RJ Peters Drive Project Completed

On Friday May 30th at 2:00pm along RJ Peters Drive just west of the Indian Mounds entrance the Friends of the Trails celebrated the completion of this section of the Dogwood Trail.  We held a brief ribbon cutting ceremony with members from Gardner Denver, the Quincy Park District, City of Quincy, and Friends of the Trails.

If you have not been on RJ Peters Drive between Gardner Denver Expressway and 8th street recently. you need to stop by and enjoy the new sidewalk/walkway.  The portion of RJ Peters Drive connecting Gardner Expressway to 8th street was previously an unsafe area for pedestrians and cyclists but now is a safer route on the Dogwood Trail due to the construction of a new 1,700 ft. walkway.  The new walkway was made possible by a generous $10,000 donation from Gardner Denver, Inc. and with the coordination efforts of the University of Illinois Extension-Adams/Brown Unit, Friends of the Trails, the City of Quincy, and Quincy Park District who contributed labor and equipment to the project.

The Friends of the Trails in collaboration with the City of Quincy, Adams County Highway Department, and the Quincy Park District have been working towards finding a way to complete this important section of the Dogwood Trail.  In 2005, the Friends of the Trails completed work on Indian Mounds Trail Corridor, connecting it with previous work done by the group at South Park.  In 2006, the Friends of the Trails turned its attention to providing a connection for trail users from Indian Mounds Park to Gardner Expressway.  To develop this link, a section of trail along RJ Peters Drive would need to be created.  This section of the trail now provides a safe route for Gardner Denver employees and other trail users to access Indian Mounds and South Park.

Speaking on Gardner Denver’s involvement in the project, Barry Pennypacker, President and CEO, said, “Gardner Denver is proud to have been a part of this worthwhile endeavor.  With the new sidewalk through Indian Mounds Park, everyone, including our employees, can now safely enjoy a walk through the park.  The safety of our employees is our No. 1 priority at Gardner Denver and this reinforces our commitment to safety.  We are glad to give to the community in this way and hope citizens of Quincy will enjoy the safety, health, and recreational benefits this walkway offers for many years to come.”