What's the Project?

Friends, we need your help, this is our last opportunity to secure 25 new miles of trail stretching from the Kickapoo Creek to Farmington and rural Fulton County. Before 1980 this hidden gem, the corridor currently called the Hanna City Trail, was used as a railway by the Union Pacific Railroad. Since then it has been inactive, now needing special care and dedicated local champions to become a productive regional asset.

Map showing existing Rock Island Trail, proposed Hannah City Trail, and proposed Yates City Trail

We know the Hanna City Trail will be an invaluable asset by simply looking to the northeast of Peoria County at the impact the Rock Island Greenway has made in our region. Back in 2013, an estimated 17,000 people used the Rock Island Greenway in a year, with a third of those trail users spending money at businesses in the communities along the Rock Island Trail. In the last several years  the usage of the Rock Island Greenway has exponentially increased and spurred millions in new private development in the communities along it's length; to say nothing of the newfound importance of quality public space on public health and well being.

What's at Stake?

For 20 years, stakeholders across several municipalities have fought passionately to purchase the land to develop and maintain it as a trail, but there have been several roadblocks in purchasing the railroad corridor.  In 2010 their first federal grant application was denied.  The stakeholders persevered and tried again.  In 2015 they were successful and awarded a $750,000 transportation grant.  Unfortunately, because there was no State budget for over two years, the money could not be spent and was returned. The appraisal of the property has increased and the current grant application is for over 2 million dollars.

Earlier this year, Tri-Country Regional Planning Commission has applied for another federal grant in hopes to help purchase this rail corridor. If the grant is awarded later this year, there would be a potential local match of nearly $420,000 that would be shared equitably between the communities the trail crosses. This is our last chance to purchase and secure this property for the public interest! In April of 2021 this window will close for good and the land will be split up and sold to private owners, after which there is no hope of piecing it back together. After decades of hope and community efforts, this is truly the last chance to act.