|
 |
|
Safe Routes to School, Oct. 3 As children across the country returned to school last month, the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) National Partnership took steps to make the daily trip a healthier activity. The second annual International Walk to School Day will take place Monday, October 3. To support the event and promote strategies for keeping kids walking and biking to school, the partnership launched a new website, www.saferoutespartnership.org. The site provides resources for parents, schools, local and state governments and advocacy groups to implement programs encouraging kids to get themselves to school under their own power. The $612 million federal SRTS program, approved by the U.S. Congress in 2005, provides funding to all 50 states and the District of Columbia to support education and enforcement programs and to help communities improve infrastructure such as sidewalks and bike paths. The SRTS program is an important initiative, as the percentage of U.S. students who walk and/or bicycle to school declined from approximately 50 percent in 1969 to only 15 percent today. At the same time, obesity rates have increased dramatically among children of all ages. Today, more than 33 percent of children and adolescents – approximately 25 million kids – are overweight or obese. In addition, the SRTS program helps relieve traffic congestion caused by parents driving their children. The new SRTS website provides proponents at all levels for the resources and contacts they need to implement programs locally and statewide. Each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia has dedicated pages with program funding details, application guidelines, state and local contacts and examples of successful, local SRTS efforts and best practices. The Illinois Department of Transportation recently concluded its first round of SRTS funding applications; over 1,000 projects within 298 applications were submitted, totaling over $77 million in project requests for $8 million available. The IDOT Implementation Committee is now reviewing the proposed projects and hopes to make award announcements this fall. IDOT is working to implement recommendations from the public to enhance the planning and application processes for the 2008 cycle, the dates of which are being determined. Other features of the new site include an interactive U.S. map, a robust search function, updated national SRTS news, in-depth policy pages, event listings and resources. See www.saferoutespartnership.org for more details. The new site is funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation ( www.rwjf.org ) and the Bikes Belong Coalition (www.bikesbelong.org). Chicago area students will walk to school Dozens of Chicago area schools will be joining communities from around the world to celebrate International Walk to School Day Oct. 3. "Flagship" events will be held at ten Chicagoland schools – twice the number of schools that participated in 2006. Walking to classes that day will be students at Howe Elementary, Mitchell Elementary, Rachel Carson Elementary, St. John Berchmans School, Westbrook School (Glenview), H.C. Storm Elementary (Batavia), St. Joseph School (Addison), Laremont School (Gages Lake), Fox Chase Elementary (Oswego), Kennedy School (Schiller Park). Each of these ten flagship schools received mini-grant awards to support their Walk to School Day events. Sponsors of the 2007 Walk to School Mini-Grant program include the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation, the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, Clif Bar, Safe Kids Chicago Coalition, Lt. Governor Pat Quinn's Walk Across Illinois Campaign, Circle of Service Foundation, the Cook County Department of Public Health, the Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago, Federal Express, the League of Illinois Bicyclists and the Illinois Principals Association. For more information, check out the websites for International Walk to School in the USA (www.walktoschool.org) and the National Center for Safe Routes to School ( www.saferoutesinfo.org). Women go to 'cross nationals through Chicago Cyclocross Cup The Smart Cycling Bike Shop of Glenview, Illinois, is sponsoring the Road to Cyclocross Nationals Women's Project. The project will award top women Category III and IV riders who participate in the Chicago Cyclocross Cup with economic support. The purpose of the project is to financially support a female athlete's efforts to compete at USA Cycling Cyclocross Nationals set for December 12-16 in Kansas City, Kansas. The total award of the program is $500. A maximum of $250 per rider will be donated to offset the winning athlete's expenses in traveling to and competing at nationals. Points will be awarded to each female athlete based on their placing in each Chicago Cyclocross Cup race. The female athlete with the greatest number of points at the end of the series will be declared the winner. The guidelines and rules of the Road to Cyclocross Cup Nationals Women's Project as well as fliers for the Chicago Cyclocross Cup races can be found at www.chicrosscup.com. The Chicago Cyclocross Cup was started in 2004. The Smart Cycling Bike Shop was founded a year later. Chicago Cyclocross Cup races • Oct. 21: Carpenter Park, Carpentersville, Ill. • Oct. 28: ABD Cross, Bartlett, Ill. • Nov. 3: Campton Cross, St. Charles, Ill. • Nov. 18: South Chicago Wheelmen Cross, Lansing, Ill. • Dec. 9: Illinois State Cross Champion-ships, Montrose Park, Chicago, Ill. A river runs through it again Many canoeists and kayakers have passed through the abandoned railroad trestle on the north branch of the Chicago River just west of Happ Road. Illinois Paddling Council (IPC) members have navigated it on New Year's Day paddles from Willow Road to Linne Woods. That trestle was designed to entrap floating logs and debris, and in that regard it is highly effective. Indeed, the heavy rains and winds of mid-August provided a more than ample supply of raw material, which had effectively closed all passages through the trestle. Enter IPC's Water Trail Keeper crew of Gary Mechanic, Jack Snarr, Dennis Paterka and Michael Flight. Armed with hand tools, a chain saw, a hand winch, waders and a canoe (equipment made possible by an ACA-LL Bean Club Fostered Stewardship Grant) the crew cut, hauled out and secured the debris on adjoining flood plains and cleared three passageways through the trestle. When opening logjams, eager stream cleaners such as these do their best to minimize damage to habitat. The crew cleared the three channels in the middle but left some debris at the two ends of the trestle in which various river critters can hang out. Many similar logjams remain. Volunteers are needed to join the IPC Water Trail Keeper crew. If you want to paddle Illinois rivers without having to portage logjams, lend a hand to help keep water trails open. The organization has the equipment but needs assistance. Contact Tom Richardson at rtom richardson@comcast.net to find the time and place of the next Water Trail Keeper effort. New Minnesota state parks guide available With nearly 6,000 campsites and cabins, as many or more picnic sites, miles of trail and a host of scenic locations and recreational activities to choose from, visitors to Minnesota's 72 state parks and recreation areas have a lot of options. To help people plan their next getaway, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has published a new Guide to Minnesota State Parks. The guide includes an extensive facilities chart that lists types of campsites, cabins and lodging, beaches, fishing opportunities, picnic sites and shelters, equipment rental, summer and winter activities. The guide also contains directions, contact numbers and reservation information. The brochure is free and can be requested by calling the DNR Information Center toll-free at 888/MINNDNR (646-6367). The brochure also is available online in a PDF at www.mnstateparks.info. SE Minn.'s Root River State Trail open again after flooding The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has reopened the Root River Trail in southeastern Minnesota following the recent flooding. "While the trail is open, riders should use extra caution," said Craig Blommer, DNR trails and waterways supervisor. "Much of the trail between Rushford and Houston had considerable silt deposit on the trail after the floodwater receded. Although most of that material has been scraped off, a small amount remains and becomes very slippery when wet." Only a 400-foot stretch of the trail between Lanesboro and Whalen remained closed in mid-September because it was washed out. That section was well marked and barricaded and riders are urged to trailer their bicycles around this area. With the fall tourism season under way, many people are using the trail to take in the beauty of the changing colors. Windy Block, city administrator for the town of Rushford, said his community welcomes bikers and trail users but wants to make sure visitors understand that a good portion of the city is still trying to clean up from the flooding that caused extensive property damage. "We want people to enjoy the trail, but also be sensitive to our residents and community," Block said. "We need them to stay on the trail and not go sightseeing through town where they could interfere with the clean-up efforts." The Root River State Trail is a 42-mile-long multiple-use trail through the quaint and picturesque rural communities of Fountain, Lanesboro, Whalan, Peterson, Rushford and Houston. This asphalt trail was mainly constructed upon an abandoned railroad grade that is generally level and wheelchair accessible. Quetico Provincial Park to hosts two ski tours The Beaten Path Nordic Trails of Atikokan/Quetico area will host the third annual Sawmill Lake Classic Ski Tour this January. Within the Dawson Trail Camp-grounds of Quetico Provincial Park, there is a great system of trails through mixed forests along side a river, ponds and lakes. Quetico Provincial Park is known globally by canoeists for its 4,750 square kilometres of wilderness and it's labyrinth of lakes and portages. During the off season there is little traffic in the park. The Beaten Path Nordic Club has taken advantage of this beautiful area during the slow season to host two of their three annual events within Quetico. In late January, a small group of enthusiasts enjoy a unique classic ski event. The Sawmill Lake Classic is a tour and not a race (so spandex is optional). There is no one to hand you Gatorade along the way. Participants pack a lunch and drinks for the 24K classic loop of wilderness trail. In March, the Cross Quetico Lakes Tour draws people from two U.S. states and two Canadian provinces to ski ungroomed lakes and portages across the northern frozen canoe routes of the Park. So bring your composite skis or dust off the bamboo poles and woodies. It doesn't make a difference because you will go home with a smile. For more info on the Beaten Path Nordic Trails, the Sawmill Lake Classic, the Chocolate Cup Challenge and the Cross Quetico Lakes Tour, visit http://atikokancanoe.tripod.com/beatenpath or call Chris Stromberg 807/597-4503. North Country Trail extension plan undergoes environmental review A proposed extension of the North Country Scenic Trail – a nonmotorized hiking trail on forest land in Minnesota's Hubbard, Clearwater and Becker counties – is the subject of Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) released by the Minnesota DNR for public review. Although the 30-day comment period ended September 26, the EAW is still available for review. The 23.5 miles of proposed new trail will link up existing trail segments in the Chippewa National Forest, Paul Bunyan State Forest, Itasca State Park and the White Earth State Forest. When completed, the North Country Scenic Trail will provide a recreational hiking trail from New York to North Dakota. The project is sponsored by the North Country Trail Association, the organization responsible for the development and maintenance of the North Country Scenic Trail. Volunteer crews using primarily hand tools will construct the new trail. National Park Service trail standards will be applied, which call for avoiding wetlands, steep slopes, rare or sensitive plant species and unstable soils. The 33-page EAW can be downloaded from the DNR website, www.dnr.state.mn.us/input/environmentalreview/index.html.
|
|
|
||