A new public amenity was unveiled Oct. 17, 2015 at Columbia Woods Forest Preserve in Willow Springs, Ill., along property owned by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) and leased to the Forest Preserves of Cook County. Two new foothills accessible to hikers and eventually to mountain bikes in 2016 have been added to the Centennial Trail.
The hills were constructed as part of an MWRD project to remove 1.8 million cu yards of overburden (dirt) from the neighboring McCook Reservoir, a component of the Tunnel and Reservoir Plan (TARP). When completed, McCook Reservoir will provide 10 billion gal of storage to capture combined sewer overflows that discharge to waterways and cause sewer backups. The reservoir will also provide $90 million per year in flood control benefits to 3.1 million people living in 37 communities. Approximately 500 truck trips per day were needed to haul the overburden.
The MWRD considered alternate sites for storing the McCook overburden, but an additional $9.3 million price tag was not cost-effective. The Centennial Trail site offered a relatively short trip and use of private roads for trucking the overburden, in addition to prioritizing economic, safety and environmental considerations. During construction, the nearby I & M Trail accommodated trail users.
The landscape architect firm Burns and McDonnell designed the new trail based on trail users input during three public meetings. In addition to the two hills, a hiking trail and rest area have also been added. Using the overburden and MWRD's Class A Exceptional Quality Biosolids, the hill will offer a rare opportunity for Chicago-area cyclists to ride up and down a slope that provides sweeping views of the surrounding landscape and waterways. For riders who prefer flat terrain, the trail provides a new and improved route through Columbia Woods.
Source: Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
