PROPOSED
TRAIL CRITERIA AND MITIGATION GUIDELINES

Cook County Forest Preserve District

CONCEPTS FOR DISCUSSION

return to RIDE home page

The Forest Preserve District of Cook County has determined to establish a designated trail system that meets the needs of the entire non-motorized trail community (primarily hikers, joggers and cyclists), while keeping a balance between recreational demand and environmental responsibility. The district recognizes two types of multi-use designated trails for non-motorized recreational access.

• Paved trails (asphalt surfaces 10-foot width, ASHTO standards)
• Unpaved trails (varied surfaces, varied width)

Section I-Trail Criteria Guidelines

The criteria for determining type 2 unpaved trails will include guidelines as follows:

1. Trails are to form a trail system and when appropriate connect to other local and regional trails.
2. Trails are to be designed to provide a varied experience of scenic, historic and natural features.
3. Trails are to connect to parking /picnic areas and other activity nodes.
4. Trails are to create a loop trail systems within defined preserve areas where appropriate.
5. Trails are to be constructed in areas that will have a minimal effect on high quality native vegetation, rare animals or significant archeological sites.
6. Trails are to be constructed in a manner to minimize soil erosion.
7. Trails are to cross streets at safe intersections or well-marked areas.
8. Trails are to have reasonable sight distances consistent with criteria standards issued by the US. Forest Service for Anglos National Forest(Amendment #1 4/90). attachment #1
9. Trails are to have slopes consistent with US Forest Service Off Road Bicycling Trail Guide (Amendment 2309.18-91-2) attachment #2
10. Trails are to be easily accessible to emergency personnel, either by foot or specialized equipment.
11. Trails will be interspersed and frequent enough to reduce the likelihood of crimes and to increase the safety of isolated areas. attachment #3
12. In the Illinois Nature Preserve areas; only trails that were in existence at the time of dedication will be allowed in to be included in the designated trail system.

Section II - Mitigation Guidelines

Mitigation measures analyze methods designed to augment trail criteria guidelines.
(Mitigation; alleviation of anything painful. Webster's dictionary)

Trail Closure Alternatives

Before a trail is closed, an effort will be made to consider implementing the following US Forest Service options and alternatives to closing a trail:

1. Trail redevelopment and restoration
2. Trail signs: listing maps, rules, safety and courtesy information
3. Volunteer programs for stewardship, maintenance and fundraising
4. Speed limits, one way trails and trail closures on wet days
5. Trail patrol and education programs to promote responsible trail usage

Trail Closures

If it is decided ( by a process yet to be determined) that a trail is 1) not to be admitted into the designated trail system or 2) if a trail is to be closed, the District will maintain a file indicating the reasons for such closure and documentation of any minority report issued by those groups objecting to such a closure.

After a trail is closed, those groups objecting to such closure can, after one year, appeal to an arbitration committee( by a process yet to be determined) for the reopening of the trail and every two years thereafter.

Trail Policy

The Forest Preserve District should adopt a Trail Policy document that should include the following:

1. General philosophy.
2. Plans for trail redevelopment and maintenance.
3. Strategies for Education, Stewardship, Patrol, Enforcement, Trail signage, Paper maps. And
4. Financial Plans, including expected costs and methods of obtaining funds, ( such as federal state and county funding availably) and
5. The Districts Position on user fees, volunteer contributions and fund raising events such as bicycle rallies.

IMBA/RIDE/TURF can supply ( and has previously supplied the District) with numerous examples of other land managers trail policy and our own suggested Trail Policy Suggestions.

The Trail Committee

1. The Trail Committee, as established by the District, shall meet at least once a year to consider
   (by a process yet to be determined) the following:
2. Changes in Guidelines
3. Changes in Trail Policy
4. Opening new trails in newly acquired properties or reopening closed trails.
5. Changes in Mitigation Guidelines
6. Ways to encourage cooperative stewardship of the trails.