City made the wrong choice for bike path
Posted8/27/2023 1:00 AM
Public trails belong on public land.
Warrenville is trying to take between 40 and 85 feet of private property on the north side of Mack Road for a 10-foot-wide bike path when there is an alternative — public land (Blackwell Forest Preserve) across the road on the south side.
The city chose an option (without the impacted homeowners’ knowledge) based on inaccurate information showing the trail being built in a large right of way. Surveys have since confirmed a much smaller right of way.
It is alarming that the blueprints keep changing and each subsequent diagram has required increasing significant permanent/temporary easement totals. No amount of money could compensate — our yards, views, landscaping, native plantings, and trees are very important to us.
It is perplexing why the city is not working with the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, as there is a new Blackwell Master Plan being developed with input and suggestions from the community. In fact, participants have requested more trail connections along Mack Road, as Blackwell Forest Preserve runs continuously almost two miles from Rt. 59 to Winfield Road.
The south side of Mack Road is the ideal, natural and common-sense location for the bike trail and will safeguard the well-being of bicyclists, motorists and hikers alike.
We the affected residents are opposed to eminent domain condemnation of our land and have created a Mack Road petition on change.org, which currently has over 525 supporters.
Pam Spevak
West Chicago
https://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20230827/city-made-the-wrong-choice-for-bike-path
Additional information regarding opposition to the proposed location of the bike path may be found at
https://MackRoadBikeTrail.now.site and https://chng.it/tkwy2vmx