By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROSCOE — Plans are moving forward to extend the Perryville Path farther north, where it will eventually connect to Porter Park near Swanson and McDonald roads.
The Winnebago County Highway Department has won a $553,500 grant from the Illinois Department of Transportation to extend the path an additional 0.75 miles.
This summer the path is being extended from Anjali Way to Willowbrook Lane, and the grant will pay to build it from Willowbrook to McDonald Road and into Porter Park starting in 2025.
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The first section of the recreation path was built in 1994 with the help of a federal grant, matching dollars from Winnebago County and the support of developer Sunil Puri and attorney Jim Keeling. The 10-foot-wide asphalt path now extends about 15 miles from Machesney Park to Rockford. It also has connections into Rock Cut State Park, Rock Valley College and just south of it is the Cherry Valley Path.
The grant Winnebago County received was part of $127.9 million in Rebuild Illinois funds awarded through ITEP to expand recreational travel options.
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas