This project has provided a lasting tribute to Lincoln’s ties with Quincy, and it could not have been completed without the support of our community and their commitment to enhancing historic Quincy.

The Lincoln Heritage Trail is part of a statewide ’Looking for Lincoln’ heritage initiative.  Quincy is one of twenty communities participating in this historic story trail.  Other communities include Lincoln, Alton, Pittsfield, Springfield, and more.  For more information about Quincy and other communities, be sure to check out www.lookingforlincoln.com. 

Thank you again to our sponsors!  Quincy Exchange Club www.quincyexchangeclub.com, Awerkamp Machine Company www.awerkamp.com, and Signs in Time .

Where: Bob Mays Park 
When: August 20, 2011

This annual poker run is a great way to stay active and experience the city of Quincy’s trailways.  The cycling portion of the event will have four different distances for cyclists.  We will have 5, 15, 36, and 67-mile routes for participants to choose from.  The 67-mile participants will start between 6:15-7:00am.  The 36-mile participants will take off between 8-8:30am.  The 15-mile riders will take off between 10-10:30am and the 5-mile participants will leave between 10:30-11:00am.  All riders participating are required to start their designated route during the designated time frame and must wear a helmet.

Costs for the event are $18 for adults and children over 14 and $8 for children under 14.  You must have your registration in before August 10, 2011.

If registering after August 10, 2011 cost of the event is $25 for adults and $10 for children under 14.

The first 150 participants registered will receive a complimentary T-shirt.  The Friends of the Trails will be awarding prizes for the best three hands for cyclists. There will be a trivia portion added to the event this year to test your knowledge on Friends of the Trails and the rules of the road.   After each participant finishes their portion of the event there will be snacks for all participants to enjoy.  So come out and join friends or family for a relaxing morning to explore Quincy.  Grab your bikes and join us in Bob Mays Park for a day of fun and exercise.

Click here to go to the University of Illinois Extension Adams/Brown website to register online!  Registration forms are available at Madison Davis Bicycle Shop, Univeristy of Illinois Extension Office, Planning & Development, and YMCA.

Thank you to the following sponsors Diamond Construction Company; Mid-West Abstract;  Madison-Davis Bicycles; City of Quincy; Quincy Area Convention and Visitors Bureau; Quincy Park District;  Stratton Chiropractic; Quincy Medical Group Max; Images Offset Printing; the Quincy Bicycle Club; Anderson Graphics; Mays, Walden, and Anastas; State Street Bank; Western Catholic Union; Great River Economic Development Foundation; Pepsi; and University of Illinois Extension Adams/Brown Unit.

The Friends of the Trails board conducted nominations for new officers and board members.  Cullan Duke accepted the position of president, replacing Greg Davis.  Holly Cain was replaced as vice president by Terry Anastas.  Chuck Bevelheimer was re-elected as secretary.  Jennifer Sousa replaced Beth Conte as treasurer. 

Friends of the Trails also welcomed Carrie Kimber, Community Wellness Coordinator for Quincy Medical Group, as a new board member. 

A big thanks goes out to the former officers and members who have diligently served their organization, and best of luck to our new officers and members!

Cost for the event are $18 for singles, $12 for children under 14, and $50 for families or groups of 3 to 5.  You must have your registration in before August 10, 2010.

If registering on the day of the event or after August 10, 2010 cost of the event is $20 for singles, $15 for children under 14, and $60 for families or groups of 3-5.

The first 150 participants registered will receive a complimentary T-shirt.  The Friends of the Trails will be awarding prizes for the best three hands for cyclists. There will be a trivia portion added to the event this year to test your knowledge on Friends of the Trails and the rules of the road.   After each participant finishes their portion of the event there will be snacks for all participants to enjoy.  So come out and join friends or family for a relaxing morning to explore Quincy.  Grab your bikes and join us in Bob Mays Park for a day of fun and exercise.

Registration forms are available at Madison Davis Bicycle Shop, Univeristy of Illinois Extension Office, Planning & Development, and YMCA.

Thank you to the following sponsors Diamond Construction Company; Mid-West Abstract;  Madison-Davis Bicycles; City of Quincy; Quincy Area Convention and Visitors Bureau; Quincy Park District;  Stratton Chiropractic; Quincy Medical Group Max; Images Offset Printing; the Quincy Bicycle Club; Anderson Graphics; Mays, Walden, and Anastas; State Street Bank; Western Catholic Union; Great River Economic Development Foundation; Pepsi; and University of Illinois Extension Adams/Brown Unit.

Images Offset Printing, which was established in November of 1987, has donated several services to the Friends of the Trail in connection with the Annual Bicycle Fun’d Ride.  Deb Esneault, owner of Images Offset Printing and avid cyclist, has helped print the poker cards, registration forms, flyers, and maps for the event each year.  The company donates the events T-shirts for the volunteers and riders, and Deb and her husband Mark volunteer their personal services each year to be the SAG drivers on the cycling routes.  They drive around their personal vehicles and pick up any riders who may have mechanical difficulties with their bikes or provide other services necessary to help the cyclists. Deb and Mark Esneault had this to say when asked why they help, “Images is dedicated to the promotion of bikeways for fitness and for family activities.  Through community support, we hope other businesses in the area will recognize the benefits of bikeways, as have those of other larger communities.”   Images Offset Printing has donated over $3,000 worth of services to the Friends of the Trails Annual Bike Ride.

Both of these community businesses make the Friends of the Trails Annual Bicycle Fun’d Ride a reality and have contributed to its amazing success over the past four years.  This has allowed Friends of the Trails to be able to raise more money from the event in order to help continue to build the trail way system.  We cannot express our gratitude enough for these valuable community members.

The majority of the racks have been placed along Maine Street in the downtown area between 3rd and 12th Street. The bicycle racks each hold two bicycles and are located on city-right-a-way.

If you have not had a chance to use the new bicycle racks, please take the time to ride along Maine Street and see the improvements that have beautified the downtown area and visit the local area businesses.

The bicycle racks are displayed in the picture to the right. They are about 35 inches tall.   There is a portable rack at the Quincy Art Center and at City Hall that are available. We also just collaborated with Hy-Vee on Harrison to place two bicycle racks at their location.

If you are a business within the Quincy area and would like a bicycle rack at your location please feel free to give Jennifer Sousa a call at 217-228-4514 or e-mail her atjearnold@quincyil.gov .

Friends of the Trails does have a limited number of racks left and would be happy to see if the rack can be secured in your location.

Bicycle Rack Locations

The City of Quincy also submitted two grants for the application cycle of 2008 for funding to address biking and walking problems at St. Dominic’s School and Baldwin Intermediate School. This summer we found out that both of our grant requests had been granted. This is a huge success since we are the only Illinois community outside of Chicago to receive this type of financial support. We received $250,000 for improvements by Baldwin School. This encompasses changing the four lane road into a two lane road with a center turning lane from 30th-36th Street on Maine. It will also put in sidewalks where they are currently not present and insert a full intersection at 33rd. This intersection will allow the schools to close two of the other entrances/exits present.

Cost for the event are $18 for singles, $12 for children under 14, and $50 for families or groups of 3 to 5.  You must have your registration in before August 10, 2009.

If registering on the day of the event or after August 10, 2009 cost of the event is $20 for singles, $15 for children under 14, and $60 for families or groups of 3-5.

All walkers will be departing between 10:30-11am.  There will be no late starts. The first 200 participants registered will receive a complimentary T-shirt.  The Friends of the Trails will be awarding prizes for the best three hands for the walkers and cyclists.  After each participant finishes their portion of the event we will be hosting a spaghetti lunch for all participants to enjoy.  So come out and join friends or family for a relaxing morning to explore Quincy.  Grab your bikes and walking shoes and join us in Wavering Park for a day of fun and exercise.

Registration forms are available at Madison Davis Bicycle Shop, Univeristy of Illinois Extesnion Office, Planning & Development, and YMCA.

To register on-line go to https://webs.extension.uiuc.edu/registration/?RegistrationID=3149

Thank you to the following sponsors Diamond Construction Company; Mid-West Abstract;  Madison-Davis Bicycles; City of Quincy; Quincy Area Convention and Visitors Bureau; Quincy Park District;  Images Offset Printing; the Quincy Bicycle Club; Anderson Graphics; First Choice Physical Therapy;  Great River Economic Development  Foundation; Mays, Walden, and Anastas; State Street Bank; Western Catholic Union; University of Illinois Extension Adams/Brown Unit; and Pepsi.

The Quincy Park District has submitted a grant to the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program to help with the cost of the next phase that will go from 5th-12th Street, but at this time has not heard back from the program. The first phase was a huge accomplishment, but there is still a long way to go. The first section of trail way has two 80 foot long bridges installed to cross the creek and currently has two kiosk’s: one located on the west side of 12th Street; and the other located at Bob Mays Park. The first phase of the trail began construction in the Fall of 2008.

The City of Quincy and the Quincy Park District have worked together since 1994 to obtain land titles and conservation easements along Cedar Creek, primarily in the existing floodplain. This initiative helped spark the development of the Quincy Greenways and Trails Plan that was developed in 1998.

Cedar Creek Trail was suggested in the Quincy Greenways and Trails plan to run along Cedar Creek from Bonansigna Drive to the intersection of 36th Street and Cedar Creek. Since this concept was suggested in 1998 the plan has had to take some alternative routes due to development issues. We hope the general public is enjoying Quincy’s first off road multi-use trail and that everyone will see the benefit of this type of trail. Friends of the Trails looks forward to helping with the completion of the Cedar Creek Trail.