Ryan Awards Snowmobile Trail Grants

SPRINGFIELD -- Governor George H. Ryan today awarded snowmobile trail grants totaling $371,670 to eight local governments and 10 private organizations to develop and maintain public snowmobile trails in Illinois.

"These grants will help expand recreational opportunities in northern Illinois, where snow-related outdoor recreational sports are an important part of the winter season," Gov. Ryan said. "Snowmobilers will enjoy expanded access, coupled with enhanced safety because we are providing funding to expand existing trails and build new ones. Bridges that need to be replaced and rehabbed are receiving the money to do that. Most importantly, equipment is being acquired to ensure the improvements being made are adequately maintained."

The 13 counties that will benefit from the snowmobile trail improvements are Carroll, DeKalb, Grundy, Jo Daviess, Kane, Lake, Lee, McHenry, Ogle, Stephenson, Whiteside, Will and Winnebago.

The grant program is administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Applications may be obtained for the next round of grants by contacting the IDNR Division of Grant Administration, 524 South Second Street, Springfield, IL, 62701-1787, or by calling 217/782-7481, TDD 217/782-9175, Ameritech Relay 800/526-0844. Applications are accepted March 1-May 1.

LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

Freeport Park District (Stephenson County), $50,000 to retrofit two former railroad bridges with wooden decks and railings to provide improved snowmobile access to the Jane Addams Trail, which is part of the Grand Illinois Trail. (Local contact: Steve Ehlbeck, 815/235-6114).

Lena Community Park District (Stephenson County), $62,900 to purchase a snowmobile trail groomer tractor to be used in maintaining approximately 100 miles of trail in the Lena area. (Local contact: Jim Goebel, 815/369-4623).

Loran Township (Stephenson County), $7,500 to lease a tractor to pull trail grooming equipment to be used in maintaining approximately 125 miles of snowmobile trail. (Local contact: Warren Frey, 815/443-2533).

McHenry County Conservation District, $68,000 to replace an existing deteriorated bridge over Nippersink Creek in Glacier Park near Ringwood and to purchase two snowmobiles to patrol the park's trails. (Local contact: John Kremer, 815/338-6223).

Village of Pearl City (Stephenson County), $8,200 to purchase a snowmobile trail groomer drag. Approximately 120 miles of snowmobile trails will be groomed and maintained with the new equipment. (Local contact: Warren Frey, 815/443-2533).

Rockford Park District (Winnebago County), $9,200 to purchase a four-place snowmobile trailer and a 6-wheel drive all-terrain vehicle for the Rockford Park District Police Snowmobile Response Team. The team responds to snow-related emergencies in Winnebago and three adjacent counties. (Local contact: Rick Strader, 815/987-8865).

Village of Roscoe (Winnebago County), $19,400 to construct a portion of the Riverside Park path, a snowmobile and bicycle trail. The Riverside Park Path will connect Riverside Park and trails to the west with the Village of Roscoe. This trail will allow snowmobilers and other trail users to travel safely underneath Illinois Route 251, a four-lane divided highway. (Local contact: Jeffery Larson, 815/965-6400).

Village of Roscoe (Winnebago County), $30,500 to develop the Kin-Stone Trail, a snowmobile and bicycle trail, which will connect the Stone Bridge Trail (which is part of the Grand Illinois Trail) and the Hononegah Trail. This trail will also allow snowmobilers and other trail users to safely travel underneath Elevator Road, a busy multi-lane road in Roscoe. (Local contact: Jeffery Larson, 815/965-6400).

Winnebago County Forest Preserve District, $48,250 to construct a rest area along a snowmobile trail in the Pecatonica Wetlands Forest Preserve. The rest area will include a primitive restroom building and a shelter house with a fireplace. (Local contact: Tom Hartley, 815/877-6100).

SNOWMOBILE CLUBS

German Valley Sno-Riders, (Stephenson, Winnebago and Ogle Counties) $2,400 to purchase four culverts and place them in a creek bed to accommodate a public snowmobile trail crossing. (Local Contact: Ken Conti, 815/966-2380).

German Valley Sno-Riders, (Stephenson, Winnebago and Ogle Counties) $5,000 to lease a Caterpillar Challenger tractor to pull a snowmobile trail groomer drag to maintain approximately 85 miles of public snowmobile trails. (Local contact: Ken Conti, 815/966-2380).

I & M Trail Blazers, (Will and Grundy Counties) $3,500 to lease a John Deere tractor to pull a snowmobile trail groomer for use on maintaining 30 miles of snowmobile trails on the I&M Canal trail. (Local contact: Franklin Baer, 815/436-3138).

Illinois Association of Snowmobile Clubs, (all northern Illinois counties) $10,000 to fund the annual liability insurance that is required on all public snowmobile trails maintained by private snowmobile clubs in Illinois. (Local contact: Mark Hazzard, 815/966-8374).

Kishwaukee Super Sledders, (DeKalb and Kane Counties) $2,200 to lease a Caterpillar Challenger tractor to pull a snowmobile trail groomer drag that will be used in maintaining 15 miles of public snowmobile trails which directly link into other public snowmobile trails. (Local contact: William Heinisch, 815/748-4228).

McHenry County Snowmobile Association, (McHenry County) $6,000 to lease a Caterpillar Challenger tractor to pull a snowmobile trail groomer drag to maintain public snowmobile trails. This tractor, in addition to two Tucker Sno-Cat tractors that the association already owns, will allow the association to better groom and maintain more than 250 miles of public snowmobile trails. (Local contact: Richard Arseneau, 815/675-1234).

Northeastern Illinois Association of Snowmobile Clubs, Inc., (Lake County) $1,200 to purchase and install wooden stakes on which snowmobile trail signs will be mounted to better mark the public snowmobile trails in Lake county. (Local contact: Donald Schaefer, 847/223-5240).

Northwest Illinois Snowmobile Alliance, (Stephenson, Jo Daviess, Carroll and Whiteside Counties) $4,920 to lease a White agricultural tractor that is used in maintaining, for public snowmobile use, the Jane Addams Trail, which is part of the Grand Illinois Trail. (Local contact: Doug Brandt, 815/232-1842).

Northwest Illinois Snowmobile Alliance, (Stephenson, Jo Daviess, Carroll and Whiteside Counties) $13,500 to purchase snowmobile trail signs, trail stakes, lumber and materials to construct new and to improve existing snowmobile bridges and fence crossings. The Alliance will also rent three tractors to assist in constructing the bridges and trails. The Alliance maintains more than 800 miles of public snowmobile trails in the four-county area. (Local contact: Doug Brandt, 815/232-1842).

Snowhunters of Northern Illinois, (McHenry Country) $650 to purchase lumber and other materials to construct a snowmobile bridge across a creek. The club maintains 25 miles of public snowmobile trails. (Local contact: Richard Bearzotti, 847/458-9566).

Tri-County Snowmobile Alliance, (Lee, Ogle and Winnebago Counties) $13,500 to purchase snowmobile trail signs and wooden stakes that will be used to better mark the public snowmobile trails that are maintained by the 13 local clubs that are members of the Tri-County Alliance. (Local contact: Steve Hefel, 815/284-5356).

Whiteside County Snowbirds, (Whiteside County) $3,450 to purchase snowmobile trail signs, lumber and materials to mark new public snowmobile trails, to better mark existing public trails, and to repair snowmobile bridges and fence crossings. (Local contact: Mike Fullerton, 319/242-8708).

Whiteside County Snowbirds, (Whiteside County) $1,400 to purchase a Margee snowmobile trail groomer drag to be used in maintaining and improving the 95 miles of public snowmobile trails maintained by the club. (Local contact: Mike Fullerton, 319/242-8708).