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Health & Fitness

Openlands-ComEd Grant Awarded to the Glen Ellyn Park District

GLEN ELLYN, IL – The Glen Ellyn Park District recently applied for and was awarded an Openlands - ComEd Green Region Program Grant.  This very generous donation of $10,000 was awarded to help the Glen Ellyn Park District complete the Ackerman Park-Great Western Trail Connection Project.

In 2008, DuPage County identified an Ackerman Park access trail as part of their updated County Regional Bikeway Plan.  The funds received from the Openlands-ComEd Green Region Program Grant will allow the Glen Ellyn Park District to be able to create a safe, ADA accessible entry from the Great Western Trail into Ackerman Park. 

“Currently, there are no official entryways from the Great Western trail into the Ackerman Park,” said Dan Hopkins, Glen Ellyn Park District Superintendent of Parks, “Several foot paths have been worn over the years from the trail down a 15 foot embankment to access the park.  These paths are hazardous for foot traffic, bikes and strollers due to the steep grade, loose rock and uneven surface.”

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The Ackerman Park-Great Western Trail Connection will be created by constructing a permeable crushed limestone pathway from the bike trail, down the embankment, and along the turf area to connect with the existing asphalt roadway within the park. The Glen Ellyn Park District anticipates the work to be completed by summer 2014.

This is the first year of the Green Region program in Illinois, a joint effort by ComEd and Openlands to fund municipal conservation and environmental projects.

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For more information on the Glen Ellyn Park District, please www.gepark.org. Additional information on the Green Region program can be found on www.openlands.org/greenregion.


About the Glen Ellyn Park District 
Established in 1919, Glen Ellyn Park District's mission is "driven to foster diverse, community based leisure opportunities, through a harmonious blend of quality recreation programs, facilities and open space which will enhance the quality of life into the future."

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