Giant city - post OAK trail rehabilitation

The Illinois Department of Transportation was awarded $250,000 under the Recreational Trails Program (CFDA 20.219) on March 23, 2023 by the Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration. The funding will support completion of Phase 3 of the Giant City - Post Oak Trail Rehabilitation project at Giant City State Park in Illinois. Phase 3 involves replacing three remaining wood deck structures and one viewing deck along the approximately one-third mile accessible hiking trail. The project will also renovate the existing parking area with new pavement to improve accessibility and remove trip hazards. Upon completion, the entire trail will meet Illinois accessibility standards and provide one of the few ADA-compliant hiking trails in Southern Illinois. The Recreational Trails Program provides funding to states to develop and maintain recreational trails and trail-related facilities for both motorized and non-motorized recreational uses.

Project description

Giant city -the post OAK hiking trail at giant city state park was originally developed around 1980 and was intended to be an accessible hiking trail. The trail is about 1/3 mile in length and traverses the top of a large sandstone bluff with commanding views of an adjoining valley. In 2019 and 2021, idnr undertook repairs to replace the trail surface with a concrete sidewalk 5 FT. Wide. There are five (5) small wood decks on the trail that cross exposed bedrock and one (1) wood viewing deck that date from the original construction that need replaced. In 2021, two (2) of the wood decks were replaced with new decks. That leaves remaining three (3) decks and one (1) viewing deck to be replaced. In addition, the existing parking area is on old sandstone pavers that are rough and not compliant with ADA standards. The parking needs to be renovated with new pavement to improve accessibility and remove a trip hazards. Upon completion of PH. 3, the entire trail will meet illinois accessibility standards and be one of the few ADA hiking trails in all of southern illinois.