Champaign County Greenways & Trails Plan The second meeting, held on January 28, 2003, asked participants to identify their ideal greenways and trails system. Residents outlined general goals and implementation activities, as well as specific regional, local, and neighborhood level greenways and trails projects they would like to see created over the next 20 years. Approximately 45 residents also attended this event. Project Prioritization The Greenways and Trails Steering Committee created a project prioritization checklist that helps determine how well proposed projects comply with the goals and objectives of this plan. Goals and objectives, and thus the project prioritization factors, were developed based on input from the public and best planning practices. More information on project prioritization can be found on page 35. The list of prioritized projects can be found beginning on page 36. Existing Conditions Champaign County Champaign County is located in the heart of east-central Illinois (see Maps 1 and 2). Champaign and Urbana, the primary cities of Champaign County, are approximately 136 miles south of Chicago, 120 miles west of Indianapolis, Indiana and 165 miles north-northeast of St. Louis, Missouri. The county is the fifth largest in the State of Illinois, with 638,528 acres. Of these acres, ap- proximately 5,085, or .7%, are designated as parks. Of the non-agricultural area in the county, approximately 4.7% are park acres. The total population of Champaign County for the 2000 Census was 179,669. The largest urban areas in Champaign County are Champaign (Census 2000 population 67,518), Urbana (36,395), and Rantoul (12,857). Eighty-four per- cent of the county’s population lives in urban areas, including the cities and in- corporated villages. Champaign County, under the auspices of the Champaign County Forest Pre- serve District, has four forest preserves: Lake of the Woods, Homer Lake, Mid- dle Fork River, and its latest acquisition, River Bend. • Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve, shown in Map 3, covers approxi- mately 900 acres. Paved roads within the park connect historical land- marks, the lake, the Early American Museum, Mabery Gelvin Botanical Gardens, and the Hartwell C. Howard Golf Course. A 3.3 mile bike trail runs through Lake of the Woods from Prairieview Road on the east to Crowley Road on the west side of the park. • Middle Fork River Forest Preserve, shown in Map 4, covers approximately 1,608 acres in the northeastern corner of the county. The preserve con- tains two restored wetlands habitats and several ponds as well as part of Hi Tower, Lake of the Woods. the Middle Fork River. Highlights of the preserve include the Harry L. Swartz Campground with adjacent shower house, the Activity Center, an Amphitheater and 6.5 miles of hiking trails. 10 KANKAKEE MARSHALL LIVINGSTON WOODFORD 5 5 IROQUOIS I 7 I 5 3 I 9 I 7 4 MCLEAN TAZEWELL Normal Moraine View State Park Bloomington FORD Middle Fork Forest Preserve I VERMILION N D Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve I A CHAMPAIGN kapoo State Park N Kic A DEWITT S T River Bend Forest Preserve A Clinton Heartland Pathways T E Lake L I 74 I LOGAN Champaign Danville N I E 5 Urbana Weldon Springs State Park 7 Savoy Lodge Park Friends Creek County Park Homer Lake Forest Preserve I 72 Robert Allerton Park Decatur PIATT MACON Spitler Woods State Park DOUGLAS Lincoln Trail Homestead State Park EDGAR MOULTRIE Walnut Point State Park CHRISTIAN COLES Legend Map 1: Regional Perspective Greenways and Trails Existing System Heartland Pathways State Parks Regional Parks Water Streams Interstate Rail Regional Cities Map purpose: To show how Champaign County relates Counties Miles 0 2.5 5 10 15 20 to other counties in East Central Illinois in terms of Illinois Counties regional parks, transportation systems, and waterways. 0 3600 N 3500 N 3400 N 3300 N 3200 N 3100 N 3000 N 2900 N 2800 N 2700 N 2600 N 2500 N 2400 N 2300 N 2200 N 2100 N 2000 N 1900 N 1800 N 1700 N 3600 N 3500 N Ludlow 3400 N Patton Woods 3300 N Foosland Middle Fork Forest Preserve 3200 N Rolling Hills Campground 3100 N Gifford 3000 N 2900 N Fisher 2800 N Rantoul Short Line Prairie 2700 N 2600 N Riverview Retreat Center 2500 N Thomasboro 2400 N Mahomet Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve 2300 N 2200 N Tin Cup Campers Park Ford Harris Park 2100 N Highest Point in County Royal 2000 N 1900 N River Bend Forest Preserve 1800 N 1700 N Ogden 1600 N St. Joseph 1500 N Bondville Champaign Urbana Salt Fork River Scenic Route Homer Park Site 1400 N Heartland Pathways 1300 N Cu r tis O r c ha rd 1600 N 1200 N Savoy Homer Lake Forest Preserve 1100 N 1000 N Homer 900 N Sidney 800 N Philo 700 N 600 N Tolono Ivesdale 500 N Sadorus 400 N Allerton 300 N Broadlands 200 N Pesotum 100 N Longview 2 1 2 1 1 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 2 2 2 000 N 1 1 1 1 1 2 6 0 7 3 5 8 9 4 0 9 4 6 8 2 5 6 7 4 5 7 1 3 8 3 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E Map purpose: To display the County Greenways and Trails System in relation to its cities, towns, roadways, and greenways-related places of interest. Legend Map 2: Champaign County Greenways and Trails Existing System Places of Interest Public Park US Highway Town Parks Private Recreational IL Highway County Highway Rails-to-Trails Public Golf Course Railroads Shared-Use Path Public/Private Recreational Divided Shared-Use Path Corporate Limits Water Bike Path County Streams On-Street Bike Lane Cemetery Forest Preserves Roads 1500 N Interstate 1400 N 1300 N 1200 N 1100 N 1000 N 900 N 800 N 700 N 600 N 500 N 400 N 300 N 200 N 100 N 2 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 2 2 1 1 2 2 2 1 1 2 1 2 6 7 0 3 5 8 9 000 N 4 0 6 8 9 5 2 4 4 7 1 6 2 3 3 5 7 0 1 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E Map purpose: To show Lake of the Woods greenways and trails opportunities and their relation to facilities, natural features, and the transportation system in and adjacent to the park. r ive R on am ng Sa 7 4 e t Rotary Hill Shelter u o R Early American Museum Lake of the Woods Golf Course L I Covered Bridge Mabery Gelvin Botanical Gardens Izaak Walton Cabin Golf Course Pro Shop d R ds oo 7 W 4 e th L West Maintenance f I o ke La Swiss Valley Shelter Lake of the Woods 50 y nt ou C Lake of the Woods Pavilion Hi Tower/ Forest Preserve Headquarters Mindy Harrington Memorial Garden Tin Cup Rd (CR 2175 N) Elk's Lake Elk's Lake Pavilion r e iv I R -74 n Map 3: Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve o m a Legend Greenways and Trails Existing System g n a S Facilities US Highway Bike Path IL Highway Public Golf Course County Highway Interstate Preserve Boundary Roads Water US Miles 1 Streams 50 0 0.05 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 Pond iver Fork R Middle North Waterfowl Management Project Kettle CR 3500 N Marsh C CR 3500 N o u n Viewing Platform t y H i g h w a y 2 Emerald 2 ( Pond C R 2 South Waterfowl 7 0 C Activity Center Management Project 0 R E 2 ) 5 Cypress 0 0 Willow Pond E Pond Sugar Creek Shelter Harry L. Swartz Campground Shower House Maintenance Center Amphitheater Map purpose: To show Middle Fork River Forest Preserve greenways and trails opportunities and their relation to facilities, natural features, and the transportation system in and adjacent to the park. Map 4: Middle Fork River Forest Preserve Legend Greenways and Trails Existing System Facilities Hiking Trail Water Roads Streams Preserve Boundary Campground CR 3400 N Miles 0 0.125 0.25 0.5 0.75 1 er Riv on gam San Boat Access Area Parking Lot PRIVATE PROPERTY No Trespassing Map 5: River Bend Forest Preserve Legend Greenways and Trails Existing System Facilities Hiking Trails Streams Midam erica Rd Preserve Boundary Midamerica Rd Roads Map purpose: To show River Bend Forest Preserve Private Property Miles greenways and trails opportunities and their relation 0 0.05 0.1 0.2 to facilities, natural features, and the transportation Water system in and adjacent to the park.