From fall 2024 to summer 2026, the entire 3 mile Lake of the Woods Bike Path has/will have been resurfaced. The sections at Buffalo Trace and near the Golf Course were completed in 2024, where wayfinding signage and trail markers were also installed. In summer 2026, the section near the Botanical Gardens and Rayburn Purnell Woods will be completed.
Funding for this improvement was provided in part by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD), Recreational Trails Program (RTP), and the Bicycle Path Program (BIKE) grants which support active recreation in natural areas.
Additional improvements area also being made at Buffalo Trace with OSLAD funding including expanded parking, picnic areas, more seating, improved signage, overlook areas, and an exercise station.