'Galling' Expense For Western Springs Bike Path

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL — One of the expenditures for Western Springs' planned Wolf Road bike path concerns the village president.

At last week's Village Board meeting, President Alice Gallagher questioned why the village would pay the Forest Preserve District of Cook County for the removal of trees for the path, which would access the district's Bemis Woods. In 2018, the tree cost was estimated at $43,000.

The preserve district, she said, has policies both to be compensated for tree losses and to promote access to its public lands.

"That's where we come in," Gallagher said. "We are building this bike path for them for their accessibility. It is really galling that they want us to pay for the tree removal."

Municipal Services Director Matthew Supert said the district's policy on tree mitigation is non-negotiable. He said the village is making sure the district excludes trees that are actually on Cook County Highway Department property.

"There is going to be a monetary cost," he said. "But we are trying to get a final determination on the number of trees and where they are in terms of the existing path layout."

He said the village has a similar policy for compensation for when people remove its parkway trees.

Trustee James Tyrrell sympathized with Gallagher's position.

"I had similar sentiments about why we are paying for these trees when we're enhancing their property," Tyrrell said. "But I have stood corrected that forest preserves have trees and trees are being taken."

The Village Board is expected to vote on an agreement with the preserve district in the next few weeks.