March 1, 2007
ERA selected to complete the Plainfield Park District’s DuPage River Trail Project

PLAINFIELD, Ill. - The Plainfield Park District recently approved Engineering Resource Associates’ (ERA) Phase II engineering agreement to complete the park district’s DuPage River Trail Project. The project, which is anticipated to enhance access and use of the District’s trail system, includes the construction of a ten-foot wide bituminous bike trail of nearly one mile in length located just east of the Illinois Route 59 along the north side of the DuPage River. As part of this effort, two bridge structures will be constructed. One is a 165-foot pre-fabricated structure spanning the DuPage River and the other is a 120-foot structure over the East Norman Drain.

Additional expertise ERA will provide to meet the diverse needs of this project include land acquisition assistance, guidance with federal funding procedures, and close coordination with the concurrent 143 rd Street / Illinois Route 126 roadway realignment project. Because it is anticipated that regulated floodplains, floodways, and U.S. Corp of Engineer designated wetlands will be impacted by the construction, ERA’s broad knowledge in these areas will also serve the project well. The proposed project cost is $1.0 million with construction scheduled for the spring of 2008.

ERA was selected for this work because of its experience designing multi-use trail systems, its large inventory of successfully completed projects for park districts and recreational facilities, its proven ability to manage construction projects, and its expertise regarding floodplain and wetland management and mitigation. ERA project members eagerly look forward to teaming with the Park District’s personnel and the project’s stakeholders to improve the recreational opportunities for Plainfield residents.

The Plainfield Park District has long been a visionary organization with strong leadership and community support. Its persistence to pursue the various and complex funding mechanisms needed to turn vision into reality is a testament to the organization’s desire to fulfill its mission: to promote the development of a comprehensive park system and recreational opportunities that will provide personal enjoyment, contribute to a sense of self-fulfillment, and enhance the quality of life for all of its residents. When completed, the DuPage River Trail Project will certainly go a long way to meeting these goals.

Engineering Resource Associates, Inc. (ERA) is a full-service consulting engineering, environmental science and surveying firm serving Midwestern clients since 1990. With offices in Warrenville, Geneva and Chicago, ERA offers broad experience on a wide variety of projects for public and private sector clients. For more information about ERA, call (630) 393-3060 or visit us online at www.eraconsultants.com.