Boom mower to close trail sections

The Forest Preserve's boom mower is out on regional trails this summer, trimming tree and other brush growth. Crews started work on the Old Plank Road Trail the week of July 20 from Cherry Hill Road heading east. The week of July 27, the boom mower is then expected to be on the Wauponsee Glacial Trail. It will head back to the Old Plank Road Trail to cut brush from Cherry Hill Road to Washington Street the week of Aug. 3. The boom mower will trim all regional trails before making its way to the Forest Preserve's other paths.

The Forest Preserve's Operations Department is taking a staggered approach to this project. Instead of an entire trail being completed at one time, trimming is done in sections. The boom mower is sent out to a portion of one trail and then moves to another preserve before returning to complete another section of the previous trail. This allows crews from each of the District's zones to catch up to the work being done by the mower, clearing the cut brush and completing trim work.

When boom mower work is taking place, signs are posted to alert trail users that a portion of the trail is closed for maintenance. Trail users should exercise caution and not attempt to use a trail section where the boom mower is in operation. Boom mower work is planned to be ongoing through the fall season. Weather and other factors could impact the schedule.