Lincoln Highway Bike Ride
Menard County Court House 102 S 7th St, Petersburg, IL, United StatesRide your bike where Abe Lincoln rode his horse! Meet at the Menard County Courthouse in Petersburg for a 29-mile ride on the Lincoln Highway and rural roads with stops at four historic sites. After a short rest stop at the Trading Post in Oakford we’ll head back to Petersburg for refreshments at Hand of Fate Brewing Co. This is a joint venture with the Springfield Bicycle Club. Here's a cool Trails & Greenways blog about the route: https://menardcountytrailsandgreenways.org/cat.../bicycling/. The average speed will be around 12-14 mph, but the group will determine the pace. https://ridewithgps.com/routes/36193811
Concord Cemetery Family Ride (EZ Ride)
Menard County Court House 102 S 7th St, Petersburg, IL, United StatesThis casual 9-mile ride to Concord Cemetery will end with refreshments at Hand of Fate Brewing Co. This is a joint venture with the Springfield Bicycle Club. The average speed will be around 9-10 mph, but the group will determine the pace. Riders of all ages and abilities are welcome! Don't forget your helmets and water. Tail lights are strongly encouraged. https://ridewithgps.com/routes/36193876
Adopt-a-Highway Clean Up
Wagon Wheel New Salem State Historic Site 39.975767, -89.841640, Petersburg, IL, United StatesJoin us on Saturday, June 12, at 9:00 AM for our Adopt-a-Highway Cleanup. With a full crew it should only take about an hour. Meet at the main entrance to New Salem off Rte. 97 at 9:00 AM to take care of our 2-mile IDOT Adopt-A-Highway segment that runs from the south edge of New Salem to the south end of Petersburg. Trash bags and safety vests supplied (if you have one our safety vests please bring it). Please wear gloves, long pants, closed-toed shoes or boots. Please follow current CDC guidelines for Covid.
Annual Meeting & Member Appreciation Party
Hand of Fate Brewery 107 E Douglas St, Petersburg, IllinoisEnjoy an evening with longtime friends and new friends to reminisce, swap stories, plan future adventures..... The evening will include a short slide presentation of past and future projects, new board member election and socializing. Everyone Welcome! Bring a friend! Food provided -- Cash bar Chances to win door prizes!! For planning purposes, please RSVP no later than July 23 by 4:00PM to Libby at lshawgo@gmail.com Download the flyer to share.
Adopt-a-Highway Clean Up
Wagon Wheel New Salem State Historic Site 39.975767, -89.841640, Petersburg, IL, United StatesJoin us on Saturday, September 11, at 9:00 AM for our Adopt-a-Highway Cleanup. With a full crew it should only take about an hour. Meet at the main entrance to New Salem off Rte. 97 at 9:00 AM to take care of our 2-mile IDOT Adopt-A-Highway segment that runs from the south edge of New Salem to the south end of Petersburg. Trash bags and safety vests supplied (if you have one our safety vests please bring it). Please wear gloves, long pants, closed-toed shoes or boots. Please follow current CDC guidelines for Covid.
Board of Directors Meeting
TBDThe next Menard County Trails & Board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 13 at 7:00 PM. Physical location or Zoom TBD. All members are welcome to attend. Email us for more information.
Petersburg Harvestfest
Petersburg PetersburgCome see us at the 2021 Petersburg Harvesfest on the Square in Petersburg. We'll have a dam simulator demo set up, as well as a display of kayaks and canoes to view. More details to come....check back!!
Wayside Park Celebration
Historic Wayside Park W5V3+XP Lake Petersburg, Illinois, Petersburg, IllinoisMenard County Trails & Greenways will host an event on Tuesday, October 12, 2021 at 5:30 at the park (Rts. 97 and 123, south of Petersburg) to celebrate and acknowledge community contributions to Wayside Park. Located in southern Menard County at the intersection of Illinois Routes 97 and 123 (Gudgel Ave) Wayside Park was developed in 2006 by Menard County Trails & Greenways through the cooperation and assistance of the Illinois Department of Transportation and contributions of supporters. Wayside, a 2+ acre IDOT right-of-way, includes a huge red hawthorn tree from an early roadside beautification project, a stone council ring, and a pollinator waystation planting around the council ring. The site provides visitors a historic, land, and water resource overview of the area through interpretive signs integrated with the council ring. The event will be a celebration of the: Wayside Park partners--IDOT, Trees Forever and Menard Electric Coop/CoBank New site signs IDOT has placed on the corner of Rts 97 and Rt 123; Historic red hawthorn that Trails & Greenways saved after it was severely damaged in a windstorm a couple of years ago; Rehabbed pollinator waystation made possible through a generous donation by Menard Electric Coop and CoBank; and Dedicated volunteer team that maintains the park (mowing, spraying, mulching, weeding, watering.....) throughout the growing season. Speakers: Kent Massie, board director, MCTG -- History of Wayside Park Guy Sternberg, Wayside Park committee chair, MCTG Debbie Flugel, Field Coordinator & Program Manager, Trees Forever Trish Michels, Dir. of Member Services, Menard Electric Coop
CANCELLED — MCTG Sangamon River Fall Float
The river level is too high to safely hold the float! Sorry for any inconvenience cancellation has caused. Full refunds are being processed. Join Menard County Trails & Greenways on October 16, 2021 as we paddle 5 beautiful miles of the Sangamon River from the Gudgel Bridge to the New Salem riverside picnic area/boat ramp. Explore on your own or take part in a guided float to learn about the geology, history and nature of the Sangamon River in Menard County. Immediately following the float everyone is invited to socialize around a cozy campfire for a weenie roast (provided with registration). This stretch of the river has an exceptional natural history story to tell. Each participant who chooses to partake in the guided tour will receive a points-of-interest location map and corresponding handout with a detailed description of each stop. Experts will be floating along with the group to answer questions. All participants must pre-register! Registration ends October 10th! Rain Date - October 17, 2021
Postponed // Trash Taskforce: Good Clean Fun
Hurie Park 2564+VR Petersburg, Illinois, Petersburg, IL, United StatesRain is expected in the morning. The clean up event will take place on April 9th or 10th. We'll update the calendar as soon as the date is decided upon. Stay tuned.....! Join the Menard County Trails and Greenways (MCTG) and Petersburg Athletic Association’s (PAA) Trash Taskforce as we clean up litter around Petersburg! Read more...
Good Clean Fun Take 2
Hurie Park 2564+VR Petersburg, Illinois, Petersburg, IL, United StatesJoin the Menard County Trails and Greenways (MCTG) and Petersburg Athletic Association’s (PAA) Trash Task Force as we clean up litter around Petersburg! Due to rain last weekend, our clean-up is rescheduled to this Sunday, April 10, from 1 pm - 3:30 pm. We will pick up litter at several parks and spaces around town. We need your help! Meet at Hurie Park (just east of County Market) to register and pick up supplies. We will be clearing out litter from the parks and surrounding vacant lots. Whether you have 30 minutes or a full hour, every little bit counts! To thank you for helping to keep our community clean, and on a first-come, first-serve basis, we will give away a free reusable tote bag to each participating family and a free DQ coupon to every participant (while supplies last). With Earth Day approaching on April 22, we encourage everyone to take some time this month to clean up around your neighborhood. Earth Day was established in 1970 and is an annual, worldwide event to raise awareness about issues affecting our land, air, and water. Whether you join us on April 10 or clean up litter on your own, we have some general rules of thumb to share with you: Be safe! Take precautions, including wearing sturdy gloves and being careful on riverbanks or near roads. Adults should handle dangerous items and supervise children closely. Properly dispose of all litter. During the clean-up on April 10, litter collected can be dropped at dumpsters at Hurie Park or the girls ball diamond. If you clean up around your neighborhood, please dispose of the litter with your household trash. Share the good news by posting a picture of your work or simply talking with friends and family about your efforts. You may inspire others! It takes all of us to keep our community clean
Adopt-a-Highway Clean Up
The first day of summer is getting close and it is time that our Adopt-a-Highway route could use some TLC. We are planning a cleanup this coming Saturday and could use all the help we can get. Please join us Saturday, June 18, at 9:00 AM. With a full crew it should only take about an hour. Meet at the main entrance to New Salem off Rte. 97 at 9:00 AM to take care of our 2-mile IDOT Adopt-A-Highway segment that runs from the south edge of New Salem to the south end of Petersburg. Trash bags and safety vests supplied (if you have one our safety vests please bring it). Please wear gloves, long pants, closed-toed shoes or boots. See you there!!
MCTG 2022 Sangamon River Fall Float
Join Menard County Trails & Greenways on October 15, 2022 as we paddle 5 beautiful miles of the Sangamon River from Gudgel Bridge to the New Salem riverside picnic area/boat ramp. Explore on your own or take part in a guided float to learn about the geology, history and nature of the Sangamon River in Menard County. Immediately following the float everyone is invited to socialize around a cozy campfire for a weenie roast (provided with registration). This stretch of the river has an exceptional natural history story to tell. Experts will be floating along with the group to answer questions about the geology, geography, fish, birds and other wildlife. All participants must pre-register! Registration ends October 8th! Menard County Trails & Greenways is a proud affiliate of the American Canoe Association. ACA was founded in 1880 and is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that serves the broader paddling public by providing educational programs, supporting stewardship initiatives that affect paddlers, and offering competition opportunities to athletes of all abilities.
Historic Wayside Park Fall Work Day
Historic Wayside Park W5V3+XP Lake Petersburg, Illinois, Petersburg, IllinoisVolunteers needed to help with the annual fall work day at Historic Wayside Park. Minor tree trimming, mulching, etc. Wear long pants, sturdy work boots/shoes and gloves.
Adopt-a-Highway Cleanup
Main Entrance to New Salem X5G5+88, Lake Petersburg, IL, United StatesPlan now to join us for the Adopt-a-Highway cleanup on Saturday, November 12 at 9:00 AM. With a full crew it should only take about an hour. Meet at the main entrance to New Salem off Rte. 97 at 9:00 AM to take care of our 2-mile IDOT Adopt-A-Highway segment that runs from the south edge of New Salem to the south end of Petersburg. Trash bags and safety vests supplied (if you have one our safety vests please bring it). Please wear gloves, long pants, closed-toed shoes or boots. See you there!!
Sip n’ Sow Workshop
1st & 3rd Boutique & Wine Bar 7th Street, Petersburg, IL, United StatesJoin 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 on the square in Petersburg. See details HERE.
Battling Invasive Plant Species: why it’s important and what you can do!
Broadgauge Ballroom 101 North 7th Street, Petersburg, IL, United StatesAre you concerned with honeysuckle and other invasive plant species that have invaded the understory of your woodland or your yard? Would you like to know more about invasive species control? Have you noticed a group of volunteers clearing honeysuckle on Cardinal Ridge at New Salem and wondered what’s going on? If you answered yes to any of the above, then please plan now to attend a special presentation by experts on invasive species and forest management on February 22 at 7:00 PM at Broadgauge, 110 North 7th Street in Petersburg. Chris Evans, Illinois Extension Forester, co-chair of the terrestrial plants committee of the Illinois Invasive Species Council and Secretary of the Midwest Invasive Plant Network, specializes in forest health, invasive species, and restoration/management practices for hardwood forests. Chris will provide an overview of invasive species, describe how they threaten native species and natural ecosystems, review several common invasive species found in Illinois, and discuss what landowners and the public can do to help out. Ray Geroff, Illinois Department of Natural Resources Heritage Biologist serving west-central and western Illinois counties, specializes in natural area management, endangered and threatened species monitoring and management, prescribed burning and invertebrate conservation. Ray will provide information about the New Salem Habitat Restoration Project implementation and associated management techniques (mechanical, chemical, and prescribed fire) and how each is needed to accomplish the project's overall goals. He will also provide information on other related conservation initiatives and partnerships in the area. A variety of non-native invasive plants—bush honeysuckle, garlic mustard, and multiflora rose, for example—have significant environmental and economic consequences. Invasive species are harming the native plants and animals we care about conserving, making forests and prairies less diverse and threatening wildlife. Climate change also creates opportunities for invasive species to seek new habitats. A dense stand of honeysuckle limits sunlight from reaching a forest floor, stunting the growth of native species, including tree regeneration. Over time, plant community loss affects other wildlife, including birds and mammals. In brief, left unchecked, invasive species will profoundly change native ecosystems. Everyone is welcome to attend this free presentation taking place in the stunning Broadgauge ballroom. Please support Broadgauge by purchasing a beverage at the bar beforehand to carry upstairs. Or even better–come early for supper! (Reservations recommended)
Adopt-a-Highway Cleanup
Join us for the Adopt-a-Highway cleanup on Saturday, March 11 at 9:00 AM. With a full crew it should only take about an hour. Meet at the main entrance to New Salem off Rte. 97 at 9:00 AM to take care of our 2-mile IDOT Adopt-A-Highway segment that runs from the south edge of New Salem to the south end of Petersburg. Trash bags and safety vests supplied (if you have one our safety vests please bring it). Please wear gloves, long pants, closed-toed shoes or boots. See you there!!
Earth Day 2023–Let’s show Petersburg some love!
Hurie Park 2564+VR Petersburg, Illinois, Petersburg, IL, United StatesTrails & Greenways will celebrate Earth Day on Saturday, April 22. Sign in at Hurie Park at 9:00 AM. We'll be sending teams out to clean up litter at area parks and other areas in need around town. Everyone who signs in will get a chance to win cool prizes!! Trash bags and disposable gloves will be available at Hurie Park. Please wear sturdy close-toed shoes/boots and dress for the weather. Please direct questions to menardctg@gmail.com
Celebrate National Trails Day with Trails & Greenways
New Salem East Side X5C7+72 Lewisburg, Illinois, IL, United StatesTrails & Greenways will be celebrating National Trails Day with a guided hike on the easy-going 1-mile long Cardinal Ridge Trail to explain the habitat restoration project, view the progress to date, and enjoy the plants and animals that call the forest their home. We'll depart from the parking lot on top of the hill across from Cardinal Ridge Trail trailhead and site of the old restaurant -- look for our table and banner on the north side of the parking lot under the shade trees. Dress for the weather, bring drinking water. National Trails Day is celebrated on the first Saturday in June of each year. This event aims to bring together all trail enthusiasts, young and old, while honoring those who help maintain and preserve hiking trails for everyone to enjoy.