northeastern illinois planning commission

NEWS RELEASE from the Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission

For more information call: Alexandra A. Radtke
Director of Public Affairs
312/454-0400

For Release: June 19, 1997

NIPC ADOPTS UPDATED PROGRAM FOR REGIONAL GREENWAYS

The Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission today adopted the Year 2000 Regional Greenways and Trails Implementation Program. The Program envisions the development of an extensive network of linear open spaces, including forest preserves and stream corridors, and recreational trails throughout the six-county metropolitan area. The Commission took the action by unanimous vote at its quarterly meeting.

The Program identifies a network of nearly 2000 linear miles of greenways. These include the belts of existing open space along the region's major rivers, complex natural areas such as the new Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, natural corridors along smaller streams which may be protected in private ownership, and recreational trails along highway and railroad rights-of-way. Some of the greenways include natural areas which are of global significance for the rarity or endangerment of their plant and animal communities.

When implemented, the recommended greenway and trail system will

• greatly expand opportunities for trail users throughout the region
• connect the six counties to trails in adjacent regions, including the proposed Grand Illinois Trail which will extend from Lake Michigan to the Mississippi River
• Protect and improve the quality of northeastern Illinois' streams
• expand and interconnect the region's greenspaces to protect habitat and improve regional biodiversity
• contribute to pollution-reducing non-motorized transportation
• initiate an innovative planning process for canoe trails in northeastern Illinois.

The Program includes action recommendations to accomplish each of these objectives.

Development of the Program was sponsored by the Illinois Prairie Trail Authority and was carried out by NIPC in cooperation with the Openlands Project. Funding was also provided by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Forest Preserve District of Cook County. The Prairie Trail Authority is a coalition of forest preserve and conservation districts in DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will Counties. Openlands is a not-for-profit open space planning and advocacy organization.

The Program is an update of the Northeastern Illinois Regional Greenways Plan, adopted in 1992. That plan was the first large-scale metropolitan greenway plan in the United States. The plan designated 1600 linear miles of greenways, of which 680 miles are currently under public ownership or protection. Seventeen percent of the new miles of trails proposed in the plan have been acquired or protected since 1992.

The update was made necessary by several factors. Continuing urbanization of the region imposes stresses on stream corridors and other natural resources which need to be identified for preservation. Continuing progress by all levels of government and private landowners in the development of trails and natural areas have created new opportunities to enhance the regional system and to establish links within it.

Implementation of the Program will require a partnership effort among state natural resource and transportation agencies, forest preserve and park districts, county and municipal governments, conservation and recreation advocacy organizations, and private landowners. The Commission, Openlands, the Department of Natural Resources, and the Prairie Trail Authority will take leadership roles in mobilizing and coordinating that regional partnership.

The Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission is the comprehensive planning agency for the six-county metropolitan area. In addition to planning, the agency provides technical and research assistance and reviews state and federal grant requests for local governments.

northeastern illinois planning commission