SHELBYVILLE, IL. — General Dacey Trail Committee Chairman Jerry Yockey has announced the beginning of construction on Phase 4 of that trail.

“Construction started July 19 and I talked with the contractor  (Agney Construction) and things are going very well, in fact, ahead of schedule,” said Yockey. 

Yockey estimates the work will take about five weeks which should mean completion around the first of September, weather permitting.

The General Dacey Trail is a multi-use recreational trail accessed by walkers, runners, and bikers.  The trail is used by high school cross-country teams.

Yockey said this phase will start about half way between the High Water Boat Ramp Road and the 9th Street Boat Ramp Parking Lot and will have a distance of about one mile.  This will be a loop trail where you loop around and start back.  This trail will be similar to the other trails and have a ten foot wide oil and chipped rock surface.

“Part of the rationale is the fact that we have had high water for the last several years, and by starting Phase 4 up on top of that crest we will eliminate the problems of having this section closed due to flooding,” continued Yockey.

Yockey has worked closely with the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers on all phases of the trail, and that is especially true with this phase as it is all located on Corps property.  This phase starts with a new pond because the project needs dirt and that area where the pond is planned works out very well for the purpose of an “interpretive pond”.

Pam Doty, Natural Resource Specialist and ranger with the Corps of Engineers said that pond will be located close to the four-way stop sign at the entrance of Dam West.

“This will be a fishing pond for anyone to use,” said Doty.  “At some later date we will stock the pond with the guidance of the Fishery biologist.  This pond will also eventually serve as a kid’s fishing pond and a place for handicapped individuals to fish.”

Yockey said phase 4 will serve many purposes.

“This phase will create an interpretive pond for the Corps, it will connect trail users to the overlook and the dam itself.  A good trail connect things.”

Yockey said other uses for this trail will get users who like to exercise and walk or ride their bikes over the dam road and this trial will allow that safely.

“This trail will get folks off road and out of the way of traffic.”

This phase will also offer the exercise equipment that has been talked about.

“That will be a big benefit with 15 stations and they will be  in groups of five.  That will be a good workout if folks do them all.”

Yockey said the exercise equipment will be very simple basic types of workout equipment including some stretches.  He said that equipment will start to go in this week. 

“There will be things like sit up stations, pull up or chin up stations and exercise equipment such as that.”

Yockey said this phase will be the most visible trail and visitors will not have to look for it..

This trail as well as the other three phases are easily accessible from the Dam West recreation area or from behind the Scout Cabin in Forest Park.  Maintenance to the trail is performed by volunteers.

The General Dacey Trail has two parking lots where you can leave your car parked  while using the trail.

Dogs are welcome on the trail, but you are asked to keep them on a lease and clean up after them.

Hunting is not permitted from the trail or in the immediate woods near the trail.