The Rockford Park District is also a partner in other paths, many of which are part of the 525-mile Grand Illinois Trail.

The first 1/2 mile of this path opened in 1996. Currently the path is 1.7 miles long on the south side of Charles Street between Quentin Dr. and Mulford Road. Winnebago County is the lead agency for the path. Plans are to keep expanding east until the path is liked to the CherryVale Mall and future segments of the Perryville Path. You can help the expansion effort by sending your contributions to the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois, attention Charles Street Path Fund at 946 N. Second St., Rockford,IL 61107-3005

You can begin your trek on this 14.9 mile path system at Argus Drive, near the Home Depot store, or at Trainer Road at the Saturn Playground and continue north to the Willow Creek Path and Rock Cut State Park north of Harlem Road, or enjoy the 1.4 mile loop at Midway Village & Museum Center on Guilford Road. Check out the Keeling-Puri Peace Plaza, an oasis just south of Riverside Blvd., and the 2.36 mile loop through Rock Valley College.

Future plans call for an extension from Argus and Perryville Roads along Bell School Rd. to join the Cherry Valley Path. Winnebago County is the lead agency for the path. The Perryville Path committee is leading the community effort to raise funds to develop each phase of the path. If you would like to be a part of the success of the path, please send your contribution to the Rockford Park District Foundation, attention Perryville Path Fund at 401S. Main St., STE 112, Rockford, IL 61101-1321.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is developing the Grand Illinois Trail. Over 525 miles of trail in Northern Illinois connect Lake Michigan to the Mississippi River by linking such existing trails as the Chicago Lakefront Bike Path, the Illinois and Michigan Canal, the Great River Trail, the Rock River Recreation Path, the Willow Creek Path, the Pecatonica Prairie Path, the Perryville Path, the Long Prairie Trail, and local roads. If you would like more information about the Grand Illinois Trail, please call the Department of Natural Resources at 815-625-2968.

A project of the Village of Machesney Park, opened in 1997, this path begins at Harlem High School on North Alpine Road in Machesney Park and extends east along the creek 1.57 miles into Rock Cut State Park. Features along the path include a link to Harlem Community Park, Project Playworks, SkateWorks and Dennis Johnson Park (just west of Forest Hills Road) with playground and tennis courts.

Plans call for a marked lane through residential areas between the high school and Machesney Park Mall where the Willow Creek Path will link to the Bauer Path. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources added a 1.25 mile paved path through Rock Cut State Park at Perryville Rd. to the Pierce Lake Dam. Path users can continue east for 2.3 miles on park roads to Olson Beach.

Parking is available at Harlem High School, Harlem Community Park and Rock Cut State Park.