ROCK FALLS – The Blackhawk Hills Regional Council is documenting over 100 miles of bike and walking trails across six northwest Illinois counties by mounting 360-degree cameras to bicycles and uploading the footage to Google Street View. The project helps highlight connections between trail systems and nearby streets, making it easier for residents and visitors to find and access outdoor recreation routes.
Abby Ebelherr, Regional Planner with the Blackhawk Hills Regional Council, said the end result will hopefully be informative for residents.
“We’re kind of hoping that people outside the communities will find out and discover, oh, this is a great trail. I should actually drive over to Galena and check out their trail, or I should drive over to Savannah and actually try the Great River Trail,” she said.
Trails featured include the Great River Trail, Jane Addams Trail, and Hennepin Feeder Canal Trail. The effort is part of a broader plan to promote the region’s natural assets and improve quality of life by making trail information more visible and accessible online.