April 2025 

2025 EBDRT Update

Friends: It’s been 18 months since the last update provided by the Friends of the East Branch River Trail (EBDRT). In that time, in addition to EBDRT advocacy, the Friends have been dealing with life. Among the core group of Friends organizers, there have been weddings and funerals, births of grandchildren (and even great grandchildren) and family growth. We’ve been busy with work, vacations, school, sports teams, Master’s degrees, nights out with friends and days in with family, and much more. The work of advocating for the EBDRT also has been continuing.

In the past 18 months, the Friends of the EBDRT have continued our advocacy efforts by monitoring the work of DuPage County and the County’s Department of Transportation (which is the lead agency for this trail development project) and participating in events where we can gather signatures and/or educate folks on the latest news regarding the work of the EBDRT.

We have held quarterly meetings of core supporters and activists, sometimes including special guests in attendance, such as elected officials, candidates for office, DuPage County staff, and even the contractors hired by the County to perform tasks associated with trail development.

Here is what we know is happening now:

1. The trail development project has been divided into two parts:
   
   

   1. One part is between St. Charles Road to the Illinois Prairie Path (IPP). This part is challenging because it involves getting around (or through) the Union Pacific railroad tracks – we have heard recently that a route has been determined that would take trail users under existing bridges over Illinois Tollway 355.
      
      

   2. The second part is between the IPP and Butterfield Road. This part is challenging because there are many various public or quasi-public agencies that manage the land. None of the land is considered “private” or requires any type of acquisition, to our knowledge. All stakeholders have concurred that a trail is “possible.”
      
      

   3. The second part has another complication because the route between Roosevelt Road and Butterfield Road has not been defined and there is much discussion on the best solution to this challenge. Some groups are advocating for a route down Illinois Rt. 53 (as a side path to this busy state highway) and other groups are advocating for a true recreational greenway option along the river. The Friends of the EBDRT is solidly in the latter camp. This preference is complicated by a wet landscape, but we feel confident there are proven solutions. One need only look as far as Winfield and the West Branch of the DuPage River Trail to see a solid solution to this challenge.

2. Christopher B. Burke Engineering Company (CBBEL) has been retained by DuPage County’s Department of Transportation to manage Phase I engineering which will consist of environmental studies and public input, in addition to managing the website ebdrt.com.
   
   

   1. CBBEL has hired Metro Strategies to conduct a public survey to gather citizen input, which will be open until the end of April, 2025.
      
      

   2. Metro Strategies is managing an in-person open house for DuDot on on Tuesday, April 29, at Butterfield Park District, 4-7:00 p.m. Plan to come out to show positive, affirmative public support of the project.

In case you are wondering what can be done to move the needle on this long-planned (over 30 years), but never fully funded or developed recreational trail project, the most impactful thing is to urge elected officials to make the vision a reality. You can write, email, call and schedule meetings with elected officials. 

You can attend public meetings where public officials conduct business (County Board, Village Board, Park Board’s etc.) and provide public comment. When you run into an elected official anywhere, anytime, it’s great to ask them what they know about the project and what is happening with the project. You can ask local elected officials, state elected officials and even federal elected officials: The Friends have talked to them all! The Friends of the EBDRT have provided a list of elected officials that you can reach out to.

Another thing you can do is show your support for the EBDRT with a yard sign. The yard signs do get attention and raise awareness. The yard signs have been one of our most successful tools. We realize that most people don’t want a yard sign in their yard for a decade, and the signs don’t last forever, so we are proposing to designate April and May as “EBDRT Yard Sign Months.” At the end of May, put the sign away in your garage until the following April. Ask for a yard sign by filling out this form.

If you’d like to volunteer to help with events or other tasks associated with the advocacy work of the Friends, you can fill out this form and we will be in contact. There are a lot of ideas for ways to raise awareness, attention and get action, but they all take time, energy and people.

You don’t have to wait for us to contact you, however. 

• Feel free to download the petition and ask your friends and neighbors to sign it or 

• share the online petition with your network. The petition is an important way to "vote" for this trail project. 

• You can join our Facebook group to stay up to date. 

• If you’re a member of a civic group that invites speakers to make presentations, feel free to invite us to make a presentation for you.

• Subscribe to our email list to stay up-to-date, get friendly reminders, etc. (Knowing we do not email that often, so you're not going to be overwhelmed or spammed by email). 

There are lots of events coming up this spring and summer where we could use your help. Even if you can't vounteer to help out, just stop by and say hello!

Everybody loves trails. Trails are great for the health and well-being of communities and people. Trails make natural areas safer and more easily managed. Trails can provide a safer means of transportation for all people who don’t, can't, or choose not to drive cars.

The EBDRT is a win-win-win for the people and residents of DuPage County and will make DuPage County an even more desirable place to live, work and raise a family. 

In conclusion, thank you for your past support, stick with us as we continue the work of advocating for the EBDRT. Together, we can make this vision of the East Branch DuPage River Trail a reality for the generations to come, hopefully concluding within this decade.

Sincerely,

Ginger Wheeler

President

Friends of the East Branch DuPage River Trail