terri Musser • A Policy on Geom etric Design of Highways a n d Str eets , 4 th Edition Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) • Manual of Uniform Traffic Cont rol Devices (MUTCD) U.S. Depar t ment of T r ansportati on, Fe dera l Highway Administra tion While thes e design guides are the recogn iz ed standar d s and are encouraged in most situa t ions, eac h trail has unique environmental, c u ltural and funding factors that may necessitate dev i ations from these recognized standards. The local unit of governme nt provi d ing the resources for trail construction has the ability to adapt these recognized stan dards to suit thes e unique si tuations. 4. Incorporate Trail Facilities into New Developments – Kendall County and several communities routinely incorpor ate trail corridors, easements and trail constructi on into new residential , commerci a l and roa d way projec ts. Developing trails in this manner r e quires a unit of government to have a trai l plan or pol i cy that gui d es the grow th proces s to develop a trail sy stem. Incorporati n g trail fac i lities into new developments has several advantages . It provides e a sy trail ne twork access to new r e sidents , requires mi nimal expendi t ur e of governmental res o urces and prevents c o stly retrof its shoul d a trail be constructed l a ter. New trai l devel o pment sh ould provide connec t i v ity to public s p aces, tow n centers and other destinations . Trails are incorporated into t h e s e new su b d i visio n s in Yo r k ville and Minooka Kendall Coun ty Trails & Greenways Plan 6
Trail Best Practices 5. Cooperate with Other Local Units of Gove rnment on Trails – Neighboring communities, park districts and count y gov e rnment should communicate and cooperate on specific trail locati ons, trail design and greenway issues when their boundaries meet. This will ensure th a t the trail and greenway system in Kendall County has s m ooth transitions and serves the needs of residents. 6. Provide Trail Information to the Public – T h e pu blic s h ould be k e pt inf o rmed of trail pla nning and developme n t. This information i n creases awareness of current facilities, allows for public comment regarding trail facilities and demonstra t es the c o mmitment of loca l units o f go vernment to trails. Primary types of i n formation that shoul d be available to the public: • Local Trail Plans and P o licies – Local units of governme nts should have available f o r the publ ic any plans an d polici es that i n v o lve current and proposed trails. The Oswegoland Park District’s Bicyc l e Trail Gui d e and the Plainfi e ld Area Bi cycle Plan are exampl es of such plans. • Regional Trails Plans – Informati o n such as the Kendal l County Tr ails & Greenways Plan and the Kane County Bicycl e and Pedestrian Plan and should be a v ailable for the public . • Trail Ma ps – In areas with signifi c ant trail f a cilities, m a ps should be produced that show tr ail locations, desti n ati o n and other pertinent information. These trail maps c a n be s t and alone maps or inc o rporated into road maps or open space m a ps. 7. Promote Accessible Trail Design – There are two federal laws that require trails to be designe d a n d co nstru c ted t o be accessible to all people: • Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) - ADA requires that local governmental services, recreational faciliti es and systems of transportation, theref ore trails, must have equal access for persons with disabilities . • Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 – This act requires that all federally funded pro j ects be acc e ssible to persons wit h disabili ti es. The Americ an with Dis a bilities Design Gui d el ines (ADAA G ) devel o ped by the U.S. Architectural & Transportati on Barriers Complianc e Board c o ntains information to design and c o nstr uct accessi ble faciliti es. AASHTO and other design gui d es also refl ect required accessibi lity in their criteria. 8. Promote Trail Safety – Trail user s and m o torists need to be educated on matters that affect s a fety on the trail system. There are several ways in which local units of governm e nt can pr omote trail safety: • ‘Rules of the Trails’ Brochure – Th is coun tywide broch u re would be posted and made avai lable at tr ailheads and trail acces s points. • Signage – I n stalling pr oper signag e that highlight trail f eatures. • Bike Rodeos – These i n teractive prog rams educate youngsters on bike and trail safety. Kendall Coun ty Trails & Greenways Plan 7
Section 4 – Trail S i gnage & Way-Finding A trail network has m a ny destinations, inters ections and points of interest. Trails pass through a variety of areas that many tr ail users m a y not be f a miliar with. Providing adequate w a y-finding signage s h ould be prov ided to direct and inf o rm trail users about the trail s y stem. Interpretative signage ca n be used to educate users and further enhance the trail experi ence. Types of Trail Signage and Way -Finding • Directional and Rou t e Signs – Ma ps, arrows, mileage m a rkers and other signage that inform tr ail users where they are, where they are going and how to get there. Route signage is also used to inform motorists of the location of trails. Ma ps containi ng an over view of a trail system should be located at trailheads, while di rectional arrows and destination information shoul d be installed at trail intersections. • Interpretative Signs – Educate tr ail us ers on the his t ori c al, cultural and natural features that are located ad jacent to a partic ular trail. • Welcome Signs – Introduce trail users to destinations s u ch as a ci ty, park or trail. Welcome signs typically include th e name of the mana gi ng agency. • Cautionary and Regul a tory Signs – Cauti o na ry signs are poste d ne ar p o t e nt ial hazard s and caut io n t r ail users o f up co ming ro ad way and railroad crossings, steep grades , sharp curv es, etc . Regulatory s i gns inform trai l users of trail rules an d are posted at trailheads or trail intersections. Regulatory signage in Osweg o and interpretative signage in Plain f ield p r o vide in f ormation to trail users Kendall Coun ty Trails & Greenways Plan 8
Trail Signage & Way-Finding Some types of route , c a utionary a n d regu latory signs have standard colors and symbols that are univ e rsally recognizable . Maps an d directional , inter p ret a tive, an d welcome signs should be custom i z ed to give trails an i d en tity. Re gional trails that pass through multiple jurisdictions should utilize consis tent si gnage for the entire length of that trail. Regional tr ail signag e could i n clude a logo that clearly identifies the trail and associated facilities . Signage and Way-Fin d ing Best Practices and Design There are a number of factors to be consid ered when designing and installi ng a way-finding system. The w a y-finding system sh ould present clear, relevant infor m ation that does not present trail users with too m u ch or ina p propriate i n formation . • Sign Locati on – Loca ti ng signs in a consistent manner assists trail users with quickl y locating and u n ders tandin g t h e signs. o Signs shoul d be cl early visible and placed at a consistent dis t ance from the tr ail. o Signs shoul d have letter sizes that are easil y readable. o Cautionary and regulatory signs that have universal symbols should not have words unless nec e ssary. o Way-findin g signa g e s h ould be l o cated a t tr ail intersec tions, trailheads and other decision m a king locations. o When appr opriate, tr ail signag e can be pai n ted on t h e trail surface. • Sign Frequency – Installing way-finding signage at predictabl e intervals assists trail users with determining thei r location and desti n ati o n. Signage such as mile markers should be s p aced no further than one-half mile apart. Signs should not be so frequent as to be a distraction or cause c o nfusion. • Sign Content – Signage shoul d pr esent only pertinent inform ation i n as clear a manner as possible. I t ems to c o nsider when determining sign content include: o Graphics – Sign graphi cs should be clear, visible at a distance and able to be interprete d at the speed of tr ail users. When possible, universal symbols should be utiliz ed. Mile marker on the Gilman T r ail o Langua ge – The language use d on trail signage should be easily understood by the var i ety of trai l users. L a nguage bar r iers can be overcome by using the universal symbols in place of text. o Target Age Groups – S i gns should have graphics and la nguage tha t are unders t ood by the variety of age groups using the trail. Kendall Coun ty Trails & Greenways Plan 9
Trail Signage & Way-Finding • Sign Placement - The Manual on Uniform T r affic Cont rol Devic e s (MUTCD) has placement guidelines for trail signage. Basic guideli n es for trail signage placement include: o Placing way-finding si gnage 25 -7 5 feet before and after intersections to give trail users adequate decision maki ng distances . o Signs should be placed a minimu m 3 feet and a maximum 6 feet from the tr ail edge as to be clos e enough for easy visibility and far enough aw ay as to be a hazard. o The bottom edge of trail signs s h ould be 5 feet above the trail surface. Secondary si gns placed on the sam e post underneath a primary sign shoul d be at least 4 feet above the trail surface. o The bottom of overhead signs s h ou ld be a minimum of 8’ above the trail surface. o A dashed 4 -6 inch single yellow li ne shoul d be used to denote where pass ing is permissible. Dashes shoul d be 3 feet l o ng with a 9-foot s p ac e between dashes. A so lid 4-6 inch yellow line should be used to denote wh ere passing is prohi b it ed. o A regulator y stop sign should be installed at all trail-roadway intersections. o Pavement markings s h ould be used when trails cross roadways to clearly identify the cr ossing for trail users and motoris t s. Signage and pa v e ment mar k in gs help to mak e this road c r o ssin g in Oswe g o s a f e Kendall Coun ty Trails & Greenways Plan 10
Section 5 – Trail Design Guide Trails must be designe d to be saf e , attrac tiv e , easy to use and easy to maintain. A trail system that m e ets these c r iteria will be an excellent recreational ass e t that will add to the quality of l i fe in Kendall County. Spatial Re quirements for Trail Users • Pedestrian Uses – Eight feet of space is requ ired for tw o pair of pedestrians to pass each other comf ortably. • Bicycle Uses – Bicycles require approximat el y 3.5-feet of operati n g space wi th a 2-foot s h y distance fr om opposin g traffi c and lateral obstructions adjacent to the trail. Kendall Coun ty Trails & Greenways Plan 11
Trail Design Guide • In-line Skating Uses – It is preferred that skaters have 6 -feet of operating space with a 2.5 -feet fall zone free of ob structi o n s adjacen t to th e trail . Design Recommendations The 1999 American Association of State Hi ghway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Guide f o r the Development of Bicycle Facilities covers design and developme n t of trails in detail . When possi ble, trails s h ould be designed to meet these standards. However, eac h trail ha s its own set of environmental issues, intende d u s es, and community f a ctors tha t will deter m ine speci f ic constru c tion details. General Design Rec o m m endatio n s: • Width – Wi dth of trail s are to be determ ine d by an tici pated level s of use a n d types of us e. In general, regional trai ls should be a minimum of 10-feet w i de. In areas where use may be especi ally hi gh, a 12-foot width may be necessary. Local trails should be a minimum of 8-feet wide. • Surface – A ll regional trails shoul d be paved with bi tuminous as phalt or concrete. Local trails with heav y anticipat e d use s h o u ld be pav e d with bituminous asphalt. Local trails with li gh t anticipa ted use ca n be surfaced with compacted limestone screenings. Recommended trail construction cross sections: 5” co ncr e t e pa ving 4 ” ag g r eg at e bas e c o urs e (m in .) we ll com p a c te d subso i l fr ee o f t o pso i l Concrete surface Kendall Coun ty Trails & Greenways Plan 12
Trail Design Guide B i tumino us Asphalt Surface 2” bitumin o us su rfac e cou r se 8 ” ag g r eg at e bas e c o urs e we ll com p a c te d subso i l fr ee o f t o pso i l 5 oz. g e o-t e xtile fab r ic for unsta b le soils Limestone Screening Surface 2 ” l i meston e sc r een in g s 6 ” ag g r eg at e bas e c o urs e we ll com p a c te d subso i l fr ee o f t o pso i l • Shoulders – Trails shou ld have 2 -f oot wide s h oulders that support trail edges from damage and create lateral clearance f o r trail users. • Design Spe e d – A desi gn spee d o f 20 miles per hour s h ould be us ed for all t r ails. In specific locations , a higher de sign spee d may be wa rranted. • Curve Radius – For trails with a 20 miles per hour design speed, a minimum curve radius of 90-100 feet is recommended. • Grades – Grades shoul d be kept mini mal whenever possible to m eet AASHTO and ADA requirements . o Vertical Gr ade – Grades shoul d not exceed 5%, although steeper grades may be necessary where terrain and other factors dic t ate. o Horizontal Grade – Cr oss slopes s h ou ld not exceed 2-3% to allow for adequate drainage. • Sight Stopping Distance – Adequate sigh tline s should be provide d to allow sufficient s t oppi ng dis t ance at road cr ossings and other pote ntial hazards. A minimum 1 25-foot si ght stoppi ng distance s h ould be provided, al thou gh eac h location sh ould be co nsidered i n dividually. • Location Al ong Roads – Trails that are in or adjacent to road ri ght-of-ways should be located on the west side of north-south roads and on the south side of east-west roads. • Vehicular Uses – Trail cross-secti o ns, wi dths and e d ge s u pports sh ould be designe d t o withsta n d occasio n al use by m a intenance , patr ol an d emergen c y vehicles. Kendall Coun ty Trails & Greenways Plan 13
Trail Design Guide • Bridges: o New regional trail bridges shoul d be cons tructed a mi ni mum of 10 -feet wide. E x is ting bridge s and l o cal trai l bridges should be a minimum of 8-feet wide. o Bridges sh o u ld be desi gned to s u pport live l o ad of trail users and any anticipa ted vehicular uses. Tr ail cro ssing the Ro b Ro y Creek in Yo r k v i lle Trail Maintenance Trails requi r e maintenance to keep them sa fe, attracti ve and eas y to use. Routine maintenance also minimizes liability for th e local uni ts of government that manage the trails. General Tr ail Maintenance Rec o mmendati o ns: • Follow applicable standards in the AASHTO Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities. • Develop cooperative multi-jurisdicti onal agreements to streamli ne maintenance and ens u re that all trail secti o ns are adequately c a red for. • Keep trails clean of debris and s n ow, when applicable. • Inspect for damage to trails and surroundin g vegeta tion followin g major storms and make any repairs quickly. U s e wa rning signs an d markings when nee d e d . • Clear vegetation to a 10-foot mi nimum hei g ht and 3 -foot horizontal clearance on each side of the tr ail. • Clear vegetation to m a intain a d e q uate si ghtlines at cur v es, inters ections a n d other pote ntially haz a rdous loca tions. • Give prom pt attenti o n to hazards and ma i n tenance problems reported by trail users. Bicycle Parking Providing adequate bi cycle racks at trail de stinations i s an important com p onent of a trail system. Bicycle racks reduces hazards, damage to trees and structures used for makeshift bicycle par k ing, and can help to encourage local shopping. Units of government and local businesses should be encouraged to provide bicycle parking. When a ppli c able, a d e q uate bicycle parking sh ould be incorporated into residential , commercial, and transportation plans and ordinances.Kendall Coun ty Trails & Greenways Plan 14
Section 6 – Greenways Greenways are linear open s p ace corridors that are created for c o nservation and recreational purpos es. Greenways many time s follow the course of a river or stream, but can als o be created along si gnificant to pogra p hic a l features , utili t y cor r idors or unique features of the landscape. Greenw a ys are also used to li nk features such as regional open space, c u ltural sites, historic sites, town centers and residenti a l areas. Trails and greenways are typicall y associat e d with ea c h other . M a ny greenways include trails that c o nnect various destinat i o ns. H o wever, greenways can be created that do n o t include tr ails. Greenways in pu blic o w nership a r e typically owned a n d maintai n ed by mu ni cipalities, park districts or forest preserve district s. Gr eenways that contain many activ e recreational facilities can be ow ned and m a intained by any of these entities, while the Kendal l County Forest Preserve District will generally be l ook ed upon to take ownership and stewar dship of sig n ifican t natural areas located in greenways. G r eenway with a mu lti-u s e trail at the Blac kber r y Cr eek F o r e st Pr eser v e in Mo ntgo mer y Benefits of Greenways • Recreation – Greenways, when used in c o njunction with trails and other facilities provide resi dents wi th recreational opportunities. • Tourism – Greenways help to promote to ur ism by providing scenic and qual ity recreational opportunities to visitors. • Wildlife Corridors – Gr eenways are import an t con d uits for wildlife by providi n g connecti o ns between regional open spac es or movement al ong a stream or river. • Stream Buf f er – Although greenways alone do not preserve the quality of a river or stream, they do hel p buffer w a terway s from practic e s that otherwise might do harm . • Interconne ctions – Gr eenways provide re sidents and visitors with important connections between town centers, na tural areas, recreational opportuni ties , Kendall Coun ty Trails & Greenways Plan 15
Greenways cultural sites and residential areas. Greenways provide connections insi de the boundaries of a single community and also connect a community to others. Means of Preserving Greenways • Fee Simple Purchase – The Kendall County F o rest Preserve District, park districts and municipalities can purcha se pr operty to be include d in the greenway system. • Development Process – Areas identified as part of a greenway can be protected through th e development proc ess. The c o unty and municipalities can require developers to preserve su ch areas as open space. • Conservation Easeme nts – Private landowners can pla c e conserv a tion easements on their pr operty that en sure it r e mains as open s p ace in perpetui ty. Conservation easements ca n be written to allow or not allow public ac ce ss. • Grant Funding – Sever a l grant programs are available to fund greenway development and open space preservation . Please see Section 8 for a detai l ed list of thes e programs . Greenways in Kendall County • Fox River – The Fox River is the best-kno wn natural res o urce in Ke ndall County and has many affiliated recreational uses . The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) has rated sections of the river as Class A and it also contains an endangered fish s p ecies. Bi king, hiking, fishing, recreational watercraft use, cam p i n g and bir d watching can all be directly attributed to the Fox Riv e r. Ensuring that the Fox River remains a prime natural and recreational resource is a goal shared by all . • Aux Sable Creek – The Aux Sabl e Creek is a tributary of the Illinois River w h ose watershed covers approximately 40% of Kendall County . Sec t ions of the A u x Sable Cree k have bee n rated Cla ss A by the IDNR and the creek c o ntains an endangered fish speci e s and a di verse mussel populati on. The A u x Sable Creek has a watershed plan that i d enti fies watershed concerns and rec o mmends various pra c tices tha t should be i m plemente d to preser ve and e n h a nce the creek and i t s greenway. The Big Ro ck Cr eek flo w s thr o u g h Plano • Big Rock Creek & Littl e Rock Cre e k – These creeks are tributaries of the Fox River whose watershed covers parts of De Kalb, K a ne and Ke ndal l counties . The Big Rock and Li ttl e Rock Creeks have a w a tershed pl an that i d enti fies watershed concerns and recom m ends vari ous practic e s that should be impl em ented to preserve and enhanc e the creek s and their greenways. Kendall Coun ty Trails & Greenways Plan 16
Greenways • Blackberry Creek – The Blackberry Creek is a tributary of the F o x River that covers portions of Kane and Kendall counti e s. Blackberry Creek h a s a watershed plan that i d entifies w a tershed c o ncerns and recommends various practices that should be implem ented to preserve and enhance the creek and its greenw a y. • Morgan Creek – Morgan Creek is a small tributary of the Fox Riv e r that is located entirely in the northeas t corner of Kendall County. • Rob Roy Creek – The Rob Roy Creek is a tri b utary of the Fox Riv e r whose watershed covers portions of K e ndall and Ka ne countie s . • Waubonsie Creek – The Waubonsi e Creek is a tributary of the F o x River w h ose watershed covers portions of Kendall, Kane and DuPage counties. The Waubonsie Creek has a watershed plan that i d enti fies watershed concerns and recommends various practices that should be implem ented to preserve and enhance the creek and its greenway. Recommendations for Greenways • Greenways along streams and ri vers should, at a minimum , include al l of the 500-year floodplain as identified on the Federal Em ergency Management Agency (FEMA) Flood Insurance Rate Maps. Natural areas adjacent to the 50 0-year floodplai n should also be incl ude d in greenways. • Greenways along streams that do not have floodplains identified on the FEMA maps shoul d be a mini mum of 15 0 feet wide on eac h si de of the s t ream and should incl ude any ad jacent natural areas. Wetland restoration as a stormwat er filter alo n g th e Wau bo nsie C r eek in Oswego • Greenways should be considered to co nnect regional open spac es , cultural sites, town centers and residential ar eas even in the absence of a stream corridor. These greenways should be a minimum of 50 feet wide and should increase in width to i n clude any natural ar eas located in the greenway corridor. • Greenways, streams and associated natu ral areas shoul d be prote c ted from n e g a t i ve imp a ct s o f a d j o in in g pro p e r ties by utilizing best management practices i n agricultural and growth areas. Such practices shoul d control erosion, decrease the quanti ty of stor mwater discharges, increase the water quality of s t ormwater discharges, and limit impacts on aquatic res o urces. • Trails and other recreational faci lities constructed in greenways should be designe d a n d constructed in a m a nner sensi t ive to natural areas. • Natural areas associated with greenw ays should be managed in order to maintain and/or impr ove their quality. Kendall Coun ty Trails & Greenways Plan 17
Section 7 – Fox River Water Trail The Fox Ri ver Water Trail is a c oordinate d system of access points and signage designed to promote recreational canoeing an d kayaking. The Fox River Water Trail is part of the Northeastern Illino is Water Trail s Plan that includes te n water tra i ls in the region. The Fox River Water Trail begins at the Wisc onsin-Illinois border, fl ows through La ke, McHenry, Kane, K e ndall and LaSalle counties bef o re ending at the Illinois Riv e r in Ottaw a . Benefits of the Fox Ri ver Water Trail: • Recreation – Coordi nated access and sign age to the Fox River will increase recreational use of the river. • Stewardshi p – Providi n g access to the F o x River will foster an understanding and apprec iation of the river as an ecolog ical resource and p r omote stewardshi p. • Tourism – As with oth e r trails, the Fo x River Water Trail helps to promote tourism by becoming its own des t inat ion or by combining several other destinati o ns into a single recreational experience. The Fox River Water Trail in Ke ndall Coun ty There are s i x public access points on the Fox River in Kendall County. Three of these sites ar e owned by the Oswegoland Park District, and one each by the United City of Yorkville, Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Kendall County For e st Preserve District. The southernmost public access point to the Fox Riv e r is in Kendall County. The only por t age in Kendall County is loc a ted at the Yorkville dam. Sh uh Sh uh Gah C a noe Launch ne ar Millb rook Currently, there is an ongoi n g project to i m prove signage on the Fox River Water Trail in Kendall and southern K a ne counti es. This pr oject is be i n g funded by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and administered by the Kendall County Forest Preserve District. The projec t calls for s i gnage to be installed on Fox Riv e r bridges and trailhe a d signs to be created and i n stall e d at certain access points. Recommendations for the Fox River Wat e r Trail • Establish a dditi onal F o x River ac cess poin ts at logical i n tervals. • Participati o n in the F o x River Water Trail Committee . • Promote the Fox Riv e r Water Trai l thro ugh si gnage and printed materials. Kendall Coun ty Trails & Greenways Plan 18
Section 8 – Trails & Greenways Fu nding Many trails and greenways are planned and implemented with f u nding assis t ance from the state or federal level. A variety of prog rams are available to assist local units of governmen t with the developme n t of trails and greenways. These program s differ in the amount of funding assistanc e , requiremen ts of the local units of government and administra tion me thodology. Local uni ts of government in Ke ndall Co unty are encouraged to plan, f und and develop tr ails and greenways cooperativ ely. Partnerships strengthen grant applicati o ns and can l ead to significant funding. Many major programs are funded by the fede ral gover n ment through state or regional agencies. These funds are included in fe de ral transportation bill s such as the Intermodal Surface Tr ansportati on Effici enc y Act (ISTE A ) and the Transporta tion Equity Act for the 21 st Century (T EA-21). Al though federal progra ms general l y fund a larger percentage of project c o s t s, rules as sociated wi th federal programs c a n make projects m o re arduous than thos e funded by state programs. A n Illinois Department of Natu r a l Resou r ces matching gr ant hel p ed to f un d this trail in Oswe g o Trails & Greenways Development Progra ms • Bike Path Grant Program – Illinois De partment of Natural Resources (IDNR) o This progra m is for th e acquisiti o n, c o nstru c tion a n d r e habilita ti on of trails and associated f a cilities and is funded by used tir e dispos al taxes. o Eligible project cos t s i n clude li near land ac quisition, engineering, and constructi on of trails and select associated facilities. Kendall Coun ty Trails & Greenways Plan 19
Trails & G reenways Funding o Local share is 50% of eligible pr oject costs, with $200,000 engineering and constr uction m a x i mum and no limit f o r linear land acquisiti o n. o Projects are evaluated on a com p etit ive basis based on factors such as the devel o pment of trail systems, pr ojects identified i n plans , tr ail demand, environmental and s o ci al impact, scenic and recreational experience, and futur e maintenance plans . o Applicati o ns are due March 1 of each year. o Eligible s p onsors include municipaliti es, park districts, forest preserve districts, c o nservation districts and state agencies. o Local spons o r pays all costs an d i s reimbursed by IDNR. o Contact: Illinois Bik e Path Program Illinois Department of Natural Re sources Division of Grant Administration One Natural Resources Way Springfield IL 62702-1271 (217) 782-7481 dnr.state.il .us/ocd/gaoutnew • Illinois Transportation Enhancement Pro g ram – Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) o This progra m supplies federal fun d s to l o cal units of government through IDOT. These funds ar e to be used for non-traditional transportati on enhancem ents such as alternate means of transportati on projects . o Eligible project cos t s include land and easement acqui s ition, engineering, trail c o nstruction and se lect associated f a cilities. Safety, educati o n, and rehabil i tation of histor ic transportation facilities are also eligible. o Local share is 50% for trail right-of -way and easement acquisition costs and 20% of engineering and cons truction c o sts. o Projects are evaluated on their abil ity to provide alternate means of transportation. o Applicati o n due dates will be spe c ified by fe deral trans p ortatio n authorities . o Eligible s p onsors include municipaliti es, park districts, forest preserve districts, c o nservation districts and state agencies. o Local spons o r pays all engineering co sts and is reimbur s ed by IDOT for their 80% s h are. Cons truction cost s are generally paid by IDOT and the local spons o r reimbur s es IDOT for their 20% share. o Contact: Illinois Transportati on Enha nce m ent Progr a m Illinois Department of Transport a tion Office of Planning and Programming 2300 South Dirksen Parkway, Room 307 Springfield IL 62764 (217) 782-0378 Kendall Coun ty Trails & Greenways Plan 20
Trails & G reenways Funding • Congestio n Mitigation & Air Qu ality Improvement Program – Chicago Area Transportation Study (CATS) o This progra m supplies federal fun d s to l o cal units of government through CATS. These funds ar e to be used for projects that all e viate vehi cular congesti on or improve air quality . o Eligible project cos t s include engin eering, c o nstructi on of trails a n d select associated facil i ties. o Local share is 20% of eligible project costs . o Projects are evaluated on their abil ity to reduce vehicle emissions or reduce vehicle trips. o Applicati o ns are gener a lly due on March 1 of each year. o Eligible s p onsors include only l o c a l units of government in the Chi c ago and St. Louis areas. o Local spons o r pays all engineering co sts and is reimbur s ed by IDOT for their 80% s h are. Cons truction cost s are generally paid by IDOT and the local spons o r reimbur s es IDOT for their 20% share. o Contact: Congestion Mitigati on and Air Quality Improvement Program Chicago Ar ea Transportation Study 300 West Adams, 2 nd F l oor Chicago IL 60606 (312) 793-3474 www.catsmpo.com/ • STP – Urba n Pro g ram & Rural P r ogram o These program suppli e s federal funds to local units of governme nt through IDOT and loc a l Council of Mayors. These programs allow communiti es to use portions of their STP funding for trail construction. o Eligible project cos t s include engin eering, c o nstructi on of trails a n d select associated facil i ties. o Local share is 20% of eligible project costs . o Projects are evaluated on their abilit y to i m prove tra n sportati on in the urban or rural area. o Applicati o ns are accepted throughout the y ear and ar e generally evaluated i n the wi nter or spring. o Eligible s p onsors include local unit s of government and state agencies. o Local spons o r pays all engineering co sts and is reimbur s ed by IDOT for their 80% s h are. Cons truction cost s are generally paid by IDOT and the local spons o r reimbur s es IDOT for their 20% share. • National Recreation Trails Pro g ram – IDNR o This progra m supplies federal fun d s to l o cal units of government through IDNR. These funds ar e for motorized and non-motoriz e d recreati o nal trails. IDNR emphasizes equestri an, hiki ng, cross county skiing, mountai n biking and w a ter trail project for the non-motorized trai l funds, as w e ll as Grand Illinois Tr ail projec ts. o Eligible project cos t s i n clude engineering, tr ail rehabili tation and constructi on of trails and select associated facilities. Kendall Coun ty Trails & Greenways Plan 21
Trails & G reenways Funding o Local share is 20% of eligible project costs . o Projects are evaluated on a com p etit ive basis based on factors such as the devel o pment of trail systems, pr ojects identified i n plans , tr ail demand, environmental and s o ci al impact, scenic and recreational experience , future m a intenance plans, pu blic support , and diver s ity of trail users. o Applicati o ns are due March 1 of each year. o Eligible s p onsors are l o cal units of governm e nt, s t ate agencies, and non-profit orga nization . o Local spons o r pays all costs an d i s reimbursed by IDNR. o Contact: National Recreational Trails Program Illinois Department of Natural Re sources Division of Grant Administration One Natural Resources Way Springfield IL 62702-1271 (217) 782-7481 dnr.state.il .us/ocd/gaoutnew • Grade Crossing Improvement – I llinois Commerce Commission (ICC) o This progra m supplies motor fuel tax funds to local units of government through the ICC. These funds ar e used f o r signalization of trail crossings at railways and the c o nstruction of overpass es and underpasses. o Eligible projects cos t s include engi neering, at-grade si gnalization and surface improvements, overpass es and underpasses. o For signaliz ation, the l o cal share is 10%, ICC share is 85% and the r a ilroad share is 5% and future signal mai n te nance . For bridge constructi on, the local share is 40% and the ICC share is 60%. o Projects are evaluated on the Cr ash Predication Value of the crossing and sta t ew ide ge ogra phic dis t ribution base d on safety needs. o Applicati o ns are accepted year ro und and ar e evaluated in Januar y . o Eligible s p onsors are l o cal uni ts of governm e nt and state agenci es . o Local spons o r pays all costs an d i s reimbursed by t h e I CC. o Contact: Illinois Commerce Commission 527 East Capitol Avenue Springfield IL 62701 (217) 557-1285 www.icc.state.il.us/icc/rr/crossi ng • Open Spac e Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) – IDNR o This progra m uses Rea l Estate Tr ansfer Taxes to suppl y local units of government with funds for open space acquisition and development through the IDNR. o Eligible project cos t s i n clude ac quisition of open s p ace and the developme n t of recre a tional faci lities, incl u d ing bike paths. o Local share is 50% of eligible projec t costs . Maximum grant funding is $750,000 for acquisition projects and $400,000 for development projects . Kendall Coun ty Trails & Greenways Plan 22
Trails & G reenways Funding o Projects are evaluated on criteria identified in IDNR’s Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Educa t ion Plan. o Applicati o ns are due July 1 of each year. o Eligible s p onsors are l o cal units of governm e nt with statutory authority to acquire and develo p ope n spa c e for pu bl ic park use . o Local spons o r pays all costs an d i s reimbursed by t h e I D NR. o Contact: Open Spac e Lands Ac quisition and Development Progr a m Illinois Department of Natural Re sources Division of Grant Administration One Natural Resources Way Springfield IL 62702-1271 (217) 782-7481 dnr.state.il .us/ocd/gaoutnew • Boat Access Area Development (BAAD) – IDNR o This progra m supplies local units of governm e nt with fu nds t o dev e lop boat and c a noe acces s sites. o Eligible project cos t s include la nd acquisi t i o n, engineering and constructi on of boat/c anoe acces s points and selected associated facilities. o Grants can fund up to 90% of land ac quisiti o n projec ts and u p t o 1 00% of development project. Maximum grant funding is $200,000. o Applicati o ns are due September 1 of each y ear. o Eligible s p onsors are l o cal units of governm e nt with statutory authority to acquire and develo p ope n spa c e for pu bl ic park use . o Local spons o r pays all costs an d i s reimbursed by t h e I D NR. o Contact: Boat Acces s Area Development Program Illinois Department of Natural Re sources Division of Grant Administration One Natural Resources Way Springfield IL 62702-1271 (217) 782-7481 • Illinois Tomorrow C o rridor Plan ning Grant Pro g ram – IDOT o This progra m supplies funds t o lo cal units of governme nt with f u n d s to produce la nd use and transporta tion pl ans that reduce growth of traffic congesti on , reduce in frastructure costs an d promote i n tergovern m ental cooperati o n. o Eligible project cos t s i n clude planning activ i ties only. o Local share is 10% of eligible project costs . o Projects are evaluated on the ability to integrate land use plans , i m pact developme n t decisi on s and i n frastructure i n vestments . o Applicati o ns are gener a lly due in the spring. o Eligible s p onsors include local units of government, inc l uding partnershi ps tha t incl ude public , private and non-tradi t ional participants. o Local spons o r pays all costs an d i s reimbursed by IDOT. Kendall Coun ty Trails & Greenways Plan 23
Trails & G reenways Funding o Contact: Illinois Tomorrow Corridor Planning Gra n t Illinois Department of Transport a tion Office of Planning and Programming 2300 South Dirksen Parkway, Room 307 Springfield IL 62764 (217) 782-0378 www.dot.state.il.us/co rridorplanning/program • Greenways & Trails Planning Assistance Program – IDNR o This progra m supplies funds t o lo cal units of governme nt with f u n d s to facilitate c o mprehens ive and c o ordinate d plannin g t o protect gr eenways and develo p trails. o Eligible project cos t s i n clude planning activ i ties only. o Local share is 25-50% of project eligib le project cos t s with a maximum of grant funds of $20,000. o Projects m u st show evidence that most l o cal units of government are involved i n the planni ng process and are supportive of greenway and trail planni ng. o Applicati o n s can be su bmitte d ye ar round. o Eligible s p onsors include munici palities, counties and c o alitions of counties . o Local spons o r pays all costs an d i s reimbursed by IDNR. o Contact: Illinois Department of Natural Re sources Division of Planning Greenways Program One Natural Resources Way Springfield IL 62702 (217) 782-3715 greenway@dnrmail.state.il.us Feeling th e bu r n o n the Waubo nsie Tr ail in Oswego Kendall Coun ty Trails & Greenways Plan 24