The ITS Trail Committee would like to invite its members and everyone interested to the Tour de Garden, Sunday, June 1st.  The Tour de Garden is being organized by the Coal Country Chamber of Commerce.  The trail route is not entirely finalized yet, but look for it here or at the Coal Country Chamber of Commerce website in the near future.  

The Tour de Garden will start at the Illinois Valley Rehab Barn, 212 E. Walnut, Gillespie, IL.  Maps will be provided.  From there, you will tour of many beautiful local gardens in Gillespie, Dorchester, Staunton, and finally end at the Lakeview nursery, which will be holding sales.  Local artisans and crafters will also have booths set up that day at the Lakeview Nursery.  The Tour de Garden is free and sponsored by the Coal Country Chamber of Commerce, the University of Illinois Extension, and the ITS Trail Committee.  For information, please check the Coal Country Chamber of Commerce website (www.coalcountrychamber.com) or call Sue Campbell after 6 PM at 618-362-6385.

The ITS Trail is proud to announce the support of Representative Phil Hare.  Congressman Hare represents Illinois' 17th Congressional District, which includes most of the communities affected by the ITS Trail, and the entire physical route of the trail.  Conressman Hare states: "I would like to offer my strong support to the efforts of the ITS Trail Committee as they work to develop this trail system".  If you would like to read Congressman Hare's entire letter, please click here (PDF reader required).

Congressman Hare's support adds to resolutions of support from Senator Dick Durbin, six local communities, and four local organizations.  For more information, click on our Resolutions of Support page.

Welcome to the ITS Trail!

The ITS Trail, when complete, will be one of Illinois’ longest continuous rails-to-trails projects. It will meander some 95 miles, plus or minus; through the countryside of Madison, Macoupin, and Sangamon counties and it will connect us to the Gateway to the West, St. Louis, MO., and with our state capital, Springfield. From St.Louis, we travel north via the McKinley Bridge over the Mississippi River, and through the municipalities of Venice, Madison, Granite City, Pontoon Beach, Collinsville, Maryville, Glen Carbon, Edwardsville, Hamel, Worden, Staunton, Sawyerville, Benld, Gillespie, Carlinville, Girard, Virden, Auburn, Chatham and Springfield. Seen along the way are beautiful lakes, wetlands, streams, forest, farmland, and a horizon filled with bluffs, prairies and wildlife. The ITS Trail will be a family oriented linear parkway that will be wheelchair accessible, and provide a safe, wide, asphalt paved, non-motorized way to travel while linking communities together. You will be able to walk, run, cycle, skate and when it snows, go cross country skiing. Projects like this have increased tourism and development, benefited government, education, business, and labor, but most of all, it will greatly improve the quality of life of all our residents. We hope that you will enjoy and support the ITS Trail through its development on to its completion and to enjoy its benefits for many years to come. Become a part of your community, your region, and join with us, today.

On October 10th, Jim Marcacci interviewed Poonam Jain and Jarid Ott last about the ITS Trail Committee.  They discussed the history of the ITS Trail Committee, its achievements, and goals for a future multi use trail along the old Illinois Traction System railway.  This interview has been playing on the public access channel in Staunton.  Now, with the permission of Jim Marcacci, the interview is available on Google Video. 

The first annual ITS Trail Committee Appreciation Picnic was held Sunday, October 21 at Staunton Fireman’s Park for the Members, Sponsors and Donors of the organization. A group of around 60 enjoyed a picnic lunch and heard from several speakers.

Jarid Ott, Executive Director of the Committee thanked several individuals for their efforts in preparing for the picnic.  Dr. Poonam Jain, President of the Committee brought everyone up to date on the accomplishments of the Committee.

Macoupin County Board Charman Andy Manar said “The ITS Trail Committee has accomplished so much in just a short period of time and serves as an example of how we can all work together to make Macoupin County a better place to live. For that, I congratulate everyone who has joined together to support this project.” He went on to mention that the ITS Trail Committee is the first volunteer organization to partner with the county for the development of a public recreational project. In concluding his remarks, Mr. Manar pointed out that Macoupin County was recently included as part of the Metro-East Parks and Recreation District through legislation passed at the state level and signed by the governor, and that this action is an important step in the development of parks and recreation facilities throughout the county.

Mayor Fred Stein addressed the group, congratulating them on their successful efforts. He pointed out that Staunton has always had a wealth of volunteers and that the ITS Trail Committee is a good example of that volunteer spirit.

From its inception in March of 2006, the Committee has promised to give a bicycle to one lucky Member, Sponsor or Donor.  John & Susan Caldieraro donated a new hybrid bicycle, purchased from The Cyclery in Edwardsville at a discounted price.  New members Patrick and Melanie Wineburner were the lucky winners of the bicycle this year.  The Committee would like to thank everyone who had a part in the success of the picnic.