Constitution Trail
The Constitution Trail is a 24+ mile hard surfaced trail running through the Twin Cities that has been developed for walking, hiking, jogging, biking and cross country skiing, providing the community with another leisure use facility for the entire family. Trash receptacles, picnic tables, shelters, port-a-pots, and benches are available at various locations along the trail. The trail is not cleared of snow/ice.
This
multi-use trail was made possible by a joint venture with the
Town of Normal and the City of Bloomington. In May, 1986, at a
joint Council meeting, permission was received to proceed with
land acquisition. This was especially timely since the Illinois
Central Gulf Railroad was looking to sell their right-of-way.
This provided a wonderful base and direction for the trail to
take. The north-south segment of the trail follows the abandoned
Illinois Central Gulf (ICG) railroad from 1850 North through
Uptown Normal to just south of Oakland Ave., in Bloomington. The
east-west segment begins just south of Normal Parks and
Recreation Annex and continues east to the Towanda Barnes Road
in Bloomington.
The
Trail was officially dedicated and named "Constitution Trail" in
celebration of the 200th birthday of the United States
Constitution on September 17, 1987; the Trail grand opening was
May 6, 1989.
Constitution
Trail was expanded in 1997. The Town of Normal opened
approximately 3.5 miles of railroad right-of-way from Uptown
Normal to Kerrick Road. Normal was awarded a grant through the
Illinois Department of Natural Resources - Bike Path Program in
the amount of $200,000 to fund development of the trail
northward. The new portion of the trail was developed two feet
wider than the existing trail to accommodate increasing trail
usage.
The
Constitution Trail underwent another expansion of approximately
3.3 miles from Normal City Hall to Heartland Community College
in 2007. The new portion of the trail leaves City Hall westbound
on Phoenix Ave., and after construction to the Uptown
infrastructure is complete, will connect to S. School St. and
wind through the ISU quadrangle and campus to Gregory Street,
then proceeds north on Adelaide, between the ISU golf course and
Fairview Park to Raab Rd., eventually ending at Heartland
Community College.
See
the map here [PDF]. The most recent expansion took place
during the fall of 2008, where a 1.6 mile trail was completed,
connecting Towanda Ave at Northtown Road to Pipeline Road.
Normal once again was awarded a $200,000 grant through the
Illinois Department of Natural Resources – Bike Path Program for
both of these projects
The Friends of the Constitution Trail is a group which works for expansion and beautification of the trail. For more information and a membership form, visit www.constitutiontrail.org.
The Constitution Trail Nature Guide [PDF] - Take a look at the plants and animals found along the Constitution Trail in Bloomington-Normal.
Trail Rules and Regulations
- Open daily from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset.
- All forms of motorized vehicles are prohibited (except for emergency and maintenance).
- Obey all warning and regulation signs.
- Remember to obey all pedestrian laws when crossing intersections along the trail.
- All other park rules apply.
Trail Use Safety Guidelines
- Foot traffic keep right - Bikers use trail center.
- Be courteous at all times; respect other users, regardless of their mode, speed or skill level.
- Enter and exit trail at access points only.
- Give audible warning signal when passing, by voice, bell or horn.
- Have you outgrown the trail? If your speed or style endangers others, check for alternative routes better suited to your needs. The trail is designed for recreational usage.
- Keep the trail clean. Use the trash receptacles.
- Clean up after your pets. Failure to do so may create regulations to restrict animals.
- Do not wear earphones or anything that distracts from awareness of your environment.
- Please respect the neighbors along the trail, without their cooperation this trail may not exist.
Trail Pamphlets available at the Parks and Recreation offices, Normal City Hall, Normal Public Library and Children's Discovery Museum.