Plans Move Forward For DuPage River Trail Extension In Bolingbrook

BOLINGBROOK, IL — Plans continue for a trail connection from Naperville to Bolingbrook on the DuPage River Trail, according to a release from the Forest Preserve District of Will County.

On Dec. 7, the Forest Preserve’s operations committee took action that will pave the way for future path extensions, including the DuPage River Trail. Other projects include Plum Creek Greenway Trail in Crete Township and Wolf’s Crossing – Normantown Trail Connection in Wheatland Township.

The preserve said phase one engineering proposals are being sought for the DuPage River Trail project. The project will extend the trail along Weber Road from Naperville to Bolingbrook, traveling through DuPage River Park and Indian Boundary Park to an existing section of the trail owned by Bolingbrook Park District.

That trail travels east to the Forest Preserve’s Hidden Lakes Trout Farm and Whalon Lake preserves and north to the DuPage Forest Preserve District's Greene Valley Preserve, according to the preserve. Partners in this project would be the City of Naperville, Naperville Park District and Bolingbrook Park District.

Some of these short-term projects are part of long-range goals that will be worked on for years, and even decades, to come, said Colleen Novander, director of the Forest Preserve’s planning and land preservation department. For instance, the Plum Valley connection to Goodenow Grove is part of a much larger goal of connecting to Beecher to the south and Cook County to the north.

“It’s like putting together a puzzle,” Novander said in a release. “You put in a piece when you can and take advantage when there are opportunities to make connections."

And for some projects, the Forest Preserve is the umbrella agency that can bring together municipalities, townships and park districts to get a plan in place.

"We’re the facilitators of trails within Will County," Novander said. “When we don’t own the property, we bring everyone together to create partnerships to make the connections that other agencies can’t do because they’re limited to their own land. And our goal is to improve trails throughout the county.”