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Great Western Trail Project

Improvements to the Great Western Trail from Addison Road to Villa Avenue, included the installation of fifty-six pedestrian lights, the widening of the path in several places, path connector between the Great Western Trail and the Prairie Path, signage, landscaping and murals.

Great Western Trail in Villa Park

1. Harvard Ave. Tot Lot – Playground equipment and drinking fountain.>

2. Ardmore CA&E Station, 10 W. Park – Built in 1910 to serve the new Ardmore Subdivision. The structure is one of three original CA&E stations still remaining and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1927. It is currently the home of Villa Park's Chamber of Commerce.

3. Villa Ave. CA&E Station, 220 S. Villa Ave.- This tudor-style station was built in 1929 and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. Now the home of the Villa Park Historical Society Museum and Illinois Prairie Path Visitor Center. Exhibits housed in the Museum include CA&E history, Ovaltine history and memorabilia and the history of Villa Park.

4. Chicago Great Western Railroad Depot, built in 1926, now houses Villa Park's Men Garden Club's greenhouse.

5. Villa Park Village Hall, 20 S. Ardmore Ave., was built in 1929.

 

Illinois Prairie Path:
Follows the former 45 miles of right-of-way of the electric-powered Chicago, Aurora and Elgin (CA&E) Railroad and carried passengers and freight between Chicago and the Fox River Valley from 1902 until 1957. In 1971, the path was designated a recreational trail and became Illinois's first designated recreational trail.

Western Trail:
The track was constructed in 1886-87 and has been converted to a 12- mile linear recreational trail ending in West Chicago.

Related Links:
Bicycling in Villa Park
Dasani Blue Bikes Program


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