ABOVE: TRAIL OF THE GRAND PRAIRIE BOARD MEMBER PATRICK HALLORAN WELCOMES AUDIENCE TO MONDAY MEETING AT MAD GOAT SOUTH CONCERNING KICKAPOO RAIL TRAIL EXTENSION
A Monday (Sept 21) afternoon meeting arranged by the City of Danville at Mad Goat South brought a full back meeting room of people listening to Trail of the Grand Prairie Board Members talking about getting the Kickapoo Rail Trail extended further east to Danville’s Ellsworth Park. Currently, you have the section that comes out of Urbana, and heads all the way to the quarter-mile renovated railroad trestle bridge over the Middle Fork of the Vermilion River. But east of that, everything ends at the access road to the Vermilion County Fairgrounds coming from Route 150, west of the I-74 interchange.
Trail of the Grand Prairie Board member Doug Staske told CIMG just before the meeting got started that CSX still owns most of the old rail line that continues east of the trestle bridge. And yes, they are interested in getting something special done with it, such as the trail extension.
AUDIO: The CSX is cooperative. And they’re desirous of abandoning the rail line, and then selling that section. So, we’ve got a willing partner.
(1st Picture) Audience listens to presentation on Kickapoo Rail Trail extension. (2nd Picture) Aldermen Rick Strebing and Sherry Pickering listen in. (3rd Picture) The renovated railroad trestle bridge over the Middle Fork of the Vermilion River, where the Kickapoo Rail Trail currently ends.
Now it’s a matter of working out the money part. It was explained at the meeting that the City of Danville wants to attack that by obtaining an Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program Grant. Staske also pointed out that even though no trains have been on this part of CSX line in quite some time, CSX has not technically abandoned it. And it some areas, the old rails are still visible.
AUDIO: But once they decide that they will follow the abandonment process, that will allow on organization like ours to facilitate owning it in a “rail banking sense.” That’s the way the current KRT is owned, as a “rail banked corridor.”
Staske says the current Kickapoo Rail Trail portion coming from Urbana to the trestle said goodbye to trains at the absolute least a decade and a half ago.
AUDIO: The KRT that exists now was acquired about 2012…..so, rail traffic has not been on the track for at least that 15 years.
Attendees at Monday’s meeting were asked for their support for this acquisition effort by e-mailing a letter of support for the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program Grant to the City of Danville Public Works Office at PWOffice@cityofdanville.org.
A template of a sample letter of support can be found here:
Sample Letter of Support for City of Danville’s Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program Grant Application
[DATE]
21 September, 2026
Re: Kickapoo Rail Trail, Danville Extension (3.5 mile corridor acquisition from Vermilion County Fairgrounds to Ellsworth Park)
Dear Grant Review Committee,
[NAME] [YOUR CAPACITY]
My name is Patrick Halloran, and I am writing in my capacity as a board member of Trails of the Grand Prairie/Concerned Citizen/Lover of the Outdoors/Father to express my full support of the City of Danville’s grant application to extend the Kickapoo Rail Trail from it’s current terminus at the Vermilion County Fairgrounds to Ellsworth Park in the City of Danville.
[WHY IS THIS PROJECT IMPORTANT?]
This project is the culmination of many years of dedicated work, by agencies, governments, organizations, and many passionate citizens. Extending the Kickapoo Rail Trail into Danville would allow a metropolitan area of near 30,000 people critical access to biking infrastructure that they would not otherwise have access to. Connecting the KRT to Danville will strengthen not only the community itself, but also the trail towns of Champaign, Urbana, St. Joe, Ogden, Muncie, Fithian, and Oakwood, and would greatly improve a sense of connection in east central Illinois.
[WHAT WILL IT BRING TO THE AREA]
Public Safety
Quality of Life
Recreation Capability
Health and Wellness
Economic Development
[CONCLUSION]
I respectfully urge the grant review committee to give favorable consideration to this application and provide the funding necessary to complete this important project. The investment will benefit Danville, Vermilion, County, and the visitors who use this trail for years to come.
Thank you for your consideration and for your commitment to supporting transportation, recreation, public safety, economic development, and quality of life in Illinois communities.
Respectfully, Thoughtfully, With Appreciation, Regards,
[YOUR NAME]
