The federal government, courtesy of Senator Richard Durbin’s hard work on behalf of Illinois trails, has thrown down a challenge to the communities and public agencies of the Calumet-Sag Trail Coalition:

Raise $67,000, and it will add four dollars for every dollar raised, awarding up to $335,000 toward designing the trail heads, interpretive features, and other amenities that will allow the region to discover and interact with the Calumet-Sag Trail.

Don’t raise $67,000, don’t get any money.

Our Calumet-Sag communities and public agencies are struggling right now. Commitments to the grants already awarded for trail construction also require local match money, and that has stretched the members of the Calumet-Sag Trail Coalition thin.

We’re proud to say that the Coalition has Friends.

So far, Friends of the Calumet-Sag Trail has helped match half of the $67,000 by pursuing a $35,000 urban trail grant through Rails to Trails Conservancy and The Coca-Cola Company.

True to our mission, we’re committed and energized to raise the remaining $32,000 to fully match the award from Senator Durbin on behalf of the towns and public agencies that make up the Calumet-Sag Trail Coalition.

You’re a big part of our plans:

1. 1.Buy raffle tickets - You could win a Trek Soho belt-driven, 8-speed super commuter bicycle, courtesy of Rbikes.com in Palos Heights and Trek. Every dollar you spend is turned to $5 by the federal government, and your original purchase price is tax-deductible.
   

2. 2.Put October 2 on your calendar. Think cowboy hats and tall boots. Think live auction. Think of you and every friend you can grab hoopin’ and hollerin’ until we hog-tie that remaining match money and get to building a trail.
   

More to come. Buy your raffle tickets. Watch this space.