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August 21, 2009

Ground broken for first trail

Bill Grimes

After several years of preparation, advocates of a countywide trail system finally had a chance to celebrate Thursday.

Trail Recreation Effingham County board members joined Effingham city officials in a ceremonial groundbreaking for the first phase of the trail system.

The ceremony was held at the north end of the proposed Calico Road segment of the trail near the intersection of Evergreen Avenue and Outer Belt West. TREC board Chairman Frank Brummer said A.J. Walker has 25 calendar days from Thursday to start the project — and another 45 working days to complete the segment, which is about three-quarters of a mile long through a wooded area just west of Interstate 57/70. The current project also includes a leg from Calico Road to the Little Wabash River — a distance of about a half-mile.

Weather permitting, Brummer hopes to have a ribbon-cutting ceremony sometime around Thanksgiving.

“This is one of the final steps of a long process,” said Brummer, who credited Effingham city and county officials with making the project possible through financial and other types of support.

“This project would have never come to fruition without the support of city and county officials,” Brummer added. “Not-for-profit organizations cannot be successful without the help of governmental entities.”

The City of Effingham has contributed nearly $300,000 to the project, while Effingham County board members have agreed to let TREC use the county as a repository for grant funding.

The trail project also is being funded by a $410,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, as well as $100,000 from a state earmark, $40,000 from Effingham County and $10,000 from Douglas County.

Brummer said the project also is being funded by $120,000 from the TREC board and committees, $100,000 from the Robert Wolters Jr. Foundation, and $50,000 from the Midland States Bank.

Effingham Mayor John Lange said the trail system will enable residents and visitors to enhance their health by engaging in walking, jogging or cycling activities on the trail.

“It also enables people to see the beauty of the countryside,” Lange said.

Much of the Calico Road portion of the trail is heavily wooded and hilly.

“We hope people will take advantage of this nice project,” Lange added.

Bill Grimes can be reached at 217-347-7151 ext. 132 or bill.grimes@effinghamdailynews.com.

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