SE Illinois News

Local law officials will contribute to Southern Illinois University’s Touch Of Nature initiative. which unveiled new bike trails. An opening ceremony was held by the school alongside lawmakers for the three-to-four phase project.

"It was a great morning at Touch of Nature as a ribbon-cutting ceremony unveiled the Touch of Nature Mountain Bike Trails to the community,” State Sen. Dale Fowler (R-Harrisburg) wrote in a Facebook post. “This developing system of trails not only adds to the quality of life to the region, it is already a growing tourism destination for mountain bike riders across the country. Well done Touch of Nature.”

The free trails currently span 10 miles through a single track. The first phase of the project will consist of a terrain park and a modified parking lot. Upon completion, the trails will make up over 30 miles of land, ranging on a scale from easy to difficult for bike rides. Though donations are encouraged to help with the area’s maintenance costs, no payments are required except for a parking fee of $3 per day or $40 per year.

"Lot of work to be done yet, but this is the kickoff to it," says the state senator of the future phases," Fowler said. "Obviously tourism is growing in southern Illinois each and every day, more people are cycling and kayaking and camping, so it's exciting times in southern Illinois."

Fowler rode the trail for himself and affirms there’s no better time for the activity to launch than May, National Biking Month. The establishment suggests potential participants check its social media platforms for weather and trail closure updates. 

"I just applaud SIU and the Touch of Nature staff, this has been seven years in the making, to have this ribbon cutting today, and to be able to get on a trail, on a beautiful day in Southern Illinois," adds Fowler, who spoke at the ceremony on continuing efforts to bring more people to the region.