The Introduction to the Trail for Area Youth event on October 25^th was well attended.  Although Friday's Trail Dedication event for the new Worden to Staunton segment of the MCT Quercus Grove Trail was postponed due to the anticipation of inclement weather, Saturday was a beautiful sunny October day.  An estimated 50 to 60 adults and children met under the south Staunton water tower for the event. 

Staunton City Council member Nelson Grman welcomed everyone and thanked the City Council members for allocating funds from their expense account budget to pay for the food.  Jarid Ott with the ITS Trail Committee explained to the group that a portion of the trail follows the path of the old Illinois Traction System Railroad and that electric powered street cars, which carried passengers to and from St Louis as well as Springfield and other cities, traveled this route.  The route was also used by freight trains.  Jarid suggested a few safety tips, then wished everyone an enjoyable walk or ride on the new trail, with the knowledge that hot dogs, chips and drinks would be ready upon their return. 

There were parents and grandparents with young children walking, mothers with children in strollers, young children on bicycles and a few older folks on bicycles to supervise.  Everyone had a wonderful time and many "Thank You's" were received, both for the food and for the event.  It is hoped that events of this type can be scheduled in the future to make parents and children aware of the recreational facilities available to them.  If you participated in the event, let us know what you have to say by sending a note to This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it with your comments.

The long awaited dedication of the new Worden to Staunton segment of the MCT Quercus Grove Trail was postponed due to poor weather on Friday.  Keep watching here to see when it is rescheduled!   

A group of ITS Trail Committee members enjoyed a ride in the 2008 Staunton Homecoming Parade.  Watch as two sets of recumbent tricycles pull signs in the parade to promote local community activities.  Take a look, you may see yourself or someone you know.

The recumbent cycles, ITS Trail members, and their families & friends also participated in the:

• Gillespie Black Diamond Days Parade
• Mt. Olive Homecoming Parade
  
• Bunker Hill Homecoming Parade
• Tour De Donut
• Dorchester Homecoming Parade
• Tour De Coal
  

Following the 2008 Tour de Donut, Dave Sweeney presented a check for $5,000 from the Boeing Employees Bicycle Club to Nelson Grman, Russ Masinelli and Jarid Ott from the ITS Trail Committee.  This is the second straight year that BEBC has made such a donation and we wish to express our sincere thanks to the generous members of this organization, not only for their donation and support of our efforts, but for the many years they have conducted the Tour de Donut in cooperation with the Staunton Chamber of Commerce. This is an excellent and exciting event which draws many visitors to our community, not only for the event, but for the Rib Cook Off which follows on Main St.

The ITS Trail, when complete, will be an integral part of one of Illinois’ longest continuous rails-to-trails projects, which will wander some 95 miles through the countryside of Madison, Macoupin, and Sangamon counties and will connect St. Louis, MO. with our state capital, Springfield. From the St. Louis Arch, the trail will travel north via the McKinley Bridge over the Mississippi River, and through the municipalities of Venice, Madison, Granite City, Pontoon Beach, Collinsville, Maryville, Glen Carbon, Edwardsville, Hamel, Worden, Staunton, Sawyerville, Benld, Gillespie, Carlinville, Girard, Virden, Auburn, Chatham and Springfield. Seen along the way are beautiful lakes, wetlands, streams, forest, farmland, and a horizon filled with bluffs, prairies and wildlife. 

The ITS Trail will be a family oriented pathway that provides a safe, wheelchair accessible, asphalt paved, non-motorized way to travel, exercise and relax while enjoying the outdoors, including access to motorized wheelchairs for handicapped persons with a physician's certification.  We envision this trail will result in increased tourism and development, benefit government, education, business, and labor, but most of all, could greatly improve the quality of life for those who take advantage of the trail.

We hope you will become involved and support the ITS Trail project through its development and on to its completion, and that you will enjoy its benefits for many years to come.  Become a part of your community and your region, and join with us today.