McHenry Co. Prairie Path Gets Grant For Upgrades

MCHENRY COUNTY, IL — The McHenry County Conservation District has received $50,000 in bike path grants from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

The conservation district will use the funds on renovations of the Prairie Trail bike path between Barnard Mill Road and the pedestrian bridge, which is located just south of Ringwood. That portion of the trail is often closed due to flooding in the area, according to a news release from the McHenry County Conservation District.

Improvements to the trail will offer a long-term solution to relieve the constant drainage issues by reestablishing the storm sewer outlet, re-grading the existing ditch, repairing trail erosion, restoring the turf shoulders to improve drainage, and resurfacing the 8-inch wide asphalt trail section, according to the news release.

The conservation district will cover 50 percent of the $100,000 project.

The 26-mile Prairie Trail that travels through eight communities and provides access to nearly 100 miles of trails, linking to the district's Ridgefield Trace (Crystal Lake to Woodstock) and Kane County's Fox River Trail, which also connects to DuPage County's Prairie Path.