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Press Release: Forest Preserves and Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways Collaborate on $25 Million in Infrastructure Improvements

A parking lot in need of improvements

Trails and access roads at more than 55 Forest Preserves of Cook County locations are set to benefit from a $25 million transportation infrastructure intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with the Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways (DoTH), approved today by the Cook County Board of Commissioners. The investment, funded through the motor fuel tax, will be used over the course of five years to address deferred maintenance and other improvements in the forest preserves.

“I have challenged my team to find new and creative opportunities to address some of the Forest Preserves’ most urgent needs and enhance the experience for residents and visitors,” President Toni Preckwinkle said. “This intergovernmental agreement is a tangible and significant result of that commitment. It provides critical support to the Forest Preserves to address one of its fundamental goals: providing access to nature and healthy outdoor activities to all residents in Cook County.”

The funds will enable the Forest Preserves to create site-specific design plans and address resurfacing or repaving needs, ADA improvements, stormwater drainage and pedestrian safety improvements to locations identified in the Forest Preserves’ 5-Year Capital Improvement Plan.

“I want to thank President Preckwinkle for her ongoing and steadfast commitment to the Forest Preserves. More than 62 million visits are made to the Forest Preserves annually for biking, fishing, picnics, hiking, kayaking and much more. It is critical that we offer well-maintained roadways and parking and maintain our more than 350 miles of trails,” Forest Preserves General Superintendent Arnold Randall said.

This IGA expands on a well-established partnership between the Forest Preserves and DoTH to increase and improve transportation alternatives throughout Cook County. DoTH is already a funding partner in engineering design for trail improvements through its Invest in Cook program.

“We are proud to collaborate with the Forest Preserves to create and expand a transportation infrastructure that improves the quality of life for our residents,” said DoTH Superintendent John Yonan. “These projects align with President Preckwinkle’s vision laid out in the County’s 2016 Long Range Transportation Plan and help us achieve our overall mission.”

Rehabilitation of Access Roads with Adjacent Parking: 2020-2021 Priority List

  • 165 Algonquin Rd, Barrington Hills – $570,000 for design and improvements
  • Beaubien Woods Boat Launch, Chicago – $728,600 for improvements
  • Caldwell Woods, Chicago – 201,400 for design and improvements
  • Doty Avenue (Beaubien Access), Chicago – $30,000 for design
  • Parking Lot S of Forest Glen Woods, Chicago – $43,630 for design and improvements
  • Woodrow Wilson Woods, Chicago Heights – $101,200 for design and improvements
  • Flossmoor Road Bicycle Lot, Country Club Hills* – $106,800 for design and improvements
  • Vollmer Road Grove, Country Club Hills* – $241,600 for design and improvements
  • Campground Road Woods, Des Plaines – $264,450 for design and improvements
  • Northwestern Woods, Des Plaines – $214,800 for design and improvements
  • Axehead Lake, Des Plaines* – $343,600 for improvements
  • Busse Lake Boating Center #17, Elk Grove Village* – $399,800 for improvements
  • Ned Brown Meadow, Elk Grove Village* – $945,000 for design and improvements
  • Blue Star Memorial Woods, Glenview – $496,800 for design and improvements
  • Possum Hollow Woods, La Grange Park* – $38,850 for design
  • Westchester Woods, La Grange Park* – $486,600 for improvements
  • Linne Woods, Morton Grove – $541,100 for design and improvements
  • Bunker Hill, Niles – $25,000 for design
  • Potawatomi Woods, Northbrook* – $562,000 for design and improvements
  • Bemis Woods # 5, Oak Brook* – $$305,500 for improvements
  • Camp Sullivan, Oak Forest – $161,150 for design and improvements
  • George Dunne Golf Course, Oak Forest – $20,000 for design
  • Carlson Spring Woods, Oak Forest* – $14,700 for design
  • McGinnis Slough, Orland Park – $185,900 for design and improvements
  • Tampier Lake West, Orland Park* – $518,200 for design and improvements
  • Sunset Bridge Meadow, River Grove – $157,200 for design and improvements
  • Thatcher Woods (Driveway), River Forest – $260,400 for improvements
  • Zoo Woods, Riverside – $584,500 for improvements
  • Schuth’s Grove, Riverside* – $583,00 for design and improvements
  • Deer Grove #1 to cul-de-sac, Palatine* – $13,300 for design
  • Tinley Creek Woods, Palos Heights* – $10,500 for design
  • Cherry Hill Woods, Palos Park* – $155,800 for design and improvements
  • McClaughrey Spring Woods, Palos Park* – $69,600 for design and improvements
  • Schiller Woods South, Schiller Park – $9,100 for design
  • Irving Park Road Canoe Landing, Schiller Park – $101,200 for design and improvements
  • Harms Woods Central, Skokie* – $224,300 for design and improvements
  • Wampum Lake, Thornton* – $43,750 for design
  • Villa Santa Maria, Tinley Park – $50,000 for design
  • Crawdad Slough, Willow Springs* – $127,900 for design and improvements
  • Maple Lake East, Willow Springs* – $490,950 for design and improvements
  • Pulaski Woods, Willow Springs* – $204,100 for design and improvements
  • Pulaski Woods South, Willow Springs* – $106,700 for design and improvements
  • Saganashkee Slough Central, Willow Springs* – $149,100 for design and improvements
  • Red Gate Woods, Willow Springs* – $22,400 for design
  • Crooked Creek Woods, Willow Springs* – $60,900 for design
  • Wolf Road Woods, Willow Springs* – $269,800 for design and improvements
  • Erickson Woods, Winnetka* – $229,300 for improvements

Rehabilitation of Access Roads with Adjacent Parking: 2022-2024 Priority Opportunities

  • Doty Ave (Beaubien Access), Chicago – $464,500 for improvements
  • Possum Hollow Woods, La Grange Park* – $583,500 for improvements
  • Bunker Hill, Niles – $1,602,500 for improvements
  • George Dunne Golf Course, Oak Forest – $614,000 for improvements
  • Carlson Spring Woods, Oak Forest* – $222,500 for improvements
  • Deer Grove #2, Palatine* – $133,200 for design and improvements
  • Camp Alphonse, Palatine* – $202,300 for design and improvements
  • Deer Grove #1 to cul-de-sac, Palatine* – $201,500 for improvements
  • Tinley Creek Woods, Palos Heights – $146,000 for improvements
  • Schiller Woods South, Schiller Park -$136,000 for improvements
  • Wampum Lake, Thornton* – $655,000 for improvements
  • Villa Santa Maria, Tinley Park – $370,000 for improvements
  • Red Gate Woods, Willow Springs* – $343,000 for improvements
  • Buffalo Woods F.P.A., Willow Springs* – $106,700 for design and improvements
  • Henry De Tonty Woods, Willow Springs* – $74,900 for design and improvements
  • Crooked Creek Woods, Willow Springs* – $906,000 for improvements
  • Tower Rd., Winnetka* – $218,700 for design and improvements

Trail Rehabilitation and Safety Improvements: 2020-2021 Priority List

  • Torrance Avenue: new pedestrian crossing (bridge), Calumet City* – $150,000 for feasibility study
  • Paul Douglas Trail, Hoffman Estates – $250,000 for improvements
  • Tinley Creek Trail: Green Spur, Tinley Park* – $330,000 for improvements
  • Tinley Creek Trail: part of Red Loop, Tinley Park – $560,000 for improvements

Trail Rehabilitation and Safety Improvements: 2022-2024 Priority Opportunities

  • Major Taylor Trail: 87th Street Spur, Chicago – $900,000 for design and improvements
  • Des Plaines River Trail: Golf Rd to Central Ave, Des Plaines – $412,000 for improvements
  • Des Plaines River Trail: Irving Park Ave to Touhy Ave, Des Plaines, Park Ridge, Rosemont, Chicago, Schiller Park – $400,000 for design
  • I&M Canal Trail: West Loop, Willow Springs* – $935,000 for design and improvements
  • Other Trail Segments – TBD after 2020 conditions study completed – $2,500,000 for design and improvements

*nearest municipality

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About the Forest Preserves of Cook County
Don’t you sometimes just want to escape? Explore the natural beauty of Cook County for an hour, a day or even a night. When you’re surrounded by 70,000 acres of wild and wonderful there’s no better place to feel free.