IL SR1293

Central Illinois contains a critical 15.7-mile gap between the City of LaSalle and the Village of Bureau along the Illinois River that interrupts the connection between the Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Area and the Illinois Hennepin Canal Parkway State Park.

Completing this gap would link major national trails including the 6,800-mile American Discovery Trail, the 3,700-mile Great American Rail-Trail, and the 535-mile Grand Illinois Trail.

The Illinois Senate expresses enthusiastic support for Rails-to-Trails projects to connect Americans from coast to coast and throughout Illinois using existing rail lines.

Significant federal funding for Rails-to-Trails projects was appropriated through the 2022 U.S. Surface Transportation Act.

Community leaders, government officials, and organizations from both political parties across central Illinois support connecting the missing link in the trail system.