March 17, 2021 – Governor J.B. Pritzker today announced $885,300 in grants for seven local projects that will help communities develop and improve bike path facilities throughout Illinois.
“As we head into the warmer months, families across Illinois will spend more time outdoors on the state’s bike paths,” said Governor Pritzker. “These grants provide critical funding for local governments to develop or improve existing bike baths, a good investment in safe transportation that also expands local recreation opportunities.”
Funds for the Bicycle Path Grant Program, administered by Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), are for the acquisition of land or development of facilities for bicycle paths. The Bicycle Path Grant Program was approved by the Illinois General Assembly in 1989 and funding comes from a percentage of motor vehicle title fees. The program provides a maximum grant award of $200,000 per application for development projects, with no maximum grant award limit for acquisition projects.
The Bicycle Path Notice of Funding Opportunity received a total of 33 applications totaling $4.9 million in requested funds. Since 1990, IDNR has awarded grants that have helped develop nearly 1,000 miles of local government bicycle trails in Illinois.
The Decatur Park District will benefit from these grants by receiving $57,500 to acquire 31.7 acres of land located in the northwest portion of Decatur. The land will allow for access to the current 10-foot-wide asphalt bike trail, which is 9.8 miles long with an additional 1.5 miles under development. The land acquisition will help complete the final 2 miles of the Stevens Creek Bikeway.
