Vacant land beneath ComEd towers and power lines in Willow Springs could become a recreational asset under a plan proposed at a recent village board meeting.
Linda Arra, chair of the village’s beautification commission, discussed a proposed pathway at last month’s board meeting.
The path would start on the west side of Willow Springs Road, south of German Church Road, and run southwest to 87th Street and Wolf Road.
Village trustees are considering Arra’s request for their support to seek grant funding for the project. A decision could come as soon as this week, with the board’s next meeting set for 7 p.m. April 10.
A parking lot would be built near 87th and Wolf, Arra said.
“We’re hoping it will go farther, to 91st and County Line Road,” she said.
When Mayor Melissa Neddermeyer asked about the cost at the board meeting last month, Arra said Novotny Engineering has estimated it would take $300,000 to build an asphalt path eight to 10 feet wide.
“Once we get the pathway in, we’ll get some more grants and put in some beautiful pollinator plants all along each side,” Arra said.
Arra, who is married to village trustee Tom Arra, envisions the path serving a wide range of people, including walkers, joggers, cyclists, wheelchair users and parents pushing strollers. The path would be about 0.8 miles long.
She said the biggest challenge was navigating “three to six months” of red tape at ComEd to find the right contact person for the project.
Arra cited a lack of connectivity between Burr Ridge and Willow Springs Road as a reason for the project.
“My husband and I have lived in this area since 1983, and there’s a disconnect from Burr Ridge to Willow Springs Road,” she said.
She noted some residents had reached out in the past asking for a solution.
Its starting point at Willow Springs Road is just north of the Speedway gas station, allowing easier access to the Des Plaines River trail, which begins south of the Speedway.
Arra expressed confidence that the project would move forward if trustees allow her to begin applying for grants.
ComEd has approved a land lease for $1 over 10 years, with an option for renewal, she said.
Arra anticipates no opposition from residents living near the proposed path and has yet to hear objections.