News & Events

The Salt Creek Greenway Trail Update

A New Trail in Elmhurst Tune up your bike and get your walking shoes ready - there's going to be a new trail in town! The Salt Creek Greenway Trail will be ready and waiting for residents once it is completed summer.

This project has been 13 years in the making for the Park District and seven local agencies. The 30.6 mile-long regional trail that will extend from the Busse Woods Forest Preserve in NW Cook County, through NE DuPage County to the Chicago Portage National Historic Site at 47th and Harlem. The trail will provide access to forest preserves, local parks, Brookfield Zoo, historic sites and Oakbrook Center, among other sites. Public meetings were convened during the planning stages of the trail to provide community input and the Park Board has reviewed and approved all phases throughout the process.

The Park District looks forward to the addition of the trail to Elmhurst, as it will be another available area for residents to enjoy their favorite recreational activities. Once completed the trail will be ideal for just about all outdoor activities, whether it be biking, jogging, hiking, roller-blading, or simply taking a leisurely stroll. "The District has remained committed to this project for a number of years and it will be exciting to see the concept become a reality when the trail is used by residents and visitors beginning this summer," say Jim Rogers, deputy director of parks and recreation. Construction of Elmhurst's portion of the trail is currently underway as contractors and surveyors have begun staking out the trail, removing trees, installing silt fences, and constructing trail bridges. The majority of work will take place over the winter/spring and the project will be completed this summer.

While construction is on going, the existing wood chip trail will be closed from Madison Street south to Eldridge Park. The contractor's work hours will conform to city construction regulations. The trail will begin in Elmhurst at the intersection of Thomas Street and Monterrey Avenue, it will proceed to the Illinois Prairie Path over Route 83 and continue south to and through Eldridge Park.

The Park District has had funds for the project set aside for a number of years, taxes will not be increased to pay for the project. More than 80% of the funding of the project is coming from grants from the Illinois Department of Transportation, and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, and from the DuPage Mayors and Managers Transportation Control Measures Program. The overall cost of the Park District's segment of the trail is $2,700,000, while the actual cost to the District is just over $500,000 with the remaining $2,200,000 coming from the grant funds.