The McLean County, Illinois, board recently approved an engineering contract to build a 4.5-mile addition to a Route 66 bicycling trail south of Funks Grove. According to the Bloomington Pantagraph, the county was chosen to receive state funds for the Route 66 bike trail starting in McLean and ending at an existing trail near Funks Grove. … Continue reading County approves engineering agreement for a segment of Route 66 bike trail near Funks Grove
Tag: Funks Grove
Several Illinois Route 66 sites get state funds from tourism, transportation programs
Several spots on Route 66 in Illinois were among the 89 that will receive a total of $22.5 million from the state's Tourism Attractions and Festivals Grant program. Also, several Route 66 sites also received funds from the state's Transportation Enhancement Program. Here are the Route 66-related tourism recipients and the total grant: $25,187 to … Continue reading Several Illinois Route 66 sites get state funds from tourism, transportation programs
Sugar Grove Nature Center in Funks Grove imposes sudden layoffs
The Sugar Grove Nature Center in Funks Grove, Illinois, imposed sudden layoffs and shut down its visitors center last week, shocking volunteers and former staff members. Sugar Grove Nature Center consists of over 1,000 acres of preserved forest, the nature center just off Route 66. It regularly hosted field trips and programs about Illinois history … Continue reading Sugar Grove Nature Center in Funks Grove imposes sudden layoffs
Route 66 Bikeway in Illinois lands grant for extension
The Historic Route 66 Bikeway in McLean County, Illinois, this week won a $1.92 million grant from an Illinois Department of Transportation program to extend the bicycle path another 1.1 miles. According to a document from the agency, the grant aims to extend the bikeway from south of Shirley, Illinois, to Funks Grove, Illinois. The the … Continue reading Route 66 Bikeway in Illinois lands grant for extension
McLean County in Illinois extends Route 66 Bike Trail
The board of McLean County, Illinois, this week voted to extend the Route 66 Bike Trail another 3.25 miles from Shirley, Illinois, to the hamlet of Funks Grove. The current trail runs from Towanda, Illinois, through the Bloomington-Normal metro area to Shirley. The new extension will bring its total length to nearly 19 miles. According … Continue reading McLean County in Illinois extends Route 66 Bike Trail
Warmer weather decreases sap harvest at Funks Grove Maple Sirup
An unseasonably warm winter decreased the annual sap harvest by a third at Funks Grove Maple Sirup near Shirley, Illinois. The co-operator of the fabled Route 66 business also said climate change may mean a permanent change in when maple sap is harvested at the nearly 200-year-old farm. I recently saw a report a warmer-than-usual winter led … Continue reading Warmer weather decreases sap harvest at Funks Grove Maple Sirup
Illinois Route 66 gets $2.16 million for trails
The Illinois Department of Transportation on Wednesday awarded $2.16 million in grants for bicycle and walking trails along Route 66 in Williamsville and McLean County. The two projects were part of 33 statewide that received grants from the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program, slated for "biking and walking paths, trails, streetscape beautification work and other projects designed … Continue reading Illinois Route 66 gets $2.16 million for trails
Funks Grove Maple Sirup featured on Illinois Made series
The Illinois Office of Tourism features Funks Grove Maple Sirup near Shirley, Illinois, as one of eight businesses in a new Illinois Made series. According to an article in the Bloomington Pantagraph, Illinois Office of Tourism director Cory Jobe said Illinois Made contains videos, exclusive web content and travel ideas. “Travelers really want to travel to a destination or … Continue reading Funks Grove Maple Sirup featured on Illinois Made series
Illinois county seeks another expansion of Route 66 bicycle trail
McLean County, Illinois, is seeking a federal grant to help add seven miles to a Route 66 bicycle trail outside of the Bloomington-Normal metro area. According to WJBC radio: The McLean County Board is expected to apply for federal funds to add a 4-mile stretch of the trail between Lexington and Towanda and a 3.25-mile … Continue reading Illinois county seeks another expansion of Route 66 bicycle trail
Longtime operator of Funks Grove Maple Sirup dies
Steve Funk, a longtime operator of Funks Grove Maple Sirup along Route 66 in Funks Grove, Illinois, died at age 90 at his home on June 21, according to an obituary in the Bloomington Pantagraph. Funk served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II and met his wife, Glaida, when he was … Continue reading Longtime operator of Funks Grove Maple Sirup dies