Forest Preserve District Advances Major Extensions and Repairs on Plum Creek Greenway Trail in Crete Township

Article Summary: The Forest Preserve District is currently undertaking dual construction projects on the Plum Creek Greenway Trail, initiating a massive 1.5-mile southern extension through Plum Valley Preserve and commencing repairs on an 80-foot bridge damaged by a fallen tree in Goodenow Grove Nature Preserve.

Plum Creek Greenway Trail Projects Key Points:

• A new 1.5-mile trail extension will connect Plum Valley Preserve to Goodenow Grove Nature Preserve in Crete Township, with an estimated completion date of fall 2026.

• The extension features the installation of 800 feet of elevated concrete boardwalks and a 150-foot bridge over Plum Creek, which will become the District’s largest single-span bridge.

• Repairs began in early March on an 80-foot bridge in Goodenow Grove that was heavily damaged by a fallen tree in January 2025. Contractors are installing new footings, supports, and decking.

• Future phases of the trail extension aim to connect the path north into Cook County and south to Beecher via the proposed Vincennes Trail.

• The projects are locally funded by the Forest Preserve District’s Capital Improvement Program and a 2024–2028 grant from the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning.

The Forest Preserve District announced in early March that dual construction projects are currently underway to expand and repair the Plum Creek Greenway Trail, promising significant upgrades for outdoor recreation in Crete Township and the surrounding Will County communities.

The most expansive of the two projects is a new 1.5-mile trail extension that will head south, winding through a hilly section of Plum Valley Preserve. The new multi-use trail will feature a 10-foot-wide path with 3-foot turf shoulders on each side. The extension will consist of a half-mile of crushed limestone, a half-mile of asphalt, and a half-mile street route.

The short street connection will be marked with explicit street signs and pavement directions, leading path users from the newly built trail section to an existing 3.15-mile leg of the Plum Creek Greenway Trail at Goodenow Grove Nature Preserve. The new construction is being added to an existing 1-mile crushed limestone segment that extends south from the Plum Valley Preserve entrance and dog park.

“Upon completion, the project will eliminate a gap in the existing trail system, resulting in a continuous greenway trail connection between Goodenow Grove Nature Preserve and the Plum Valley Preserve – Burville Road access,” said Colleen Novander, the Forest Preserve District’s director of planning and land preservation.

To navigate sensitive ecological areas, contractors are actively installing sections of a precast concrete pedestrian boardwalk to elevate the path. Crews will lay down one 600-foot section and another 200-foot section of boardwalk, utilizing massive concrete components that weigh 4,000 pounds each.

Additionally, concrete abutments are being poured and cured to support a new bridge spanning Plum Creek. Expected to be installed later in April, the 150-foot structure will be the largest single-span bridge in the District.

To minimize environmental impact to existing natural features like wetlands, ravines, and sensitive habitats, the engineering phase dictated that construction remain confined to a designated corridor with a maximum width of 100 feet.

The extension project, which carries an estimated completion date of fall 2026, is funded by the Forest Preserve District’s Capital Improvement Program. Supplemental funding support is provided through the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning’s (CMAP) 2024–2028 Locally Programmed Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP-L).

Looking ahead, District officials noted that future phases of the trail will provide a critical north–south connection, eventually extending the path north into Cook County and south to the Village of Beecher via the proposed Vincennes Trail.

Goodenow Grove Bridge Repairs
While the extension moves forward, a separate set of contractors began repair work in early March on an existing bridge located in the eastern section of Goodenow Grove Nature Preserve, near East Bemes Road.

The 80-foot bridge, which sits just north of the preserve’s well-known “big bridge,” was significantly damaged in January 2025 when a large tree fell on the structure. Following the incident, the District consulted engineers to determine if the bridge required a total replacement or if it could be salvaged. Engineers ultimately concluded that the structure could be repaired.

Originally built in 2011 in tandem with the initial construction of the Plum Creek Greenway Trail and a capital redesign project at Goodenow Grove, the bridge requires extensive rehabilitation. Contractors are currently replacing one of the bridge’s main support structures and pouring new concrete footings. Additionally, all of the bridge’s decking and railings will be entirely replaced.

“It will look like a brand new bridge,” stated Chris Moeller, a Forest Preserve operations department supervisor.

The section of the Plum Creek Greenway Trail affected by the damage has been closed to the public since the tree fell in January. District officials anticipate the repairs will take several weeks to complete, noting that weather and other factors could impact the timeline. The trail segment will officially reopen once the reconstruction is finalized.

—Photo by Glenn P. Knoblock