Vermilion County Trail Alliance is an umbrella organization that unites like-minded citizens and officials in the mission to connect people to each other and to nature through the responsible use of trails for recreational access, in both urban and rustic settings. If trail networks aren’t built and maintained for this purpose, then public awareness and appreciation of these resources will wane and eventually die, taking with it civic pride, engagement, and valuable social capital.
The concept for VCTA is no less than a decade old, in small part born out of a desire by one of our founding members, Drew Landis, to piece together a hike from US Route 150 (where the KRT Trestle Bridge parking lot is now located), through Kickapoo State Park to Kennekuk County Park, across the Windfall Prairie to Kinney’s Ford, the northernmost reaches of State of Illinois owned land along the Middle Fork river near Potomac . In order to find a route in which he would not trespass, Drew developed what some might call an “unhealthy” obsession with the county GIS map. Drew found the satellite views and tract information to be mesmerizing, and while he was able to piece together a potential route, to this day he still hasn’t hiked it. He still very much hopes to one day. (As small consolation, in the past few years Kickapoo Mountain Bike Club has built Trail 10 in the very same corridor Drew had planned to utilize for his hike all those years ago.)
During this research, Drew noticed many plots of land, sometimes very large, along the rivers and ravines of Vermilion County that sat essentially idle, save for conservation and hunting purposes. He started to link them together mentally, eventually creating a mental database of potential trail centers and trail corridors. At certain points over the years, he reached out to local officials as to the status of idle properties and what might be done on them. While there was always enthused interest, nothing much came of those inquiries and life moved on.
At the same time, work at the mountain bike trails at Kickapoo State Park continued to develop thanks to the efforts of award-winning and dedicated volunteers, the officers and members of Kickapoo Mountain Bike Club (KMBC). Through their hard work and efforts, Trail 1 was built a few years ago and was wildly successful as an easier entry point for new riders. In just the last few years, Trail 10 was added and it has been hugely popular as well. Further expansions are planned, but they continue to be in an at times frustrating state of negotiation with many competing land use interest groups.
Also during this time, the Kickapoo Rail Trail finally came to fruition through the hard work and dedication of many folks over a span of 20 years. Part of that project was re-finishing the old Trestle Bridge over the Middle Fork river near the Vermilion County Fairgrounds, and the construction of a parking lot in the exact spot Drew had planned to begin his Middle Fork hike all those years ago. Needless to say, completion of this segment of trail has energized Vermilion County recreationists like almost nothing has before. Many like minded individuals have started, independently, thinking of other trails and paths that could be built and have begun working toward them.
If there’s one essential ingredient to creating trails and trail systems, it’s people. All the land and financing in the world won’t blaze a trail if there aren’t people championing the project.
In Support of Trails: A Guide to Successful Trail Advocacy, 1993
And of course, the COVID pandemic raged across the globe for the bulk of 2020-2022. In it’s wake, folks are re-examining their relationship with nature and modern life. Many are finding that outdoor recreation, be it hiking, running, biking, fishing, hunting, or something else, was something their lives lacked, and that by engaging again in these activities their lives have become full and enriched. For most, there seems to be no going back on their rekindled love of the outdoors.
This is the fertile soil from which VCTA has sprouted. Many folks independently thinking of expanding trail access of all types, in an environment where demand for trail access has never been higher and shows no signs of slowing. Today, VCTA is a fresh, new group of like-minded trail users and recreationists from all walks of life. We have critical involvement and buy-in from government officials at both the county and City of Danville level, as well as interest and involvement from similar user groups such as KMBC and the Kennekuk Road Runners.
Outdoor recreation opportunities have many known benefits to public health, physical and mental well-being, and social equity. It is VCTA’s vision to advocate for, build, and maintain a robust, interconnected network of pedestrian trail – hiking and biking, on and off road – around and throughout the Danville, IL metro area and into wider Vermilion County. We are eager and willing to speak with anyone who shares that vision, whether you are a landowner who would like to allow us to build liability free, no maintenance required trail on your property, or you’re a trail user who wants to gain more access for your preferred trail use activity. Everyone is welcome on the trail!
VCTA has cast the bold vision to build 100 miles of new public access recreational trail in Vermilion County over the next 10 years.
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