The Greenways & Trails Section
Within IDNR, the Greenways & Trails Program promotes greenways,trails and water trails and encourages information-sharing. The Program in conjunction with the Illinois Greenways & Trails Council co-sponsors conferences in the area and regional workshops as well as special events like the Mid America Trails & Greenways Conference.

The Program has worked since 1995, through partnerships and the Grand Illinois Trail Executive Council to complete a 500-mile, loop trail known as the Grand Illinois Trail. The department has worked with other partnerships to develop and promote the Mississippi River Trail and the Route 66 Trail.

The section also sponsors the annual Grand Illinois Trail and Parks Ride (GITAP) which takes place in June featuring a varying route on the Grand Illinois Trail with overnites at some of Illinois' best state parks. Visit our partner the League of Illinois Bicyclists for more information.

The Program provides staff support for the Illinois Greenways and Trails Council, which promotes greenways and trails and reviews projects through the Recreational Trails Program and the Greenways & Trails Planning Assistance Program. (download the brochure) This program is designed to encourage communities to include greenways and trails in their infrastructure. It is the objective of the Program see the state of Illinois with a strong network of greenways and trails. Please read about the Illinois Greenways Program.

The Program fosters partnerships with other sections of DNR and among agencies and organizations throughout the state that provide funding and technical assistance for projects for and associated with greenways and trails.

The Program also coordinates DNR participation in National Trails Day, an annual celebration of trails sponsored by the American Hiking Society.

The Draft State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) is now available online for review and comment. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources prepares the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) to guide the conservation and development of Illinois’ outdoor recreation resources. Providing parks and open space systems that are resource-compatible and serve the needs of all citizens is the ultimate goal. The 2009-2014 SCORP also presents policy direction for the Department’s local recreation grant programs.

This SCORP document is formatted for viewing in Adobe Acrobat Reader. Comments on this Draft document may be directed to Marla Gursh marla.gursh@illinois.gov with public review concluding June 30, 2009. Printed copies may also be obtained. Contact: Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Division of Planning, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702, phone 217/782-3715

Ready to go? Visit some Illinois trail sites: Hennepin Canal, I&M Canal, Rock Island and Tunnel Hill or find other trail opportunities by visiting the many Illinois parks and conservation areas that have trails. To receive a GIT brochure, email us or for other site brochures visit the DNR clearinghouse. You can now view the Illinois Bicycling Guide online. We hope to have the brochure available in the Spring of 2009. Visit the blog for more information about news and events.

More about the Greenways & Trails Section
The other activities coordinated by section include site plans for DNR sites, esp. new sites. The section works with an interdisciplinary team of DNR staff and often representatives of other agencies and organizations. Site plans typically include an assessment of the site’s resources; recommendations for the site’s classification and objectives; and a plan for the site’s resource management, recreation use and capital development.

The section participates in the Department’s annual capital development budget preparation and planning. Each year, in each of DNR’s five regions, the section works with other DNR staff to identify resource, recreation and facility needs and then the section prepares a written description (scope-of-work), along with maps and concept plan drawings, for capital projects to meet high priority needs. The section coordinates setting priorities for available capital funding. These regional priority lists are then combined, along with other DNR capital needs, into a statewide capital project priority list for consideration by the Office of Management & Budget and eventually, the General Assembly.

When funding is appropriated and released for individual capital projects, the section prepares more detailed scopes-of-work for consulting engineers and architects, who prepare the actual capital project plan drawings and specifications. The section coordinates submitting capital projects for DNR’s Comprehensive Environmental Review Process, provides consultants with design guidelines and standards, and conducts other capital project planning as necessary. When consultants have prepared plan drawings and specifications, the section reviews the consultants’ work and provides comments.

The section plans the development and rehabilitation of trails – hiking, equestrian and mountain biking – on DNR sites. The section typically prepares trail project design plans and plan drawings; coordinates submitting trail projects for DNR’s Comprehensive Environmental Review Process; and works with site staff and volunteers to construct and rehabilitate trails.

The section provides technical assistance to other DNR staff and divisions, primarily DNR sites, on project planning and design.

Greenways & Trails Contact List