Lee County joins Dixon-Sterling bike path extension effort

DIXON — Lee County is agreeing to split the costs of going after a federal grant that would help extend the city bike path from Page Park to Sauk Valley Community College.

The Sterling Park District has been making strides with continuing to expand its trail east toward the college, and Dixon officials want to get closer to developing their end of the trail, which would turn into an extensive regional trail if connected.

The idea of a regional trail has been a goal for many years.

Lee County Administrator Wendy Ryerson said they recently met with city staff interested in applying for a Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity, or RAISE program planning grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The funds of up to $1 million would go toward planning a path from Page Park to the college at 173 state Route 2. Most of the trail would be outside city limits, so the county would take the lead on the grant.

The two governments would split the cost of a $10,000 benefit cost analysis that would show the impact of the project on the community in their grant application. The County Board approved splitting the $10,000 cost in a split vote Thursday and paying up to $50,000 for the local grant match.

Connecting the paths would be a significant benefit to the region, and the county’s comprehensive plan includes goals of developing trails and green space, Ryerson said.

Board member Rick Humphrey, who was one of four members voting against the agreement, said he was hesitant because they haven’t decided where the money is coming from and how much the county would have to pay in the future if the grant was successful.

The vote passed 17-to-4.

Dixon won a $12 million RAISE grant last year after several years of applying that will go toward building a pedestrian bridge across the Rock River on the old Illinois Central Railroad piers, add 2.8 miles of multi-use path, improve sidewalks and crossings, and resurface Page Drive.

There will be new trails and pathways in the wooded area of Page Park commonly used for the Reagan Run, as well as a new pedestrian pathway to the baseball fields and tennis courts, as well as improvements to Page Drive, the baseball field, parking, and the boat docks.