Crystal Lake Park/Busey Woods Saline Bridge Replacement

Background

The Busey Woods Saline Bridge was initially constructed and completed circa 1980. Since then, it has been reinforced and a boardwalk has been installed at the Busey Woods receiving end. In 2023, the Urbana Park District received a report from Engineering Resource Associates Inc. stating that the Saline Bridge will need to be replaced in the coming few years. We want to ensure we provide a safe bridged route to the Busey Woods boardwalk while also widening it from 5 ft. to 8 ft. for more accessible travel. 

Next Steps

In order to fund this project, the Urbana Park District applied for a Capital Improvements Grant through the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO). We were awarded with DCEO funds last spring and will be reimbursed $450,000 for project costs! Currently, we have been in the design phase for the past year and expect construction to start in 2027.

Busey Woods Southwest Access

The southwest corner of Busey Woods is an elevated area of the woods that was filled in anticipation of development. As a result of the fill efforts, the soil profile in this area is thin, and remnant concrete and asphalt fill can still be observed as few elevated ridges that have been colonized by invasive bush honeysuckle and other adventive trees such as cottonwood, mulberry, and black cherry. Flatter areas of the southwest woods have received a spreading of sediment from the recent Crystal Lake rehab project and seeded with prairie. 

A $49,999 donation from Clark and Irene Bullard will be used to restore the upland fill area at the southern end of Busey Woods as close to natural conditions as possible. This will create habitats designed to increase the diversity of birds and other wildlife. Additionally, extending the existing network of footpaths into the restored area by constructing necessary stairs and stream crossings to facilitate access for visitors entering the park from the Nature Center.