Updated on June 27 at 4:38 p.m. CT
URBANA — The Kickapoo Rail Trail expansion received over $9.5 million dollars in the 2026 Illinois state budget to continue a construction project that involves converting an out of service railroad into a recreational trail.
Construction began in 2016 and the remaining goals are to improve the trailhead at Weaver Park in Urbana and complete the trails between St. Joseph to Ogden and Ogden to Oakwood.
Bridgette Moen, planning director for the Champaign County Forest Preserves, said the final trail will be about 25 miles long. The trail will connect Urbana to Oakwood and cap out near Kickapoo State Park.
“Currently we have about three miles built in Vermilion County and about eight in Champaign County,” she said. “But this project includes building close to nine additional miles in Vermilion County, about four and a half in Champaign County and then a trailhead structure in Urbana at the Urbana Park District.”
The funding for the project is from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity through the Rebuild Illinois Capital Plan. The total cost of the expansion is $11.2 million.
Moen said the most recent spending comes from construction of the trailhead at Weaver Park, which broke ground in May. And the next step is finding a bid for further construction, which includes building restrooms and a pavilion at the park, Moen said.
The trail will bring a new purpose to the out of service railroad and build a connection between six Central Illinois towns.
Jeff Yockey is a board chair for the Trails of the Grand Prairie and an avid bicyclist. He said he’s excited for what this trail will bring to the community and has already brought multiple groups to experience the trail firsthand.
“Every time you add to a trail network, the whole network gets better,” Yockey said. “When we get the trail all the way through Champaign-Urbana and we got trails on the other side. That’s good for St. Joseph, because now we can become a destination for people who can come down from Chicago and spend a couple days here.”
The trail has already brought in new tourism to the towns it currently runs through. St. Joseph Mayor Jim Page said new business is coming through town because of the trail.
“We’re looking at this, not only as a recreational opportunity, but as an economic one as well.”
The trail also has accessibility features including wheelchair charging stations and an asphalt surface on sections running through town. The completion date for the project is still uncertain, but Mohan said it’s expected to wrap up in 2026.
Correction: This story has been updated to fix the spelling of Jeff Yockey’s last name. It has also be updated to correct the spelling of Bridgette Moen’s full name.