Bike Trail Project Receives $137K Grant In Mount Prospect

MOUNT PROSPECT, IL — A number of local bike path projects, including one in Mount Prospect, received some funding as part of the Illinois Bicycle Path Grant Program. Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Friday that $2,161,000 in grants will help 13 local communities develop and improve bike paths.

In Mount Prospect, the park district's Commonwealth Edison Trail will receive $137,500. According to a news release from Pritzker's office, the existing trail needs repair. Proposed improvements include accessible entry points, seating areas and signage. Beginning at Algonquin Road, these proposed improvements are for a three-quarter-mile portion of the trail extending to Linneman Road.

"Bicycle path projects are excellent drivers of job creation and economic development, while also increasing road safety for bicyclists," Pritzker said. "Illinois' beautiful natural landscape should be accessible and safe for all to enjoy, and I'm pleased that projects like this help make that goal a reality."

The program is administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources with funding coming from a percentage of the motor vehicle title fees, providing a maximum grant award of $200,000 per project for development projects. There is no maximum grant award limit for land acquisition projects, according to officials.