Barrington Countryside Park District has been awarded a $135,000 Recreational Trails Program (RTP) Grant funded by the Federal Government and awarded and administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) to construct an Equestrian Trail Head behind the Barrington Countryside Park District Riding Center on Forest Preserve District of Cook County's Spring Lake Preserve property.  The grant will pay up to 80% of the project (estimated at $135,000) or $108,000.  The Equestrian Trailhead project is made possible through an Intergovernmental Agreement between the Forest Preserve District of Cook County and the Barrington Countryside Park District. 

There are several goals for construction of the Equestrian Trail Head:

• Provide designated, functional and attractive daily parking for users of the Park District Riding Center and the Spring Lake Preserve which meets the approval of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County.
• Provide a designated, functional winter parking area for users of the Park District Riding Center and the Spring Lake Preserve which meets the approval of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County.
• Provide designated parking for events taking place at the Park District Riding Center.
• Foster a strong working relationship between the parties to the Intergovernmental Agreement (Barrington Countryside Park District and the Forest Preserve District of Cook County) as well as the other beneficiaries of the Intergovernmental Agreement (The Riding Club of Barrington Hills and The Fox River Valley Pony Club) and residents of The Village of Barrington Hills.
• Fulfill requirements of the Intergovernmental Agreement.

If you have further questions or require further information regarding the project please email the Park District at bcpdoffice@comcast.net.  You may also contact the Park District Commissioners.  Please click to go to the contact page.

Overview Diagram of Park District Property and Proposed Trailhead behind the Polo Barn on Cook County Forest Preserve Property

Diagram of Trailhead Located on Cook County Forest Preserve Property showing enlarged parking area behind Polo Barn