As the weather warms, the ITS Trail Committee will again be promoting their Second Saturday Tour beginning April 10, 2010. The purpose is to encourage everyone to be outdoors between the hours of 8 a.m. and Noon on the Second Saturday of every month. There are no distance requirements or timetables. Just walk or ride your bike around your block, neighborhood, town or trail on the morning of the second Saturday of each month. This is an opportunity for you to get involved and get some exercise, so you are encouraged to smile, wave to your neighbors, meet and visit with those around. Perhaps you will discover a new trail, an old coffee shop or an old friend along the way. We would like for you to share your adventure with all of us by sending your comments to This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it .

On April 10, a group will be leaving from the parking lot south of Duda Garden on North Union St in Staunton and riding to Worden, Hamel or however far they decided to ride.

We encourage you to walk or ride your bike as often as possible in your daily life. We all benefit from being a little greener and our health depends on it

At the December Board Meeting, the ITS Trail Committee voted their endorsement and support for the development of a "Historical Route 66 Recreational Trail" from Staunton through Mt Olive to Litchfield for the health and welfare of the citizenry.  Below are copies of Letters to the Editor that have been included recently in various local newspapers.  If you would like support this effort, send a printed copy to of the link to the left to the ITS Trail Committee, Inc., 916 N. Easton St, Staunton, IL  62088, or email one to This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it .

Letter to the Editor

Historic Route 66

Recreational Trail

Macoupin and Montgomery Counties in Illinois

Chapter Three

Let us start out with the Bad News, first!

The Northbound Route 66 roadway, from Staunton, through Mt.Olive, to Litchfield, is still barricaded, abandoned, and an eye sore. It is not contributing to the Health and Welfare of our Community, nor our Region.

Enough of that! Now the Good News!!

We are gathering over whelming support for the Historic Route 66 Recreational Trail that is right in our own back door.

In addition to many individuals, and the ITS Trail Committee, now, the Route 66 Trail - Southern Region Committee has unanimously endorsed the Trail at their January, 2010 meeting. Also at this meeting were Representatives of Tourism and Economic Development Agencies from Springfield, Litchfield, and Southwestern Illinois in Collinsville, Representatives of various City Councils, and School Districts, etc, I am also very grateful for the support of this Trail as demonstrated by Senator Demuzio, who also attended this meeting.

Various City Councils, School Districts, Chambers of Commerce, Community Organizations, Business’ and health Organizations have or are in the process of endorsing this trail. The response of the entire community and Region has been overwhelming in support of this trail.

I want to thank each and every one of you for making all this possible. You have responded from Oklahoma, Missouri, and the Great State of Illinois, from St. Louis to Chicago and points in between. This has truly become a concerted effort, of the people, by the people, and for the people.

We still have a lot of work to do. If you would like to endorse this trail as an individual or as an organization, please send your endorsement and name, via email to the following:

This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

Also, mark your calendar for Saturday, May 8^th, 2010, if you would like to ride your bicycle from Litchfield through Mt.Olive to Staunton on route 66. More details on that later.

To Be Continued

Sincerely

John Fritsche

 618-656-0700

The ITS Trail, when complete, will be an integral part of one of Illinois’ longest continuous rails-to-trails projects, which will wander some 95 miles through the countryside of Madison, Macoupin, and Sangamon counties and will connect St. Louis, MO. with our state capital, Springfield. From the St. Louis Arch, the trail will travel north via the McKinley Bridge over the Mississippi River, and through the municipalities of Venice, Madison, Granite City, Pontoon Beach, Collinsville, Maryville, Glen Carbon, Edwardsville, Hamel, Worden, Staunton, Sawyerville, Benld, Gillespie, Carlinville, Girard, Virden, Auburn, Chatham and Springfield. Seen along the way are beautiful lakes, wetlands, streams, forest, farmland, and a horizon filled with bluffs, prairies and wildlife. 

The ITS Trail will be a family oriented pathway that provides a safe, wheelchair accessible, asphalt paved, non-motorized way to travel, exercise and relax while enjoying the outdoors, including access to motorized wheelchairs for handicapped persons with a physician's certification.  We envision this trail will result in increased tourism and development, benefit government, education, business, and labor, but most of all, could greatly improve the quality of life for those who take advantage of the trail.

We hope you will become involved and support the ITS Trail project through its development and on to its completion, and that you will enjoy its benefits for many years to come.  Become a part of your community and your region, and join with us today.

Since its dedication on June 2, 2007, Duda Garden has seen much activity. This beautiful memorial garden has been host to weddings, concerts, a garden tour, bicycle riders and many visitors, in search of a quiet spot to eat lunch or simply stroll around the grounds and enjoy the beauty. 

Duda Garden is a true community project, established and supported by many generous volunteers and contributors who spent countless hours planning, constructing and tending this wonderful addition to downtown Staunton. Located just one block from Main St at 205 N. Union, the Garden serves as both the ending point for the newly completed Worden to Staunton segment of Madison County Transit District’s (MCT) Quercus Grove Trail from Worden and the Trail Head for the proposed Illinois Traction System (ITS) Trail to Benld. Duda Garden is the gateway into Macoupin County and serves as a stopping point on a trail system which will ultimately connect St Louis, MO with Springfield, IL.  

While many users of the newly completed MCT Quercus Grove Trail from Worden consider the end of the asphalt trail at Sixth St to be the end of the trail, it really isn’t. Just follow the “Bike Route” signs for six more blocks and you’ll find Duda Garden with its beautiful gazebo and comfortable benches. A peaceful setting, where one can rest, relax and refresh.

While Duda Garden is ideal, the initial long range plan of the Duda Garden Committee was to provide rest room facilities, a relaxation area and a visitors center for those who use the trail, as well as all citizens and visitors to Staunton. A group of dedicated volunteers is currently in the developmental stage of that plan. 

So if you're coming, going, or just passing through Staunton, stop and enjoy Duda Garden.