A. MILE 0 – WHEATON / VOLUNTEER PARK
PRAIRIE. VOLUNTEER BRIDGE. The original bridge was built by 89 volunteer adults and students. It was completed in 1983 with $25,000 raised from many donations. (www.ipp.org/newsletters/1992Winter). SCULPTURE. Rails-to-Trails sculpture by sculptor Erika Bayuk. Made of artifacts from the CA&E railroad. Railroad spikes and bolts represent runners and bikers (www.ipp.org/newsletters/1995Winter). Location: The IPP splits into three segments in Wheaton. Volunteer Park is just north of the Main Stem, where the Elgin Branch and Aurora Branch meet at Liberty Drive and Carleton Street. Parking: At Liberty Drive.
B. BETWEEN MILES 0 and 1 – WHEATON / TOWN
FOUNDERS PARK. This park is a very small area with a bench, a few plantings, and a boulder honoring the founders of the IPP. There are views of downtown from the IPP. Location: Just south of the Metra tracks between West Street and South Wheaton Avenue. Parking: There is plenty of free temporary parking in Wheaton.
C.BETWEEN MILE 1 and 2 – WHEATON/HOFFMAN PARK/ PRAIRIE
A well-maintained tall grass prairie is in Hoffman Park just south of the IPP trail. Location: Between Prospect Street and Hill Avenue. Parking: Enter the park off of Hill Avenue.
D. MILE 3 – GLEN ELLYN / TOWN / GAZEBO
Location: Prairie Path Park, with a gazebo, is in downtown Glen Ellyn, located between Forest Avenue and Park Boulevard, just south of the tracks. Parking: From Park Boulevard turn immediately into the parking lot located just south of the tracks.
E. BETWEEN MILES 3 and 4 – GLEN ELLYN / GLACIAL RIDGE FOREST PRESERVE / CHURCHILL WOODS
(Special 8 Area was preserved in a 2005 court decision) Location: A glacial kame is the eastern part of the Glen Ellyn path, located between Taylor Avenue and Hill Avenue north of Walnut Street. The kame is an 8.3 acre area of native species. Parking: Parking is on Walnut Street between Longfellow and Whittier.
F. BETWEEN MILES 4 and 5 – GLEN ELLYN / EAST DUPAGE RIVER BRIDGE
This bridge was built, destroyed and replaced six times (www.ipp.org/newsletters/2009SummerFall). Location: The bridge is located where the Path crosses from Glen Ellyn into Lombard, bordered by Crescent Boulevard, Hill Avenue, and South Columbia Avenue. Continue east to travel over the I-355 bridge. Parking: Park along Hill Avenue west of the DuPage River.
G. BETWEEN MILES 4 and 5 – LOMBARD / INTERSTATE-355 AND IL ROUTE 53
Location: This bridge is bordered by Hill Avenue in Glen Ellyn and Finley Road in Lombard. It is a major crossing area for cars, trucks, bicyclists. Parking: From Finley Road turn west on Maple Street and turn south on Vance and you’ll be able to park near the IPP.
H. BETWEEN MILES 7 and 8 – VILLA PARK /TOWN / RAILROAD
Location: Villa Avenue and Central Boulevard. (Site of the IPP Rails-to-Trails Hall of Fame sign.) Villa Park Chamber of Commerce, at 10 West Park Boulevard, is the former Ardmore Avenue CA&E railroad station. Villa Park Historical Society Museum, 220 Villa Avenue along the Path, is the former CA&E railroad station. Parking: Parking is available west of Villa Avenue on Central Boulevard.
I. BETWEEN MILES 8 and 9 – ELMHURST GREAT WESTERN PRAIRIE
Location: This prairie is between Salt Creek to the west, Spring Road to the east, Illinois Prairie Path to the south, and Great Western Trail to the north. Parking: Park along Berkeley Avenue. Enter at the display, located at Berkeley Avenue and Prairie Path lane.
J. BETWEEN MILES 9 and 10 – ELMHURST / TOWN / RAILROAD
Location: Wild Meadows Trace Park, gazebo, restored RR Depot. From St. Charles Road, follow York South. The park will be on the right. The park is parallel with the Illinois Prairie Path. Parking: Parking is available east of York Road. Enter at Vallette.
K. BETWEEN MILES 11 and 12 – BERKELEY / TOWN
The Path runs through Berkeley Community Park. Location: The park is located along Electric Road west of I-290. Parking: Enter the parking lot at Taft and Kouba Drive.
L. MILE 15 – MAYWOOD / TRAILHEAD / PRAIRIE
Maywood marks the east trailhead to the Illinois Prairie Path in Cook County. Scenic trailhead; display case; landscaped; prairie section; nice view of the Path. Location: Along First Avenue, between Quincy and Wilcox . Parking: Park across the street along Maybrook Drive.
