The Illinois Prairie Path is about to take a beating from the pounding of runners’ feet, the twists and turns of bicycle tires and the occasional impression of horseshoes. Summer is high season for the 45-plus miles of recreational right-of-way that meander from Maywood to Wheaton and beyond to Elgin, Aurora and Batavia. Chuck Tokarski, director of transportation for DuPage County, talked about preparing the path for the summer onslaught and the rules of the road for its users.
Q. How much money does the county spend maintaining the path annually?
A. Our budget of $300,000 covers both the Illinois Prairie Path and the 11.4-mile DuPage portion of the Great Western Trail. About 80 percent is designated for the Prairie Path.
Q. How is that money spent?
A. For materials, manpower and equipment to regrade as needed, resurface with limestone screenings or asphalt paving where indicated, trim trees, maintain signage and drainage structures.
Q. What type of usage does the path get in summer?
A. A 1994 survey of 1,036 path users indicated that 78 percent are bicyclists and 22 percent are walkers or runners. Less than 1 percent are equestrians (figures are rounded). We estimate that in 1997 there were approximately a million trips on the path (a trip is one way from any point on the path to another point on the path).
Q. Are there restrictions on use of the Prairie Path?
A. The only restriction is that motorized vehicles are not allowed on the path, except maintenance vehicles. We treat the path the same as any street in the county; each community is responsible for enforcing the rules. Police do patrol on bicycle in some communities. So far, vandalism has not been an issue.
Q. What part do communities along the path play in beautification and maintenance of the path?
A. Some communities, such as in Glen Ellyn between Park Boulevard and Main Street, dress up the path. Others, such as Villa Park, mow the grass and maintain a parklike setting.
