Federal grant to help build bridge linking bike paths on both sides of Fox River

The Fox Valley Park District will get $4 million in federal funds to build a bridge linking bike paths on both sides of the Fox River.

The money will go to a bike and pedestrian bridge in Lippold Park, in Batavia along the East Bank of the river, to connect with the bike and pedestrian path along the West Bank of the river.

The money is from the federal Community Funding Project, and was secured by the office of U.S. Rep. Bill Foster, D-Naperville. It was one of 15 projects funded through Foster’s office - the entire 15 that his office proposed.

“We were successful in 15 of 15 of our projects,” Foster said this week. “We were asked to rate them … and our office had the highest quality of requests.”

Foster spoke at this week’s Fox Valley Park District board meeting, even bringing the standard over-sized check for $4 million. Jeff Palmquist, Planning, Research and Grants director for the park district, said Fox Valley Park District staff identified the bridge as qualified for the Community Funding Project, and put together a proposal for Foster’s office.

He added the park district already has begun engineering, permitting and planning for the project.

Foster pointed out that he considers it a priority to bring as much federal funding as possible back to the 11th District he represents, and to Illinois. He called the Fox Valley Park District “a pillar of our community,” not just for the parks and trails, but for its recreation facilities and programs.

“I support the park district commitment to the principals of social equity,” he said.

Fox Valley Park District Executive Director Jim Pilmer pointed out that for at least the past seven years, it has been a priority of the district’s board to connect the network of bike trails wherever possible.

The bike and pedestrian bridge is the most recent part of a four-phase Fox Valley Park District project for properties along the river in the Batavia and North Aurora area that was announced last year.

One of those was the $850,000 purchase of five acres at Butterfield Road and Route 25, just north of North Aurora Village Hall. The former foundry site will be restored and become part of the parkland along the river bank.

The second tier of the program is about a $500,000 rehab of the Red Oak Nature Center, to upgrade and modernize the facility.

The third tier is the $2.04 million, three-season shelter that has been built in Lippold Park. Finishing touches are being put on the shelter now, which will allow the district to serve many more students on outdoor field trips, as well as be an event space.