Community Corner

Lake Arlington: Park District Looking at Additional Safety Measures After Tragedy

After a death resulting from an accident on the Lake Arlington bike pathway June 18, the Arlington Heights Park District is working on immediate plans to enhance safety for all users.

The Arlington Heights Park District is currently exploring a number of ways to significantly enhance safety at Lake Arlington, after a local woman was injured and subsequently died due to an accident with a biker on the pathway.

“We have a significant concern to make this facility as safe as possible, as soon as possible,” said Steve Scholten, executive director of the Arlington Heights Park District.

The pathway was built years ago, with funds from a bike path grant.

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“It is a bike path but it is also used for walking and jogging,” Scholten said. “Part of the [failed] referendum included construction of an additional path for those users,” Scholten said.

The cost for such a project would be roughly $875,000 - and those funds are currently not included on the park district’s capital improvement list, Scholten said.

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“At this point, every option [for increasing safety] is being considered,” Scholten said.

No specific plans have been made public, yet. 

In the meantime, Scholten asks that all users of the bike path be aware of one another, the diverse set of uses there and abide by the safety precautions set forth by the park district.

Those include the 8 mile-per-hour speed limit, a line on the path to help separate traffic, keeping a safe distance between groups and looking before passing and turning, among other guidelines.  

Scholten said over the last ten years, there have been 36 emergency calls relating to incidents at Lake Arlington, which averages three to four call per year.

“This is the most obvious tragedy and we are now reviewing additional safety plans and hope to implement something very quickly, “ Scholten said.

Scholten said a survey completed in 2009 showed that Lake Arlington is by far the most popular park in the Arlington Heights Park District system.

“Anytime you put diverse uses on a path, you are going to have conflicts, and there is a more heightened concern now since the weather is nice,” Scholten said.

The Lake Arlington property is owned by the Village of Arlington Heights, and is leased by the park district.

The next Arlington Heights Park District board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, July 23. 


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