The Lake County Forest Preserves announced the opening of a new community trail connection resulting from a successful partnership with the Village of Gurnee to provide safe and direct access to neighboring forest preserves and trails. This 0.4-mile crushed gravel trail links the Village's existing bike path and several large residential areas to Rollins Savanna Forest Preserve and to the Millennium Trail and Greenway. 

The new trail link extends the existing trail system in the northeast part of Rollins Savanna to Route 45 and Dada Drive. "In addition to trail construction, the project also involved modifying the traffic signal at that intersection, and installing ADA compliant concrete ramps and pedestrian crosswalk pavement markings," said Randy Seebach, director of planning and land preservation at the Lake County Forest Preserves. "Improvements at this intersection provide a safe crossing at Route 45 for trail users," Seebach said.

"We are happy the trail is complete. It's an important connection because it joins the Village of Gurnee's bike path within the ComEd right-of-way and provides more than 2,800 households—or roughly 8,500 residents—with direct access to nearby forest preserves and trail systems so people can extend their recreation experience," said Angelo Kyle, president of the Lake County Forest Preserves. "We have worked with the Village of Gurnee for several years on this trail connection and it is great to see it come together," Kyle said. Existing asphalt roads, parking areas and a vehicular entrance along Route 45, remaining from the previous landowner, were removed as part of the project.

The Village of Gurnee completed its trail connection east of Route 45 along Knowles Road last spring. Visitors can access this new trail by parking at one of two parking areas at Rollins Savanna or through the Village's bike path located east of Route 45, Seebach said. Copenhaver Construction Inc., of Gilberts, IL, was awarded the $393,791 project.

The new trail extension also links to the Millennium Trail and Greenway, a planned 41-mile regional trail corridor connecting central, western and northern portions of Lake County to the Des Plaines River Trail. Today, 31 miles of the Millennium Trail are open. Providing public access and trail connections, as well as forming partnerships to create large adjoining open spaces, are part of the Lake County Forest Preserves 100-Year Vision and Strategic Plan.

 

Media Contact
Randy Seebach, Director of Planning and Land Preservation, reesbach@LCFPD.org 847-968-3262

Photo Requests
Kim Mikus, Communications Specialist, kmikuscroke@LCFPD.org, 847-968-3202

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