Menard County Trails & Greenways

Ways to Discovery!

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  • Home
  • About
    • About
    • Newsletters & Annual Reports
    • Contact
  • Our Projects & Activities
    • Volunteer Habitat Restoration Project at Lincoln’s New Salem Historic Site
    • Earth Day Celebration
    • Sangamon River Sweeps
    • Historic Wayside Park
    • More….
  • MCTG Blog
  • Ways to Discovery!
    • Lincoln’s New Salem Historic Site Hiking Trails
    • Historic Wayside Park
    • J.E. Panther Creek State Fish & Wildlife Area
    • Sangamon River
    • Sangamon Valley Trail – Cantrall Access
    • Starhill Forest Arboretum
    • Biking Menard County
  • Join / Renew
  • Volunteer Opportunities
  • Calendar
  • Photo Galleries
  • Video Vignettes
  • Trails & Greenways Merchandise
  • Ways to Discovery Chautauqua Series
  • Announcement,  Events,  Native plants,  Native Seed Sowing,  Presentation

    Sip n’ Sow Seed Sowing Workshop

    December 19, 2023 /

    Sip n’ Sow Seed Sowing Workshop 1st & 3rd Boutique & Wine Bar January 12th from 6:00 to 8:00 1st & 3rd Boutique & Wine Bar has generously donated their event space. Please show your support — come early to shop, get a beverage & maybe a charcuterie board! Event Limited to 30 Registered Participants — Fill Out  Form at Bottom of Page It’s never too soon to think of spring! Join some adult-only fun at the Sip n’ Sow Workshop! Sip a glass of wine and sow some native flower seeds for your summer garden.  Native plants attract pollinators and serve as butterfly host plants, including many species growing…

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    MCTG-Admin

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    MCTG Comments on State Water Plan

    July 1, 2021

    Earth Day 2020–50 Years of Celebrating the Planet

    March 31, 2020

    Battling Invasive Plant Species–Special Presentation

    February 14, 2023
  • Announcement,  Native plants,  Native Seed Sowing,  Nature,  Pollinator Plants

    Plant pollinator habitat at home

    December 8, 2023 /

    Wanting to add more pollinator habitat at home? Look no further: native plant seed packets are available again in Petersburg! You can find displays at the Petersburg Public Library, 1st and 3rd Boutique, the Talisman, and the Crazy Daisy Gift Shop. This year we are offering 13 colorful species collected from the plantings on Petersburg’s square, Historic Wayside Park and our members’ own gardens and prairies. The packets are free, but we welcome donations that support Menard County Trails & Greenways. The displays will be restocked until we run out! Wondering how to choose?  Check out blog posts highlighting the available species: Lanceleaf Coreopsis, Purple Prairie Clover, Golden Alexanders Small…

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    MCTG-Admin

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    August 16, 2020

    Grist Mill on the Sangamon prints available online

    December 1, 2020

    MCTG provides public comment on City of Springfield’s amended Supplemental Water Supply Project

    August 5, 2021
  • Invasive Species,  Native plants,  Nature,  New Salem Habitat Restoration Project

    Scary Invasive Plants in Your Landscape

    October 31, 2023 /

    Scarier than goblins, witches and ghosts are all the invasive plants we have planted in our yards and gardens! This Halloween we bring you a post about the horrors of invasive plants in your landscape. Some of our Menard County Trails & Greenways members have already been hard at work on the restoration efforts at New Salem in recent weeks. With the arrival of cooler temperatures, we’ll be scheduling volunteer work days soon! Be watching our Facebook page or your email if you’re an MCTG member for those dates. If you’d like to contribute to our forest restoration efforts at New Salem, but you can’t make it to our work…

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    MCTG-Admin
  • Events,  Kayak/Canoe,  Water

    2023 Annual Fall Float

    October 9, 2023 /

    It was a beautiful day for a float on the Sangamon River! This past Saturday, Menard County Trails & Greenways (MCTG) hosted its Annual Sangamon River Fall Float from Gudgel Bridge to New Salem. Approximately 30 paddlers launched their canoes and kayaks in the afternoon and wound their way down five miles of river, taking in blue skies, crisp air, the beginnings of changing leaves, and even a bald eagle! The river was a little low, but we managed to navigate around those really low spots. Immediately following the paddle, everyone enjoyed a toasty campfire complete with hotdogs and s’mores. The float would not have been possible without the help…

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    MCTG-Admin

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    Battling Invasive Plant Species–Special Presentation

    February 14, 2023

    Sip n’ Sow Seed Sowing Workshop

    December 19, 2023

    Earth Day!

    April 21, 2020
  • Community Service,  Events,  Kayak/Canoe,  River Sweep,  Volunteering

    Sangamon River Cleanup

    September 10, 2022 /

    On Friday, September 9, a small group of MCTG members spent a few hours cleaning up the Sangamon River near Hurie Park. On and around a sandbar located just below the Petersburg dam, the group hauled away about 10 bags of garbage and 20 tires from the river, otherwise known as “aquatic trash.” This trash can be harmful to fish and other wildlife that live in and around the river, as well as the humans who enjoy the river, plus it’s just ugly! Big thank you to the City of Petersburg for hauling away the garbage!

    Read More
    MCTG-Admin

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    Trash Taskforce: Good Clean Fun

    March 28, 2022
  • Advocacy,  Announcement,  Kayak/Canoe,  Water

    MCTG provides public comment on City of Springfield’s amended Supplemental Water Supply Project

    August 5, 2021 /

    On July 1, 2021 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued a Public Notice addressing the City of Springfield’s amended Supplemental Water Supply Project. MCTG submitted the following public comment letter. The project’s initial proposal was to build Hunter Lake Reservoir to the southeast of Springfield Lake as an auxiliary water supply. Springfield subsequently requested an additional Purpose & Need of the project to include Aquatic Recreation. Per National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) requirements a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) is being prepared to address the addition of Purpose and Need of Aquatic Resources. Under NEPA, the SEIS must evaluate all appropriate and reasonable alternatives, including, among other things, “Use of…

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    MCTG-Admin
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Menard County Trails and Greenways
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Menard County Trails and Greenways

Menard County Trails and Greenways

Ways to Discovery! Enriched lives through a network of land and water trails that connect people to natural and cultural resources and encourages exploration and conservation.

Menard County Trails and Greenways

3 weeks ago

Menard County Trails and Greenways
Thank you Springfield Area Arts Council for helping us bring our Ways to Discovery Chautauqua series to life! Join us in August for the next event at Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site!It's #RegionalArtsPartnerWednesday eve! 🥳🎨Grantee Spotlight: Menard County Trails & GreenwaysEstablished in 1999, the volunteer-run non-profit Menard County Trails & Greenways preserves natural and cultural resources through nature-connective exploration and conservation, combining trail and greenway maintenance and enjoyment with arts access for rural Central Illinois communities. Continuing a project begun in 2024, the non-profit has organized a four-part Chautauqua inspired event series for 2025, titled Ways to Discovery, that explores "the many paths through which we understand and navigate the world". This event series takes place on first Sundays of August through October at the Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site visitor center auditorium in Petersburg from 1-3pm, and combines educational lectures with performances by Illinois-based artists. 🎭 Springfield Area Arts Council is proud to support Menard County Trails & through the Regional Arts Partner re-granting program, made possible in part by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council. Learn more about the Regional Arts Partner Grant at springfieldartsco.org/grants#SpringfieldArts #OurCreativeCapital#artsmatter #CommunityDriven #SpringfieldIL #CommunityArts #SupportLocalArts #CreativityForAll #MenardCountyTrailsandGreenways #MenardCoIL #ArtsMidwest #RuralArts #FolkArt #Chautauqua ... See MoreSee Less

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Menard County Trails and Greenways

3 weeks ago

Menard County Trails and Greenways
🌼Join a fun and friendly crew tomorrow morning for a pop-up volunteer day in the pollinator gardens on Petersburg's downtown square!We’ll be weeding, trimming, and editing the gardens. Learn about native plants and pollinator-friendly gardening from experienced gardeners. Take home plants we thin out—free for your own garden!Bring your favorite gardening tools (and gloves if you have them). Drop in anytime between 9:00 AM and 11:00 AMNo experience needed—just come ready to dig in and enjoy the beauty of community and nature! 💚🦋 ... See MoreSee Less

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Menard County Trails and Greenways

4 weeks ago

Menard County Trails and Greenways
About 45 people attended the June Ways to Discovery Chautauqua today! Mark your calendars now for the August 3rd Chautauqua! ... See MoreSee Less

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Menard County Trails and Greenways

4 weeks ago

Menard County Trails and Greenways
Tomorrow, June 1st, 1 PM to 3 PM, at the Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site Visitors Center auditorium, Dr. Michael Wiant will present a program titled Exploring Menard County Trails: Ancient, Historical, Present and Futuristic. Following the presentation, fan favorite, Ben Bedford, will delight the audience with his original tunes.Come early and grab a bite to eat at Railsplitter Gifts and Eatery before the program!! They have a great menu as well as hand-dipped ice cream!! ... See MoreSee Less

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