Dundee Twp. to use federal grants to upgrade open-space sites
Dundee Township officials are starting the new year with big plans and big money for their open space district.
When the snow melts and spring arrives, township trustees will spend $1.3 million to extend walking trails through the Jelke Creek Bird Sanctuary. Also, they will fix the problem of rocks, dirt and branches falling in the creek and eventually find their way to the Fox River.
Property taxes won't be raised and residents won't be charged for the, said township supervisor Sue Harney. The money will come from state and federal grants that total more than $1.2 million. The additional $600,000 will be funds already in township coffers.
"This project won't cause a burden to homeowners" she said. "They don't need that now, but we need to do the work. That sediment has been falling in the creek and going to the river causing runoff problems for drinking water and wildlife."
To solve the problem, the township will hire a company to regrade the terrain leading to the creek. That will change the direction of the slope that has been forming for decades in the former gravel pit.
After that, deep-rooted shrubs will be planted near the shore to keep the soil in place, Harney said.
The Jelke Creek open space site is 264 acres that borders Sleepy Hollow and Boncosky roads. Township board members bought it in 2000. More than half the former pit has been scarred with erosion ruts and is unusable because of steep slopes leading to the creek.
But some of it can be used and has become a stopping and resting place for many birds. Limestone paths have been laid for hikers and bird-watchers. And, the site has a pond that can be fished from. This year, the paths will be extended through the site and possible to nearby neighborhoods, Harney said. The work on the runoff will improve the water quality on the pond and increase the fish population.
"Jelke Creek has become a popular outdoor recreation site. That's exactly what we want. We want it to be used and enjoyed by hikers and people who like to fish and watch birds," she said. "All of our open space sites were purchased so township residents can enjoy them."
Work on Jelke Creek is expected to be done by August.
Voters gave Dundee Township officials permission to sell bonds to raise money and buy property for the district in 1996. So far, nearly 1,000 acres have been purchased. Many of then have miles of hiking trails.
Work on the site doesn't always wait for money, the supervisor said. It's done all year by volunteers who cut overgrown weeds and pick up trash.
"We start as early as Jan. 1," she said. "On the first day of the year we gather together volunteers and work on the Raceway Woods. This year, we had more than 40 people help us. And we'll have hundreds of others throughout the year working on other sites."
Raceway Woods is along Route 31 and Huntley Road in Carpentersville.