Do you use the Illinois Prairie Path?

The Illinois Prairie Path (IPP) is one of the great trails in the Chicago area. As the first rails-to-trails conversion in the United States, the path has connected people in the western suburbs to each other and the rest of Chicagoland for 50 years.

With more than 60 miles of trails to explore, the Prairie Path provides plenty of places to hop on and bike, walk, jog or ride a horse. It’s the perfect place for families to go for a few hours of outdoor fun or an affordable, environmentally friendly way to travel to work or school.

The IPP is the backbone of DuPage County’s active transportation network. While on the trail, a person will pass through many different areas, including lush forests, quiet residential neighborhoods and bustling suburban downtowns.

The trail length and bucolic setting attracts users of all ages and abilities —  from the experienced cyclist who rides a thousand miles each year to a grandmother on a walk with her grandchild in a stroller. The trail can take people to work, shopping and train stations.  

Yet just one harrowing intersection or crossing can be the difference between someone using the IPP to get to their destination and them choosing another route or cutting their trip short.  

Active Trans wants to make it safer for people of all ages and abilities to use the Prairie Path easily and cross from section to section. So, we are creating a plan to do just that. 

With support from with the DuPage County Health Department and DuPage County Division of Transportation, Active Trans is leading a study to enhance your experience on the trail. But we need your input to identify which intersections and crossings on the IPP are already convenient and should be used as models for how to design future crossings, and which intersections and crossings are in need of bike and pedestrian safety enhancements.

Help us make crossings safer! If you use the Prairie Path, or want to use it, please share your ideas on this survey.