Friends of Interurban Trail (FIT)

FIT is a dedicated, grassroots volunteer committee of the Springfield Bicycle Club (SBC) focused on the enhancement, maintenance, and promotion of the Interurban Trail. This vital corridor serves as an essential recreation and transportation route for cyclists, walkers, and runners in our community.

Our Mission: To preserve and improve the Interurban Trail, ensuring it remains a beautiful, safe, and accessible community resource for everyone.

What We Do: FIT volunteers contribute countless hours to hands-on work, including mowing, weeding, planting, raking, and general maintenance of the trail corridor.

Our Vision (Under SBC): By operating as an official SBC committee, FIT gains the organizational stability and resources needed to expand our impact, including:

  • Securing Funding: Accessing budget support for major trail enhancements like signage, amenities, landscaping, and art installations.
  • Strengthening Partnerships: Leveraging SBC’s non-profit status and established reputation to streamline collaborations with local government (e.g., IDOT, City of Springfield), businesses (e.g., Scheels), and civic groups.
  • Community Engagement: Coordinating volunteer efforts with groups like Boy Scouts and schools, and centralizing volunteer recruitment through SBC’s outreach channels.

By supporting FIT, the Springfield Bicycle Club is taking an active leadership role in preserving a major regional cycling asset, reinforcing our commitment to cycling advocacy and infrastructure improvement in the Springfield area.

Accomplishments

  • Substantial removal of invasive honeysuckle
  • Construction of shelter by Park District following two community fund raisers
  • Created a pond lookout by clearing honeysuckle on ravine; bench provided by Park District
  • Established specimen garden labeled with common and botanical names
  • Enhanced an outcropping of sassafras with mulch and woodland flowers
  • Established pollinator patches along trail by transplanting and by broadcast seeding
  • Planted native trees and bushes
  • Established naturalized grass greenway
  • Restoration of Hazel Dell field—plantings of wildflowers and native trees and bushes
  • Spot clearing of IDOT ravine and planting of native trees and woodland flowers
  • Addition of birdhouses at field, overlook and shelter
  • Preparation of site for bike-themed art display, with approval of the project

Goals

  • Complete and place bike-themed art display
  • Populate the FIT committee
  • Foster outreach to groups—scouts, youth, garden clubs, LLCC, etc. to help develop and
  • Maintain the trail area and facilities

  • Co-op with the Bicycle Advisory Council

  • Increase press coverage

  • Approach Legacy Pointe – Adding features at sports complex (fitness/rest stop, auxiliary access paths to the trail, placement of art work, etc.), restoring pond

  • Finalize agreements with the City re: field maintenance and new picnic area