Work Begins on City Park Loop Trail

By Gordon HopkinsConstruction of the long-anticipated Fairbury City Park Loop Trail has begun.Work was originally set to begin July 12. However, according to Fairbury Mayor Kelly Davis, “The contractors’ schedules changed and they were able to start early. Hopes are to have it done before the July 4th Flea Market.” The Fairbury City Council accepted a bid for the proposed City Park Loop Trail at a meeting the evening of Tuesday, April 1, 2025.In 2023 the city was awarded a $300,000 ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, also known as the COVID-19 Stimulus Package) Tourism Grant to install a trail around the City Park, of which $25,000 of the award is reserved for grant administration.At a council meeting on May 7, 2024, Speece Lewis was contracted for $34,800 to provide services for design of the Park Loop Trail and to assist with application to the Game and Parks Recreational Trail Program (RTP). At the August 6, 2024, council meeting, a resolution was approved in which the alignment of the Park Loop Trail and the RTP extension connecting the loop to the Third Street sidewalk was approved.However, the city was not awarded the RTP grant.This leaves roughly $240,000 for construction of the Park Loop Trail section that is located within the City Park. On March 24, 2025, the city opened bids received for construction of the Park Loop Trail and Lottman Carpenter Construction, Inc. was determined to be the lowest responsible bidder at $195,804.47.Laura Bedlan, Development Services Director City of Fairbury, told the council, “They’re actually under the engineer’s estimate. So, that is the one we’re recommending.”The city council voted unanimously to accept the bid.

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