GLENDALE HEIGHTS, Ill. — The Village of Glendale Heights on Sept. 18 adopted a resolution authorizing a local financial commitment to pursue a Safe Routes to School grant that could provide as much as $250,000 toward pedestrian and bicycle path work related to future roadway reconstruction.

Village Administrator Doug Flint told trustees the village is applying for the grant, for which $250,000 is the maximum award. “We’re applying for $250,000,” Flint said, and added that the grant would cover roughly 25% of the project cost. He described the application as a multi‑year process with long review timelines and said the funding would support an eight‑foot‑wide pedestrian/bike path planned for President Street between Mill Pond and Fullerton, if the grant is awarded and the board later approves the full roadway and path plans.

Flint said President Street is scheduled for reconstruction in calendar year 2027; Mill Pond is scheduled for reconstruction in 2026. He said earlier regional planning work and a CMAP bicycle‑pedestrian study identified a broader network that would connect the core of Glendale Heights — Cameron Park, Americana School, the library and Glendale Lakes Golf Course — to regional paths.

The resolution approved a financial commitment so the village can proceed with the grant application, but Flint and trustees repeatedly noted that awarding the grant is not guaranteed and that the board would consider related roadway and budget approvals in the '27 budget cycle if the village is awarded funds. “This project for us is scheduled in calendar year '27. It might take that long to know if we even get the grant,” Flint said.

Trustee Metrascio moved to adopt the resolution; Trustee Beacchan seconded. The roll-call vote recorded unanimous support from trustees present and the resolution passed.

Discussion vs. decision: Trustees approved only a commitment to pursue the grant and to provide the required local match if awarded. No construction contracts or budget appropriations for the full President Street reconstruction or connected path work were approved at the meeting. Flint said staff and engineers will return with roadway and budget recommendations in the appropriate budget cycle.

Ending: If the village is awarded Safe Routes to School funds, staff said they will return to the board with project‑level plans, budget requests and timelines tied to the village’s 2027 reconstruction schedule.