On the Road to Building a Path: North Shore Channel Trail Connection Feasibility Study

3/13/24 – On the Road to Building a Path: North Shore Channel Trail Connection Feasibility Study

You’ve likely heard the exciting news – the North Shore Channel Trail Completion Project is no longer just a rumor. Cyclists, runners, strollers, and other trail enthusiasts will be pleased to hear that Wilmette and Evanston are investigating the possibility of connecting the one-and-a-half-mile gap in the North Shore Channel trail.

The Wilmette Park District applied for an Invest in Cook grant in March 2023 and received $40,000 towards a feasibility study to determine if the trails can be connected. The Park District, Village of Wilmette and City of Evanston will also provide resources for the study to surmise if a connection trail from the end of the North Shore Channel Trail (at Green Bay Road and McCormick Boulevard) northeast to the lakefront is possible.

The Cook County Transportation Committee has recommended that the Inter-Governmental Agreement between the Park District, Village of Wilmette and City of Evanston be approved. It is expected to be finalized in the coming weeks.

The study will start soon and finish in November 2024. “This project will help us identify the best places for the trail and different design features based on existing conditions,” explains Parks Planner Alissa Paquette. “We’ll also get a rough estimate of how much the planning, design, engineering and construction fees may cost so we can better prepare for it financially.”

Keep an eye on our website for the launch of the Feasibility Study project page, where you’ll be able to follow the progress of this endeavor!