By WJBC Staff
NORMAL – New Constitution Trail maps will be available for the first time at the Sugar Creeks Arts Festival in Uptown Normal Saturday and Sunday.
They can be found at the Friends of the Constitution Trail tent. Volunteers with The Friends of the Constitution Trail updated the map as part of a larger way finding project for the trail. For the first time north-south and east-west branches of the trail are named.
The group initiated the project last year as part of the trial’s 25th anniversary celebration.
The Friends of the Constitution Trail have worked in conjunction with the City of Bloomington and the Town of Normal to complete this project. Later this summer, new signs will begin appearing along the trail, providing direction to new Trail users, as well as long time users.
“People using the Trail for the first time will have a better sense of where they are,” said Dan Steadman, President of the Friends of the Constitution Trail. “Long time users will also benefit from the way finding and new maps by having a better sense of how far it is to the next major destination, such as Uptown or Tipton Trails Park or exploring a branch of the trail that they haven’t visited previously.”
Materials for the project are being fully funded by the Friends of the Constitution Trail. Installation will be handled by the Parks maintenance employees from each municipality.
The last version of the map was printed in 2013. The update includes all additions to the trail since that time plus the currently under construction Route 66 Bike Trail and some other proposed routes.
Maps will also be available beginning Monday at Bloomington Parks & Rec, Normal Parks & Rec, Bloomington Public Library, Normal Public Library, Vitesse Cycle Shop & Often Running, Bloomington Cycle & Fitness, Wilson Cycle and Fleet Feet Sports.
The Friends of the Constitution Trail is a not-for-profit advocacy group working to expand and beautify the Trail.
