Heartland Pathways 

Twenty years ago Heartland Pathways began the innovative concept of preservation of abandoned rail beds in East Central Illinois. It acquired 33 miles of rail bed in the Monticello area then worked to preserve another 25 miles of rail bed between Urbana and Danville.
These unique corridors have multiple uses that include habitat preservation, interim trail use, re-railroading and utilities.
These uses have broad connections that extend beyond local jurisdictions. In addition to the rail beds themselves HP have also helped to acquire open space that is near or adjacent to the rail beds.
Because of the unique qualities of these corridors of land many offers have been made to transfer the resources to others. In some cases HP has transferred sections of property to “in perpetuity bodies” for innovative uses. Some of the corridors have attracted financial support. Shady Rest, a local area of natural beauty with the rail bed running through it has been reassigned to the Piatt County Forest Preserve. Twenty four miles of abandoned rail bed from Urbana to Danville is now being considered as a potential rail trail. This effort is being spearheaded by the Champaign County Design and Conservation foundation. CCDC has recently received a four hundred thousand dollar grant toward the activation of that bed hiking and biking.