The Northeastern Illinois Greenways and Trails Plan is a conceptual, long-range, multi-jurisdictional plan which envisions a network of trails and greenways across northeastern Illinois. The plan includes conceptual alignments along with existing trails. An update of the trails element of the 1997 Greenways and Trails Plan is now under way. New additions were focused on Kendall County (not in the 1997 Plan) and on the City of Chicago. The draft trails element presents a vision with an anticipated horizon year of 2040. The proposed system has about 2,500 miles, or about 500 more miles than in 1997.
Approximately 1000 miles of the trail system is completed, or about 500 miles more than in 1997.
At its meeting on May 14, 2008, the CMAP Bicycle and Pedestrian Task Force recommended that the Trails Element Update be included in an updated Greenways and Trails Plan to be released for public comment. The Task Force also approved the use of the 2008 Trails Element Update in regional bikeway planning pending final adoption of the updated Regional Greenways and Trails Plan by the Board of CMAP.
2008 Regional Trails Element Update Map (pdf, 4.4 MB)
The Northeastern Illinois Greenways and Trails Plan was adopted in 1992 and updated in 1997. The plan contains both trails and greenways elements.
Greenways and Trails Plan Poster - Map (pdf, 3.1 MB)
Greenways and Trails Plan Poster - Back (pdf, 3.6MB)